The only child of a widow—Married at seventeen—Her husband a
tailor’s apprentice—A mountain home—Well instructed in ordinary
branches—A very beautiful girl—The wife of an ambitious man—His
widowed mother’s chief support—An additional incentive to
study—The young couple learn together—His wife teaches him to
write—She reads to him as he works—Three women—The zeal and
energy of one of them—The tailor boy’s incentives—Little children
about his hearth—Mr. Johnson elected alderman—The joy of a good
wife—The village “Demosthenes”—Chosen Mayor of Greenville—Three
terms in office—A reputation for honest deeds and correct
principles—Mrs. Johnson’s devotion to her husband’s
interests—Death of their mothers—Mr. Johnson a member of the
Legislature and Governor of Tennessee—His wife remains in
Greenville—Her children’s education her care—Their Greenville
home—Andrew Johnson’s first home—His old shop—A poor man and
honest official—Elected Senator—Mrs. Johnson in
Washington—Failing health—Her return home—Separated from her
husband for two years—The civil war—Cut off from news of
home—Mrs. Johnson and family ordered out of East Tennessee—Time
asked—Too ill to travel—The start made—Ordered to return—A long
and trying journey—Passes through Confederate lines—A night spent
on the cars—Without food or beds or fire—A tired party—Mrs.
Johnson and her children in Nashville—The heroic conduct of the
former—Remembered kindly by friend and foe—A long-separated
family reunited—Mrs. Johnson an invalid—Death of her eldest son,
Dr. Johnson—Governor Johnson, Military Governor of
Tennessee—Nominated for the Vice-Presidency—Goes to
Washington—His family remain in Nashville—Preparing to return to
Greenville—The assassination of the President—Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States—Senator Doolittle’s account of the
assassination conspiracy—His letters to the Wisconsin State
Historical Society—President Johnson’s narrow escape—Governor
Farwell’s presence of mind—Leaves the theatre to find Mr.
Johnson—Fears for his safety—Warns the hotel clerks—“Guard the
doors: the President is assassinated”—Rushes to the
Vice-President’s room—His anxiety supreme—Is reassured by hearing
Mr. Johnson’s voice—The terrible news he bears—A moment of
supreme excitement—Hasty plans for safety—The moment of danger
passed—The hotel guarded—Personal friends pouring in to learn his
fate—News of Secretary Seward’s condition—Thousands of people in
the streets—A time of horror—The President dying—Mr. Johnson
determined to see him—His refusal to go guarded—Accompanied by
Major O’Beirne and Governor Farwell—At the bedside of the dying
President—Mrs. Johnson presented with an album containing
Governor Farwell’s account of the conspiracy plot—The family at
the White House—Mrs. Patterson the Lady of the White House—“A
plain people from the mountains of Tennessee”—Mrs. Johnson
assumes no social duties—An invalid—Only once in the East
Room—Her household—The four years in the White House—Her glad
return to Tennessee—Death of Colonel Robert Johnson—Ex-President
Johnson elected Senator—His wife greatly pleased—Living in her
old home—Illness of her husband—His death—Six months of
suffering—Her death—Buried beside her husband—A superb monument 546