Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/119

 JOHNSON

JOHNSON

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JOHNSON, Eliza flcCardle, wife of President Johnson, was born in Leesburg, Tenn., Oct. 4, 1810. Slie was the only daughter of a widow, who removed to Greeneville, where the daughter received a superior education for the time and

place. Mrs. McCardle died in April, 1854. On May 27, 1828, Eliza McCai'dle was married to Andrew J(linson, a young juurneyman tailor, who came from South Carolina and settled in Greeneville, then her liome. She soon discovered the latent talent in her hus- band, and devoted herself to its devel- opment. Under lier instruction he added largely to his small fund of self-acciuired knowl- edge, and two years after their marriage he was elected alderman of the city, and in 1830 mayor. In 18G1 she accompanied her hus- band to Washington, D.C., whei"e he was U.S. senator, but was obliged to return to her home on account of ill-healtli, after a stay of two months. When her husband was api^ointed military governor of Tennessee in 1862 she was not able to join him, althougli ordered beyond the Confederate lines by Gen. E. Kirb}' Smith on April 24, 1862, and for several months she was kept in constant terror by accounts of his assas- sination and other false rumors of bodily harm, a price liaving been set on his head. She obtained a pass through the Confederate lines in September, 1862, for herself and children, including Mr. and Mrs. Stover and family; but they were detained in Murfreesboro by General Forrest until she re- ceived permission from the Richmond govern- ment to join her husband. Governor Johnson was elected vice-president in 1864, and his wife and family rema,ined in Nashville until his inau- guration as President on the death of President Lincoln, April 14, 1865. She then went to Wasli- ington with her family, including their daugh- ters, Martha and Mary. Martha was born in Greeneville, Tenn., Oct. 25, 1828, was educated at Georgetown, D.C., and during lier school days was a frequent guest of ]\Irs. Polk, wife of the President, at the White House. She liad re- turned to Greeneville in 1851, and on Dec. 13, 1857, was married to David T. Patterson, a local judge and lawyer. Another daughter, Mary, was born in Greeneville. Tenn., May 8, 1832, and in April, 1852. married Daniel Stover, who died in 1862, leaving her with three children. Mrs.

Stover was a member of her mother's family during the trying times of 1862, and escaped with her husband and childi'en to Nashville, where Mrs. Jolinson's eldest son, Charles, dieil by being thrown from his horse. These two daugli- ters relieved Mrs. Johnson of the social cares of the White House during her husband's adminis- tration, she being most of the time an invalid, and at its close she returned with the family to Greeneville, where soon after lier son. Col. Rol> ert Johnson, died. Her husband died suddenl)-, July 13, 1875, while visiting their youngest daughter in Carter county, and his bodj- was brought to her desolate home and buried in the cemetery there. She survived him ijut a few montJis, and died at the home of her eldest daugh- ter, at Bluff City. Tenn., Jan. i:!. 1S76.

JOHNSON, Ellen Cheney, reformer, was born in Athol, Mass., Dec. 20, 1819; daughter of Nathan and Rhoda (Holbrook) Cheney. She was an only child, and was brought up largely in the companionship of her father, a cotton uiu,nufac- turer, who taught her to fish, swim and ride on horseback, as well as to attend to the lighter duties of the farm, especially the care of the young animals and of the plants and flowers. She was educated at schools in Ware and Francestown, N.H., and took a promi- nent place in tem- perance movements of the time. She removed with the family to Boston, and was married in 1838 to Jesse C. Johnson, a business man of Boston, who died in 1881. In 1801 her interest in the welfare of the soldiers was awakened, and she became associated with ]\Irs. Harrison Gray Otis in relief movements for the sick and wounded. She was connected with the U.S. Sanitary commission, and served on the finance and executive commit- tees of the New England auxiliary branch, which she helped to organize. Her interest in the cause did not end with the war, but she continued in touch with the families of soldiers as long as she lived, and in many ways lightened the bur- dens thrown on them by the war. She was a pioneer in the movement for the reformation of women, especially in providing separate and bet- ter prison accommodations for women criminals. She was a member of the board of prison com- missioners, 1879-84, and superintendent of the Re- formatory Prison for Women at Sherborn, Mass.,

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