The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-10
KNEW OLD HICKORY
IN THE WHITE HOUSE
The Daughter OF Andrew 5
ADOPTED Son l. Living Near the
HERMITAGE.

When the patriotic women OF WASH
ington planned to celebrate tue plrtn-
day of Dolly Madison last May oy q
breakfast whose guest list snoulu pe
confined to members of the famllleS
Of Democratic presidents, 1t IS 70 %
wondered, says Uncle fiohie
MAGAZINE, if these ladies reallZe "nd.
they we're missing in not counting
among their number the venerable
Mrs. Rachel Jackson Lawrence. the
dopted granddaughter and beloved
companion Of "Old Hickory
Certain it is that in the person OF
Mrs. Lawrence the women or the
present would see n or the most
picturesque figures OF the Soutn. AS
is well known. Andrew jackson nad
no children Of his own. But when:
twin sons were born to Mrs. jack
sons brother and his wife the general
consented to adopt n OF them. rms
child. born in 1909, was himself called
Andrew Jackson. Jr.
When only 90 years old he married
a Philadelphia girl, Miss Sarah YORK.
who was welcomed as the mistress OF
the White House 10y President JACK
son. whose wife lac died three years
earlier. This young Mrs. Andrew
Jackson, Jr.. was the mother Of a
daughter, Rachel, who Is still living.
Her very early childhood was spent
at the White House, where she was
q great favorite with her distinguished
grandfather.
When only four or five years otd
the little girl would sit beside him
during conferences with State officials
or foreign ambassadors. She was
never dismissed unless she wished to
go. and never did the President for
get to call attention to her presence.
saying, "See my baby; we are great
friends
And SO the years of little Racileps
childhood passed until the President
returned to live again at the Iterm1-
tage.
AS was the custom Of the time, she
was soon sent to a boarding school in
Nashville, returning home every Fri
day to remain until Monday. Often
on the visits she found the beloved
playmate and friend Of her childhood
i'll and suffering.
She says her last meeting with her
grandfather was impressed on her
chiefly because he seemed 50 10th to
part with her. AS she turned to leave
he called her back and. taking up
the handsome miniature Of his wife.
which he kept for years always within
sight n reach Of his bed. he placed
} its long chain around the childS neck,
Saying IL WdS ItIS DcCduSc SIlc - .
the sacred name and because Grand
pa is very i'll, my darling, and will
not need the picture much longer"
After the death of General Jack
son. In 1S45, the Hermitage was left
as q residence to his son and daugh-
ter, Rachels father and mother. but
in 1856 Andrew Jackson, Jr., sold the
Hermitage farm and 500 acres of
land to the State of Tennessee as q
nD,nr; fnr w. o,,- - A nnn ~ 4
left the dc home with his family.
However, at the solicitation Of Gov
ernor Isham c.. Harris, the family re
turned to the Hermitage to live as
c~ustodians OF the estate.
The State Of Tennessee intended
offering the Hermitage to the United
States government as a branch OF
West Point Military Academy, but the
war prevented and the family Of An
drew Jackson, Jr., now increased BY
the advent Of several sons, continued
to live there all during the strife. pro
tected by a special guard sent out By
General George II. Thomas.
In 1865 the husband and father
Andrew Jackson, Jr., died. Just pre-
yious to her fathers death Rache
had married DR.. John M. Lawrence
and the five sons Of the house hat
all entered the Confederate service
But nj Of their number returned
Colonel Andrew Jackson, who died
few years ago in Knoxville. TIL
Legislature Of Tennessee invited Mrs
Jackson to make the Hermitage he
home as long as she lived. She die
in 1888. Colonel Andrew Jacksol
Inherited from her the household fur
'niture. mementoes and relics Of tn
famous old general
Later. when Colonel Jackson died
Mrs. Lawrence, the little Rachel. wa
left the only living member Of tina
distinguished family, and to this da
she remains near the Hermitage
which has been preserved by tn
Ladies' Hermitage Association @
Nashville. Visitors now can see tn
old home almost as it was left b
General Jackson. The pictorial wa.
paper Of the hall was ordered by Gen
eral Jackson from France when tn
house was built In 1885. It is az
parently untouched by time, and on
can easily perSllada hinxolf fho+ =