The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-01-12

EXECUT|ONOF MRS. S.SURRA 7 7
He Suffered From An Incurahlc Dis
ease and When He Drank Ii Was
to Secure Relief From Pain-SOme
Sidcii@htS On His Character.

Sidcii@hts on His Character.
TO the Editor In 1896 the writer
was in Greenviile, Tenn. He there
met Mr.. L., Who had married the
daughter of Mrs Patterson. daughter
OF President johnson, the mistress Of
the e~White House during her fathers
Presidency This gentleman and | had
been members of the Fifth Regiment
Of Baltimore city Maryland National
Guards. and he invited me to Mrs
Patterson's house. y short time be-
fore this q gentleman had come to
Greenvillc to get facts about President
Johns0n's early life in GreonVillc with
the view of writing Il life Of the PreSi-
dent, and Mr.. l.. and Mrs. Patterson
had assisted him III overlooking Mr.
JOhnsOns papers. Mrs. Patterson
naturally was solicitous that her faith
erS connection With the hanging Of
Mrs. Surratt should be truthfully told.
1t is known that the military court
that tried and convicted Mrs. Surratt
OF being accessory to tho killing OF
President Lincoln appended to their
verdict y recommendation Tor eNecu-
tive clemency. This paper was at
tached to the back or the record and
when the papers We're presented by
Judge Advocate General Hall for
President Johnson's approval-it is
maintained by the family-this recon-
mendation co clemency was never seen
by Mr.. Johnson. and that he approved
the finding Of the court martial With
out being aware Of this part of the
courts record.
1t has been stated that General Han
cock. whose duty it was to carry out
the orders for the hanging. waited to
the last moment With watch in rand
expecting q repricve from the Prcsi-
dent.
Among many other interesting facts
told me. it was stated that Mr. John
son when in Congress as 4 member of
the House Of epresentatiNeS-1S4 To-
1853-Would study at night the lessons
his daughter, afterwards Mrs. Patter
son. studied during the day; that lie
owed much moro to his daughter than
to his Wife the little education he de-
rived from books Of instruction.
1t was also stated that cancer in
the chest was the cause of President
Johnson's death. That this disease
was kept from the public and never
became generally known. That When
Mr.. Johnson indulged too much in
liuuor. as a the time of his Inaugural
ton as Nice-President he drank to
ease the pain he suffered from this in
curable disease.
I saw III Greenville the little one
story one-rOOm frame building where
Tailor Johnson for many years Piled
his calling. His bench, irons, patterns
and such like were preserved as he
left them to become IN after years.
member of the State Legislature. mem
Der of Congress. Governor OF his State,
United States Senator, and President.
| met q citizen who told me he was
living in GreenVille when Andrew
Johnson and his mother reached the
town one afternoon driving horse
to cart that carried all their pos
sessions. Andrew comped for the
night at the outskirts. went up town
to get something, intending to resume
his journey West early next morning.
In conversation with my narrator,
it came out that Andrew was q tailor
In those days when there was no such
thing ready made clothes good
tailor was a most useful person in 4
community. There was no tailor in
GreenVille at this time. and Andrew
was persuaded to remain and make
certain parties, who then and there
engag ged his SerVices-suitS of clothes,
with the promise of assistance to eS-
tablish himself in business if he gave
satisfi. .ction. Andrew Johnson was an
expert in his line, thanks to his train
ing in old Raleigh, and he soon be-
came the most fashionable and best
patronized tailor in that part of Ten
nessee-and never changed his home.
His mother and wife and himself are
buried near the town of GreenVille.
President Johnsons grave is on the
top of a hill about mile out from
the town in plain view from the rall-
road, and marked by a handsome
monument in the shape of tall shaft
surmounted by an American Eagle
with appropriate inscription on the
base
Your correspondents are in error as
to the year of President Johnson's 5
visit to Chapel Hill 1t was in neither
1SS nor 1866. but in June, 1867. In
1869 Ex-Governor Seymour was the
orator of the day, and this was the
last commencement held under the old
regime. Governor Holden came in Of
flee that wear and all the old faculty
resigned.
VIM. H S. BURGWYN.