From pioneer home to the White House

Front matter

Class _ Book___

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

FROM,

Preface

'pHE author of this volume wrote the first Life of ■*• Abraham Lincoln — The Pioneer Boy, and how he became President — which, after a verylarge sale, passed out of print in consequence of the destruction of the plates by fire. A Campaign Life of only thirty-two pages, relating chiefly to his public career, was issued at the West, after his nomination for the Presidency in i860; but The Pioneer Boy was the first complete biography of the man. Dr. Holland said of it, several years later, in his Life of Lincoln, "A singularly faithful statement of the early experience of Abraham Lincoln." The materials for the Campaign Life spoken of were furnished by Mr. Lincoln, and he very kindly directed that pamphlet, with a quantity of unused matter, to be passed into our hands, together with the names and addresses of several of his early associates, reared with him in the wilderness, and of intimate friends in later life, from whom the most valuable information, never before given to the public, was received. From these sources of knowledge The Pioneer Boy was prepared.

In the preparation of this new, larger and more elaborate Life of Lincoln, we have had, in addition to the above sources of information, others of even greater value, at least so far as his character and public services relate.

6 PREFACE.

Subsequent to the issue of the former volume, the author, having in view the preparation of a more thorough biography at a future day, gathered much valuable information from public men, who were on the most intimate terms with President Lincoln at Washington, as Sumner, Wilson, Buckingham, and Ames, who are dead, and others who are still living. Also, periodical literature has furnished many facts and anecdotes, from time to time, which have been carefully laid aside. Last, though by no means least, access to the numerous lives of Lincoln published since his death — Dr. Holland's, Lamon's, Barrett's, Leland's, Forney's, and Raymond's — has been especially serviceable in the preparation of this volume. That very interesting work of Carpenter — Six Months in the White House — has furnished a fund of incident, illustrative of Mr. Lincoln's character and ability.

From these ample sources of material, the author has endeavored to make a biography for popular reading such as the times demand. The very large sale of his recent life of President Garfield — From Log- Cabin to the White House — created an active demand for The Pioneer Boy, which fact seemed to mark the present time as providential for the issue of this new life of the martyr President.

The perusal of this work will satisfy the reader that the author's claim, in the Preface to the Log-Cabin, that Garfield and Lincoln were remarkably alike in the circumstances of birth, early struggles, and later experience, was fully justified. The fact is without a parallel in the history of public men — such marvellous coincidences from their birth in log-cabins to their

PREFACE. 7

assassination in the White House. Apart from this likeness, however, the life of Lincoln as an example of industry, tact, perseverance, application, energy, economy, honesty, purity, devotion to principle, and triumph over obstacles in a successful career, presents a profitable study to the youth and young men of this and other lands. The only parallel to it is that of President Garfield, with which we aim to connect this later volume. The names of these two illustrious statesmen are for ever associated in the history of our Republic. It is well nigh impossible to separate them in the thoughts of men. Statesmen of such power and influence, beginning their lives in want and obscurity and ending them in the White House, cut off at last by the shot of the assassin, must find their niche together in the temple of fame. One other name only of the great and good men of the past naturally affiliates with these two — that of George Washington — the life of whom will follow this as soon as it can be prepared, bearing the title, From Farm House to the White House. These three — Washington, Lincoln, and Garfield — remarkably alike in their early precocity and the wisdom and influence of manhood — furnish stimulating examples to American readers.

Incidents are brought to the front in this life of Lincoln, as they were in that of Garfield, and they are made to portray the life of the man. Facts are better than logic to exhibit the elements of personal character; therefore, we let incidents tell the story of his life.

When Abraham Lincoln was consulted respecting his biography, after his nomination for the Presidency

8 PREFACE.

in i860, he replied: " You can find the whole of my early life in a single line of Gray's Elegy :

" ' The short and simple annals of the poor.' "

While this apt reply revealed the simplicity of the man, it introduced the biographer at once to the opening of a marvellous life. For, surely, that is a marvellous life, when a boy, reared in a floorless log-cabin, works his way, by dint of perseverance, upward and onward, into the highest office of the land.

The chief object of the book is to show how its hero won his position ; yet it incidentally exhibits the manners and customs of the times, and section of country, in which he was reared.

Provincialisms are intentionally avoided, as well as that singular perversion of the English language that characterized the unlettered people of Kentucky and Indiana sixty years ago.

