Eliza McCardle and Martha Johnson

Eliza and Sweet Potato Cookies

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First Ladies - 1850 to 1900

Eliza McCardle Johnson*

Martha Johnson Patterson*

President Andrew Johnson*

First Lady Eliza, Martha, and President Andrew Johnson
Eliza McCardle Johnson
First Lady - 1865 - 1869
Quote from Eliza - "It's all very well for those who like it, but I do not like this public life at all. I often wish the time would come when we would return to where I feel we best belong."
Bio -

• Eliza was only fifteen when she met Andrew Johnson, who worked in a tailor shop and had had no education.  She was well educated and after marrying Andrew at 16, she taught him writing and mathematics.  Soon, Andrew's political ambitions took off and Eliza took care of both the shop and their 5 children.  After serving in Congress Andrew became Vice President to President Lincoln.
• When Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew, Eliza, and family moved in the White House. Eliza had chronic tuberculosis, so she managed what she could from the family's private quarters and relied on her oldest daughter, Martha, to perform First Lady duties.

Martha Johnson Patterson
Acting First Lady - 1865 - 1869
Factoid - Martha's energy knew no bounds; she bought two Jersey milk cows and started a White House dairy for fresh milk and butter.
Bio -

• Martha, husband, Senator David Patterson, and their children moved into the White House when Andrew became President.  Martha quickly took over First Lady hostessing, as her mother's health often did not allow.  Her father's Presidency was not a popular one, as he was intent on bigotry in a time when the war had just been fought for civil rights.  As her father fought against being impeached, Martha remained a steadfast hostess.
• Martha was a bit like another modern-day Martha; she loved everything about homes.  During Lincoln's Presidency, many of the White House carpets and furniture were ruined, curtains were torn, and all was filthy dirty.  When Congress wouldn't appropriate funds for new furnishings, Martha went to work with low cost solutions.  She had wallpaper put up, carpets cleaned, then  covered during parties.  She had simple slipcovers made for the furniture.  The newly renovated White House became home to not only State events, but many children's parties, due to Andrew's love of children.

About Andrew - Andrew Johnson became the 17th President, after Lincoln was assassinated.   Andrew frequently clashed with Congress over reconstruction of the South and he was lenient toward former Confederates. He vetoed civil rights legislation and opposed the 14th Amendment.  His problems with Congress led to an impeachment, however one vote to acquit kept him in Office.  His Presidency did, however, see the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

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Sweet Potato Cookies

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Andrew Johnson's favorite cooking style was that of his childhood in Tennessee.  He particularly loved sweet potatoes - pudding, pie, pone, and cookies!  Eliza also loved sweet potato biscuits.

Ingredients
1 cup mashed sweet potato (about 1 medium)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs room temperature
1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup raisins or currents (optional - I prefer without.)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Clean sweet potato, pat dry, and pierce all over with a fork.  Place on a baking sheet and  bake about 40 minutes, or until tender in thickest part of the potato.   (Modern day, you can also microwave it.) Cool, then peel and mash.  Measure out 1 cup of the mashed potato for the cookies. 
2. Reduce oven temp to 350° F for cookies.  Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper. 
3. In a large bowl, stir all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and brown sugar until thick and smooth.  Slowly add in the melted butter, applesauce, and vanilla.
5. Fold the mashed sweet potato into the egg and sugar mixture.  Add to the flour mix and fold all together, stirring by hand until all flour is combined.
6. Add sweet potato mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Fold in by hand, just until no streaks of flour remain. Do not over mix. Gently fold in the raisins or currants.
7. Drop cookies by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool for 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack to complete cooling.

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Recipe Card

Portrait Credits*
Eliza Johnson - Unidentified photographer, Photograph with applied color, Courtesy of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons locket - Locket image of Eliza Johnson c. 1840, NPS Image, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Martha Johnson Patterson - Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Johnson - Washington Bogart Cooper, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons