Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation)

Life and Orange County connections

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 9 dated events in the chronology →

During their lifetime

1. about 1826 Young Andrew Johnson, walking from Raleigh to Tennessee, is fed and lodged at James Craig's On his way west on foot, the future president Andrew Johnson stopped at James Craig's farmhouse about a mile west of the village and was given supper, a night's lodging and food for the road. He told the story from the steps of the president's house when he returned for the 1867 commencement. Place: James Craig's house ("Fur Craig's"), west edge of Chapel Hill · Also named: James CraigSearch the index · DocSouth: Kemp P. Battle, History of the University of North Carolina, vol. 1 (1907), p. 759
2. May 27, 1867 Dialectic Society students ask Governor Worth to help make President Johnson a member Writing from Chapel Hill on May 27, 1867, J. R. Strayhorn, P. B. Means and W. S. Pearson asked Governor Jonathan Worth, on behalf of the Dialectic Society, to use his influence to secure President Andrew Johnson as an honorary member. They noted that the society already counted James K. Polk among its regular members. People: Jonathan Worth, William S. (William Simpson) Pearson, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation), James K. Polk Place: Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina · Also named: J. R. Strayhorn, P. B. MeansSearch the index · Internet Archive: North Carolina Historical Review 28 (1951), p. 496
3. by May 22, 1867 William A. Graham receives his presidential pardon William A. Graham of Hillsborough, a former Confederate senator, received his pardon from President Andrew Johnson, lifting the cloud on his loyalty that had followed him since the war. People: William A. Graham, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation) Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 22, 1867, p. 2
4. January 30, 1868 William A. Graham asks President Johnson to keep armed men from the polls Writing from Hillsborough on January 30, 1868, former governor William A. Graham sent President Andrew Johnson a copy of the state act forbidding militia musters or armed men at the time and place of any election. He renewed the request he had made in Washington for a proclamation or general order barring armed men and military forces from the coming vote on the constitution drafted by the Reconstruction convention. People: William A. Graham, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation) Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · Internet Archive: North Carolina Historical Review 29 (1952), p. 570

After their death in 1875

Later events: estates and burials, and the buildings, honors and histories that remember them.

1. June 24, 1947 Joseph Felmet is tried in Chapel Hill Recorder's Court on the bus seating charge and sentenced to the roads Felmet's trial, put off in May while Bayard Rustin and Igal Roodenko were tried, was held in Chapel Hill Recorder's Court on June 24, 1947. He was sentenced to the county roads, appealed to Superior Court and posted a $50 bond. People: Joseph A. Felmet, Bayard Rustin, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation), Igal Roodenko Place: Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, December 4, 1948, p. 4
2. August 18, 1947 Superior court continues the Journey of Reconciliation bus seating case When the August term opened, Judge Walter J. Bone granted defense lawyer C. J. Gates of Durham a continuance in the case of Andrew S. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Igal Roodenko and Joseph Felmet, charged under the state bus seating law. Solicitor W. H. Murdock had opposed the motion and asked for trial. People: Bayard Rustin, Igal Roodenko, Joseph A. Felmet, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation) Place: Court house, Hillsborough · Also named: Walter J. Bone, C. J. Gates, W. H. MurdockThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 21, 1947, p. 1
3. March 1948 An Orange County Superior Court jury convicts Felmet and the other three Chapel Hill bus defendants A jury found Andrew S. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Igal Roodenko and Joseph Felmet guilty of breaking the bus seating law, and Judge Chester Morris sentenced each to 30 days. The men, defended by C. J. Gates, Herman L. Taylor and E. R. Avent, appealed to the North Carolina Supreme Court and posted bond. People: Joseph A. Felmet, Bayard Rustin, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation), Igal Roodenko Place: Hillsborough · Also named: Chester Morris, C. J. Gates, Herman L. Taylor, E. R. AventSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 25, 1948, p. 1
4. January 7, 1949 North Carolina Supreme Court upholds the convictions of Felmet and the other Chapel Hill bus riders In State v. Johnson the court affirmed the Orange County convictions, holding that the state seating statutes applied unless the riders proved they were interstate passengers. The opinion, like the lower court record, spells his name Joseph A. Felmont. People: Joseph A. Felmet, Bayard Rustin, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation), Igal Roodenko Place: Chapel HillSearch the index · Caselaw Access Project: State v. Johnson, 229 N.C. 701 (1949)
5. June 17, 2022 Journey of Reconciliation convictions are vacated On June 17, 2022, Orange County Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour vacated the disorderly conduct convictions of Bayard Rustin, Igal Roodenko, Andrew Johnson and Joseph Felmet. The four Journey of Reconciliation riders had been arrested in Chapel Hill in April 1947 for refusing to leave the front of an interstate bus. People: Bayard Rustin, Igal Roodenko, Andrew Johnson (Journey of Reconciliation), Joseph A. Felmet Place: Countywide · Also named: Allen BaddourOrange County, NC: Journey of Reconciliation