When Mr. Lincoln was alive, and the honored President of the United States, one of his old friends and neighbors wrote to us : "I have known him long and well, and I can say in truth, I think (take him altogether) he is the best man I ever saw. Although he has never made a public profession of religion, I nevertheless believe that he has the fear of God before his eyes, and that he goes daily to a throne of grace, and asks wisdom, light, and knowledge, to enable him faithfully to discharge his duties." The reader will find abundant confirmation of the friend's eulogy in this volume.

W. M. T.

Franklin, Mass., March, 1882.

Contents

BIRTHPLACE.

Cabin-home on Nolin Creek — Father and Mother — Ancestors in Virginia — Indians, and Grandfather Killed by Them

— A Dark Day — Tales of Abraham's Childhood — Battle with Indians — Capture of Three Girls — His Father's Youth — Learning Carpenter's Trade — Could not Read or Write — Learning of his Wife — Members of Baptist Church — His Mother — On Knob Creek — Abraham Fishing and Hunting — Dennis Hanks — Furniture of his House 23

II. A Schoolboy

Riney's School — Reading only Taught — Hazel's School — How to get the Money — Indiana a Free State — Few and Poor Schools — Four Miles Away — The Lincoln Library

— Religious Advantages — Elder Elkins — Reading the Bible — Familiar with Bible through Life — Incidents of His Parents' desire to Educate him — Decision to Move to Indiana — Gallaher's Interest — A Conversation — Land Titles — Real Cause of Removal to Indiana, a Free State . 32

III. The Old Home Sold

Colby's Arrival — His Proposition — It Awakens Surprise — The Farm Sold for Whiskey — Not Singular then — Preparations to Move — Settlement — Starting on Flatboat —

IO CONTENTS.

On the Ohio — Upset in the River — Saved — Recovery of part of Goods — Thompson's Ferry — Moved by Posey to Interior — Gave Boat for Moving — Spot Selected — Going back for Family — Heroism of Western Females then — Indians — Seven Days on the Journey 42

IV. A New Home Made

The Axe a Symbol of Pioneer Life — Strength Developed — Incident Forty Years Later — Erecting a Half-faced Camp

— How Abe began Pioneer life — Built Log-house next Year

— Described — Putting up a Bed — Making Table and Stools — Abe's Parlor Chamber — The Home-made Grist-mill — Process of making it — How Pioneer Families got Meal — Reading in his new Home — Improving in Penmanship — Surroundings described — No Water near — How got this Farm — Spencer County — State of Society two Years later, and Physical Condition described by Turnham — Mrs. Lincoln against Drinking Customs . . 56

AFTER GAME.

His First Shot — Talking over Loss on Ohio — The Flock of Turkeys — A large one killed — Abe Lincoln surprised — Dependent on Hunting for Food — Skill of Pioneer Hunters — Their Standard — Snuffing a Candle — Arrival of Thomas and Betsey Sparrow — A happy day — Godsend to Abraham 70

VI. Darker Days

Hungry for Knowledge — Wants other Books than Bible — The " Milk-Disease" — Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow sick — Nursing them — Their Death and Burial — Mrs. Lincoln's brief Sickness — Neighbors' Sympathy and Skill — Her speedy

CONTENTS. I 1

Death — Buried on the Knoll — Abe's Letter to Parson Elkins — His first Letter — Neighbors surprised — Writing Letters for them — Parson Elkins comes — His Welcome — His Funeral Sermon — Impression upon Abraham — Character and Power of Pioneer Preachers — A Remarkable Example — These Preachers and Abraham's early life . . .76

VII. Brighter Hours

Copy of Pilgrim's Progress — His surprise — .^Esop's Fables

— A Treasure and its Influence — Books Interfere with Work — His Father's Reproof — Writing Name on the Earth — Charged with Laziness — The Charge Repelled

— Common to call Students lazy — None Lazy who Improve every Moment — At Baldwin's Shop — Seeking entertainment — Ramsay's Life of Washington read — Robinson Crusoe his delight 93

VIII. A New Mother And Schools

Mr. Lincoln's Home Untidy — Need of a Wife and Mother — Remembers a Friend of his early Manhood — Married — Brings his Bride Home — Her "Household Stuff" — The second Mrs. Lincoln better Educated than the first — Has Floor made and Windows supplied — Abraham's Welcome to his Stepmother and her Children — What Dennis Hanks says — Dennis Married one of her Daughters — Dorsey opens School — School-house described — Arithmetic — "Trapping up" — Crawford's School — Crawford's Influence — His Prophecy about Abe — Example of Abe's Honesty — What Nat Grigsby says — Abe's Compositions — Opposes Cruelty to Animals — Defends a Terrapin — His Plea — Crawford's Praise— The Rule of Three — Peacemaker — An Example — Best Spelling — Spelling D-e-f-i-e-d

