Andrew Jackson. See quotation, 1813.
1813. It was on this homeward march [from the Mississippi] that the nickname of “Old Hickory” was bestowed on the General. First of all, the remark was made … that [he] was “tough.” Next it was observed of him that he was as “tough as hickory.” Then he was called Hickory. Lastly the affectionate adjective “old” was prefixed, and the General thenceforth rejoiced in the completed nickname, usually the first-won honor of a great commander.—James Parton, ‘Life of Andrew Jackson,’ i. 381–2 (1860).
1814. [The captain of a company at New Orleans complained that his men called him Captain Flatfoot. General Jackson said,] “Why, Captain, they call me Old Hickory; and if you prefer my title to yours, I will readily make an exchange.”—Waldo, ‘Memoirs of Andrew Jackson,’ p. 313 (Hartford, 1818).
1822. A host of dons could not bend Old Hickory from the line of duty.—Toast given at Boston, July 4: Pennsylvania Intelligencer, Aug. 9.
1824. The friends of Mr. Clay are joining the ranks of Old Hickory (Jaokson).—Mass. Spy, Aug, 18: from The Centerville (Ind.) Emporium.
1828.
| When hope was sinking in dismay, | |
| And clouds obscured a former day, | |
| Thy steady soul, old Hickory, | |
| Resolv’d on death or liberty. | |
| Firm, united, let us be, | |
| Rallying round old Hickory; | |
| As a band of brothers join’d, | |
| Clay and Adams foes shall find. | |
‘The New Hail Columbia,’ Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 8, p. 4/1. |
1823.
| The Tariff is a dirty thing; | |
| It injures all it touches; | |
| I’ll good success to Hickory sing, | |
| If standing on my crutches. | |
Toast given by Wm. E. Ladd at Shady Bottom, Mecklenburg County, Va., on July 4: Richmond Whig, July 19, p. 3/4. |
1828. Can you get Old Hickory in?—New Hampshire Journal, Sept. 20.
1829. A timber merchant of Weedsport, N.Y., alias a peddler of brooms, recommends his wares as “Jackson brooms, with raal hickory handles.”—Mass. Spy, Jan. 14.
1831. “The anti-Kemble Jacksonians of the Fourth Ward,” issued a manifesto signed “Several Old Hickories.”—Troy (N.Y.), Watchman, Nov. 12.
1836. Old Hickory would not got out of the way … to run over him.—Mr. Peyton, House of Repr., Dec. 15: Cong. Globe, p. 270, App.
1840. I had almost said perish Old Hickory.—John P. Kennedy, ‘Quodlibet,’ p. 140 (1860).
1841. Mr. Stanley replied that it was a distribution bill, and it was so called to avoid Old Hickory’s veto upon it.—House of Repr., Feb. 18: Cong. Globe, p. 187.
1844. Do gentlemen suppose the people have forgotten the hickory poles, hickory brooms, and hickory brushes which they formerly paraded on all occasions, and the pictures of a hog with which they headed their tickets, to influence the party to “go the whole hog” in elections? And even now, whenever one from that party is suspected of disaffection, do you not see him fasten himself on to a hickory stick, and tote it about as an emblem of his faithfulness?—Mr. Hardin of Ill., the same, March 21: id., p. 631, App.
1846. [Here is an act] which receives the signature of “Old Hickory”—the genuine article—no infantile hickory—the old fellow himself.—Mr. Brinkerhoff of Ohio, the same, Aug. 3: id., p. 1186.
1854. The whigs allers did say ‘Old Hickory’ was crazy.—H. H. Riley, ‘Puddleford,’ p. 207.
1858. Old Hickory crossed the Warrior River at the close of the Campaign, at Carthage, in Tuscaloosa County.—Olympia (W.T.), Pioneer, March 12: from the Mobile Mercury.
