The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-05
ANDREW JOHNSON, - PRENTICE AND
PRESIDENT


pinned to the lape, of his coat for
the cause of his DEATH, we are told
was "a deed of noble daring" by
which he savei the lives of two per
sons at the ultimate cost of his
own William Peace, one of the
persons present, many years after
ward gave the following ccoun Of
the affair:
AT a large fishing party at Hunters
Mill on Walnut Creek. rear Raleigh nm
wards or fifty years ago, the late Colonel
henderson proposed for amusement 4
niue SKIM in the canoe on the pond. He,
q yonng Scotchnan named Cailum. ano
1nyseif entered the canoe. Henderson
was heimsnlan and knew that neither Ca
lun1 nor myself could swim. He soon be-
TO dip water, and just above the pier head
OF the mill bore SO heavily On the end
Where he was sitting as to tilt and turn
II over throwing all three into the pond.
Caiium caught hold Of me. l begged him
10 let go, | could not swim. He did So,
and seized Henderson, and both sank
TO the bottom in ten feet of water. ]
struggled and kept myself above water
until they came to my assistance from the
shore and carried me ou.. A cry was
then made for Henderson and Callum.
jacob Johnson was standing on the pier.
head. Without a moments hesitation he
ieaped into the pond, diyed in the direc-
ton Of where he saw them sink. caugh,
hold of Henderson and brought him up.
"A ah al dOL6u SWi were Il
the water from the shore to assist in
bringing Henderson out, and CalluIn
with MIN, who was clinging to the skirt
OF Henderson-s coat underneath. and 1t
the moment invisible.''*
Johnson himself died soon after
ward a victim, we are expected to be
lieve, Of his own heroism. He died
literally at the post of duty, At that
time the State House, as the Capital
Was tnen called, contained the only
public hall in the city and was
pressed into service for all sorts of
occasions. The same p%onderous bell
whose tones summoned the laW-mak-
ers 10 their duties during sessions
of the General Assembly, at other
times, summoned worshippers to di-
vine services. mourners to funerals,
dancers to balls, the curious to tire
atrical performances, and the patri-
otto Fourth OF July festivities. One
very cold day in the winter OF 1911
II, Jacob Johnson, in his capacity as
sexton, while toI1ing the bell for d
funeral, fell to the floor overcome by
chill n XII ustion. Death followed
January 4, 1912. A week later
Thomas henderson, editor Of the Star,
published in his paper the following
eulogy:
Died, IN this city, OBJ Saturday last,
Jacob Johnson, who had for many years
occupied an humble but useful station.
He was City Constable, Sexton, and Por-
ter to the State Bank. IN his last Illness
he was visited by the principal inhabi-
tants Of the City, by all OF whom he
was esteemed fer his honesty, sobriety.
industry. and humane friendly disposition.
Among all by whom he was known and es-
teemed, none lament him more except
perhaps his own relativps) than the pub
Usher Of this paper, for he owes his life,
en- a particular occasion. to the boldHess
and humanity of Johnson"
Thus before he had completed his
fourth year, Andrew Johnson was
seems to haVe maintained a meager
support for herself ard children by
menial service. 1t is probable that
her efforts were supplemented ny alu
received from friends Of her
That one at least of those friends did
not forget the debt he owed to the
memory of Jacob Johnson is shown
by he following record in the min
utes Of the Wake County Court Of
!. Pleas and Quarter Sessions for August
Is, 1914: William Orphan,
age 10 years is bound an apprentice
to Thomas Henderson until he arrive
to lawful age to learn some I
trade.- Later, perhaps after
Henderson's DEATH, William John
| son was bound an apprentice to James
J.. Selby, tailor, of Raleigh, TO whom
his brother Andrew had also beer
bound.
Reliable data relating to the bey-
hood of Andrew Johnson are exceed
ingiy nleager. Nobody thought 1t
worth while to remember the antics
or habits of Widow Johnson's harun-
Scar4,rn boy. ANDY who, the wise
ones said. was destined to no good
end. After he had achieved position
and fame many stories OF his youth
were told which may or may not be
true. and many youthful virtues were
aecribed to him which he may or
may not have possessed. To those
facts which are already we'll known
this article will d one or two when
have not heretofore been published
Everybody knows of course. that
Andrew Johnson at an early
age was a~pprenticed to a tailor. His