— Teaching "Manners" — Abe's Appearance — Swaney's School — John Hanks 103

IX. Borrowing And What Came Of It

Talk about Washington — Weems' Life of Washington — Borrowing the Book — Consequences of Borrowing Books — Pleasant Hours — A Rain ruins the Book — Sorrowing over it — Proposition to Crawford, the Owner — His Extortion — A hard Man — Cuts three Acres of Fodder to Pay for Book — Afterwards Worked for Crawford, with his Sister— " The Kentucky Preceptor " — Appearance of Josiah Crawford — His Nose in Abe's Verse and " Chronicles" — What Mrs. Crawford says about his being President — Abraham Kicked seriously by a Horse — " Cluck," 120

X. Working And Winning

Society about him — Mrs. Crawford's Description — Population increased — People superstitious — Examples of superstition — Influence on Abraham — Becomes a Ferryman, Farmer, Hostler, and House-servant — Reads History of the United States at Night — Employer's Son his Bedfellow — Abe's late Reading vexes him — What he Said about Abe Twenty Years after — Hog-killing — Became a Butcher — His Sister Married — He Writes a Poem for the Occasion — His Presence demanded at Parties — Works for Jones the Store-keeper — Variety of Work — Reads Life of Franklin — Reads a Newspaper here — Discusses Politics — Life of Henry Clay — Visits afterwards to Grocery — Acting the good Samaritan, himself the Horse — Saved a Man 132

XL

UPWARD AND ONWARD.

How Abraham was regarded — What John Hanks says — Mr. Lamon's words — His Mother's Testimony — The Scrap-book — His Mother's Tribute to Herndon — Reading and "Preaching about" — The Eccentric Preacher and Abraham's imitation — His Father stopping it — Foundation of Greatness laid here — Working for Mr. Wood — The Temperance Paper, and Writing for it — The Political Paper, and Writing for it — Excitement over the Pioneer Writer — Substance of his Political Article — Just what he Wrote when President — Abraham's Temperance Principles — His Original Copies in Verse — Hunting a Necessity — Wild Animals there — Plays and Games — Abraham's great Strength .... 145

XII. On The Flatboat

Works for Mr. Gentry — A Flatboat Trip to New Orleans Proposed — Account of Flatboating — Consent of Parents to go — His Mother's Apprehensions — Preparations — Talk with Miss Robyon Astronomy — What she Thought Forty Years after — The Trip described — A Rough Life

— A Bloody Contest with Madame Bushane's Slaves — The Sequel — The Trip successful — Return Home . . . 158

XIII. Sundry Incidents

Trading Trip — His first Dollar for Service — Looking higher

— Call on Mr. Woods — Disappointed Hope — Another Log-cabin — The Statutes of Indiana — Studying and Reading at David Turnham's — Going to Court — The Murder Trial — Meeting the Shelby Boy and President — The Gentryville Lyceum — Questions Discussed — Place for the Enslaved — Abe's Appearance — Centre of Attraction — The Foolish Act and the Outcome — How he Learned — Dennis Hanks' Eulogy — Talk of Removing

to Illinois 169

XIV. Off To Illinois

The Families to Remove — How they Went — Abe of Age

— Will not Leave his Father and Mother — Scripps —

His Description of Moving — Two Hundred Miles — Bad Roads and Swollen Streams — The Kaskaskia — Uncle John's House — The Spot to Settle — Building a Log-house — The Fifteen Acres — Ploughing, Rail-splitting, and Fencing — Mrs. Brown's Story, and Abe's Bedfellow

— George Chase's Story — Splitting Rails, and Reading

— Attacked by Fever and Ague — Useful — A Hard Winter 180

XV. Another Trip To New Orleans

Denton Offutt's Proposition — Who is Abe — His Step-brother — The Plan and Pay — Start for Springfield — Boat not Ready — Abe Proposes to Build one — Repair to Spring Creek — Merry Times — Discussions — The Juggler — Description of Abe again — Boat Finished, and Cargo — Stuck on Rutledge's Dam — Abe's Ingenuity — The Spectators — Success and Cheers — Offutt's Opinion

