Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-07-04
FORMER PRESIDENTS OF u. S.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
the Terms Of Ex,Presidents and
Their Lives.


The recent death OF President
Cleveland recalls the suggestion madc
by the former president a short time
ago that the government should make
some provision for the men who have
retired from its headship. not only a.
a matter OF sentiment. but as an fnex-
pensive token OF national esteem.
Grover Cleveland, at the time or
his death, was the only one OF our en-
presidents living. and since his death.
the country, for the third time in IL
existence. Is without living expires
ident. AT no time in the history OK the
country has there been an excess as
former presidents living. but III tho
early days a better showing was made
than in these latter days.
w. B. Mathews recently prepared d
table showing the life OF the En-
presidents after they retired from Of
Ace and a study Of his work brings
out some curious Incidents connected
with the lives Of our rulers. When
John Quincy Adams became president
In 1895, John Adams. Thomas JelH1>
son. James Madison and James Mon
roe were still living. In fact. all a.
his predecessors who had ruled the
nation, except General WashIngt0n.
were living. but Jefferson and Adams
died year later, July 4, 1896. This
was the only year In which two en-
presidents died, except in 1862, when
Van Buren, and Tyler died Benjamin
Harrison and William Mckinley died
In 1901. but Mckinley was president
aud died during his term OF once.
James Madison and James Monro4
Were living In 1929. when Andrew
jackson came In and with John Quin-
cy Adams made three expresidents
living. Andrew Jackson and Van Blu
rem, John O. Adams and Tyler were
all living at the same time. At the be-
ginning OF the civil war ave ex-presi-
dents Van Buren,, Tyler, Fillmore,
| Pierce and Buchanan. Tyler and Van
Buren, died In tS6e Buchanan n 1859.
and Pierce In 1863 leaving F'illmose
and johnson, who was added n
March, 1869, seven months before
| Pierce died
Fillmore died In 1874 and Johnson
in 1875. leaving the country without
an ex-president for the first time since
the intervening time between 1885,
the year OF Washingion's death ana
1901 The third time this has happen
ed was last month when Grover
Cleveland died. thus the country will
have no former president living until
the expiration OF Theodore Roose
velt's term.
w. II Harrison, Taylor. Lincoln.
Garfield and Mckinley were the only
rulers of this country who never b.
came former presidents. John Quin-
cy Adams was the only president who
might have seen all the presidents En-
cept Roosevelt. He was Young man
when Washington died In 1893, and ~
the time Of his death in 1s4s. McKin-
ley was Ave years OF his age. Cleve-
land was the only president who be-
came an ex-president twice Ia his -
reer.
General Washington was the nrat
president to die. He was 81 years
Of age at the time OF his death. The
lest president to die was John A.
ans at 80, while Garfield was To
youngest, being assassinated when -
years OF age. Washington was . ~
mer president for two years, John
Adams for "a. Jefferson for n, Nan
son for 10. Monroe for J. @. Adams
fer 81. Jackson for Van Buren, ~
20, Tyler for II, Polk for 3 IL months
Fillmore for 81 years. Pierce for "A.
Buchanan for Z, Johnson for s. Grams
for 5. Hays for IL. Arthur for !. HIST
rison for s. and Cleveland for II.