Page:Reminiscences of Randolph County - Blair - 1890.djvu/12



This man was Andrew Jackson, who afterward became the seventh President of the United States, defeating John Quincy Adams in 1828, and Henry Clay in 1832. Little is known of Jackson's birth and parentage. By industry, toil and study, he rose from poverty and obscurity to the summit of independence, distinction and fame.

How long Jackson remained in Randolph is not definitely known. The following entry made at March court, 1788, appears on the minute docket: "On motion of Andrew Jackson, Esq., Attorney for Absalom Tatum, it is ordered that Adam Tate, Est., Coroner of Rockingham county, be fined fifty lbs. . for failing to return a writ of against John May, Sheriff of said county, at the instance of Absalom Tatum, and that  issue accordingly."

Jackson left Randolph soon after this and tradition says he went to Martinsville, where his mother was living at the time. here he remained a year perhaps and then went to Tennessee.

Leaving home is a trying ordeal for the boy, the bravest heart falters at the thought of quitting home never perhaps to return again. Things are seen differently now from what they have ever been seen before.

Every object becomes dearer and lovelier, memories become sweeter and companionships dearer and tenderer. It was autumn. The brown leaves were falling. The woods were tinged with crimson hue. The tremulous light, the cawing Crow and noisy Jay, each note and voice was a sound of sorrow or a song of sadness. His