— Abraham's Invention afterwards — The Patent Office

— Loading Wild Hogs — Sewing up their Eyes — The Voyage Down the River — Horrified by Slavery — Providence leading — Return — Offutt hires Abe to keep Store

— Walks from St. Louis — The Famous Wrestler — Abe's Magnanimity 191

XVI. In A Pioneer Store

Going to New Salem — Waiting — Acting as Polling Clerk

— Going on Flatboat to Beardstown — Oftutt coming with Goods — Installed " Storekeeper" — Care of Saw-mill too

— W. G. Green, Assistant Clerk — His Popularity in the Store — His Honesty — Examples of it — Silencing the Drunken Bully — Minter Graham and Pinkham's Grammar — How Abraham Found and Studied it — Lamon's Words — Studied in Cooper's Shop — Great Progress — Talk with Alley — His Estimate of Grammar — Meeting Richard Bates — Spilling the Milk and Breaking Bowl — A Noble Trait — Mastered Grammar — Its Blessing to him thereafter _ 204

CONTENTS. J 5

XVII. Still A Clerk

The Clary's Grove Boys - Their Aim - Description of th e m _ Ruffians - How they Attacked Abraham - Dispute with Offutt-Jack Wrestling with Abraham -How Abraham Settled the Trouble -The Clary Grove Boys Lose Power-"Honest Abe"-Jack's Trouble with a Stran-er- Abraham reconciles them - Abraham Builds a Pi-pen -Debating Clubs -Dr. Holland's Account - The Talisman Navigating the Sangamon- Abraham a Pilot -Herndon's Account - Offutt's Poor Bargains and Failure — Dr. Holland on Abraham's Standing • • • ■

XVIII. On The War Path

The Black Hawk War -Abraham Resolves to Enlist - Others follow -A Company formed in New Salem - How chosen Captain - Abraham's Speech -" Captain Lincoln"- He Lifts a Barrel of Whiskey -His Views of Betting, and Whiskey -Lecture to Green -Going into Camp, and End of War - Incidents -The Friendly Indian and General Cass - Abraham's Courage and Power _ His Life in Danger -The Greatest Athlete- Wrestles with Thompson - His Uprightness - Securing the Rights of his Volunteer Company - Irwin's Tribute to him as a Soldier — Abraham's Humorous Speech about it in Congress .

XIX. Unsought Honors

After his Return from War -Thinks of Learning Black- ■ smith's Trade -Candidate for the Legislature - His lalk with Green and Surprise - How he Consented, and the Lyceum -Nominated, and first Speech- Address to Voters of the Country - His Comical Dress -Not Elected -Advised to Study Law - An Honest Calling -No

Confidence in himself — Desires Permanent Occupation

— Becomes a Merchant again — The National Debt — His Failure — What Books Read — Synopsis of all he Read — Old Copy of Blackstone — What McHenry says — Assists Ellis in the Store — What Ellis says of him — What Papers Read — How Avoided Interruptions — Meeting John Calhoun — Becomes Surveyor — His Success — Reforms New Salem — Makes Jack behave — Umpire at Horse-race — How Worked for Short — Appointed Postmaster — Office in his Hat 243

XX. Laurels Won

Elected Representative in 1834 — Dr. Barrett's View — Refused to " Treat " his Friends — Close Study — How Obtained a New Suit of Clothes and Interview with Smoot

— Pocket-money — Infidels and Infidel Books — In the Legislature — John T. Stuart Advises him to Study Law

— His Generous Aid — Henry Clay — Decides to Study Law — Self-denial and Companions — Walking Twenty-two Miles for Books — Like Cicero — Elected again in 1S36 — Surveying and Studying — Prevents Violence at a Political Meeting — Flaying a Politician Alive — Who Met in Legislature — The Long Nine — Face to Face with Slavery — Firm Stand with Dan Stone — Admitted to Bar in 1837 — Elected for Third Term in 1838 — His Firm Temperance Principles — Addressing Young Men's Lyceum — Elected Fourth Time in 1S40 — Quelling a Political Mob — Silencing a Legislator with a. Story — Stuart and Logan — Married — Letters of Friendship Revealing his Heart 261

XXI. Successful Lawyer

His Practice and Poverty — Circuit Court — House Enlarged in his Absence — Horse, Saddle-bags, and Buggy — His Character — Not Defend a Client in Wrong — An Interesting Case — The Old Negress and Her Son Redeemed

