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Eliza
McCardle Johnson
Date of Birth: Oct 4, 1810
Date of Death: Jan 15, 1876
Age at death: 65
Married: May 5, 1827 Andrew Johnson
Children: 5 |
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- The second of two presidents who was
an indentured servant, Andrew Johnson left his tailor apprentice
and opened his own shop in Greenville, Tennessee at age 18
- He met 16 year-old Eliza McCardle,
and two months later they were wed
- Living in the back of the shop, they
both did sewing and garment alterations
- The Johnsons often tailored clothes
and suits as gifts for friends
- Johnson had no formal education, but
learned to read, write and spell from Eliza, who tutored him
for ten years
- At age 41, after the birth of her
fifth child, Eliza developed tuberculosis from which she never
recovered
- Her health gradually deteriorated
rendering her a near invalid
- Once in the White House, barely able
to leave her room, she remanded her duties to her two daughters,
Mary and Martha
- Mrs. Johnson saved newspaper clippings
of the impeachment trial of her husband, and followed a daily
vigil of prayer for his acquittal
- The president escaped removal from
office by one vote
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