— Colonel Baker and Lincoln — What Judge Treat relates — Deluded into a Wrong Case — Refused to Defend his Client when Convinced he was Guilty — Another Case — A Suit against a Railroad — Refused $250 Offered him — What Gillespie Thought of him as a Lawyer — What Sparks said of him — How he Saved Jack Armstrong's Son from the Gallows — Aunt Hannah and her Gratitude — His Eloquence and Power — How he Assisted Aunt Hannah afterwards — Released her Son from the Army when President — What his Associate said of nis Plea — Habits of Study — Sending Money to Parents

— Spends $750 for his Mother — Letter to his Dying Father — Testimony of Judge Davis and Judge Drummond 279

XXII. The Rising Statesman

Candidate for Congress — Henry Clay — Generosity to a Client — Takes Seat in Congress Dec. 6, 1847 — Opposes Mexican War and Annexation of Texas — Popularity in Congress — Devotes Himself to Self-improvement — Retirement — Occasional Political and Temperance Speeches — Aroused by Breaking Missouri Compromise

— Takes the Field of Controversy — Replying to Douglas

— Great Speech — Great Success — Candidate for United States Senator — Magnanimous Withdrawal in Favor of Turnbull — Republican Party of Illinois Organized, his Speech — Candidate for Vice-President in 1856 — In Fremont Campaign — His Prophecies of Bloodshed — Candidate for United States Senator in 1S58 — His Victorious Debates with Douglas — His " House-Divided-Against- Itself Speech" — Interview with Herndon and Others — Result of the Canvas — His Tribute to Declaration of Independence ,. 297

XXIII. Going Up Higher

State Convention of Illinois — Lincoln Invited to Platform — The Hurrah — The Old Democrat and Rails — Criticism of

Democrat — Convention puts him forward for President

— Incidents a Year Before — An Old Friend in New York

— At Five-Points Mission — Dr. Gulliver's Account of Interview with him — National Republican Convention at Chicago — The Candidates — Lincoln Nominated on Third Ballot — A Hurricane of Applause — News at Springfield

— Scenes — His Temperance Principles come to the Front again — Effect at the South — His Visitors many — Amusing Incidents — His Height — The Scanty Dinner — Hannah Armstrong — Incidents in Chicago — His Election to the Presidency — Dramatic Scene in Presence of Mr. Bateman — His Confidence in Bible and Prayer — Child of Providence — Went to see his Mother, a Touching Scene — People Fear his Assassination — Speech to Neighbors on Leaving for Washington — Trip there — Plot to Assassinate him 311

XXIV. Life In The White House

What he Did — Incidents Tell the Story — Inauguration — His Address — Reading Address to Family — His Cabinet

— Words with a Senator — Depended on Patriotism of the People — The Previous Administration — Lincoln's Story

— Interview with Senator Douglas — Call for 75,000 Troops — Support of Douglas — First Gun of the Rebellion — Fall of Sumter — Effect — He Ruled and no one else — Rejects Cameron's Advice — Refused to Retaliate — Refused to Remove Cameron — Criticizes a Committee's Report — The Smith Case — His Firmness

— Thrusts an Officer out of his Room — Sickness and Death in his Family — Mrs. Pomroy's Interview — Watching with Sick Tad — Talk with Mrs. Pomroy upon Religion — Reciting her Experience — Twice — Thrice — Prayer and the War — The Midnight Telegram — Willie's Funeral — The Senator — His Mother's Bible — Instituting Prayer for Soldiers — Pleasing Incident — His Interview with Dr. Vinton — A Devoted Father — His Deep Sorrow — Defence of his Stories — His Wit — His Magnanimity — Art of Putting Things — Several Illustrations

— What a Writer Says — His Religious Character — Trust in Providence — Orders to Prevent Sabbath-breaking and Profanity — Temperance — His Literary Ability — Illustrations — Address at Dedication of National Cemetery . 333

XXV. His Great Interest In Soldiers

Father Abraham" — "The Boys" — His Opinion Expressed — Spoke from Experience — Would not Yield Care of Soldiers — Daily Routine — Night-work — Soldiers before Senators — A Soldier and his Mother — The Baby — Boy on the Ottawa — The Drummer Boy — A Mother Asks for a Son — The Handsomest Man — Rests in Pardoning the "Boys" — The Four Telegrams — Do him no Good to Shoot him — The Vermont "Boy" — Blood and Remission of Sins — Rebel Sympathizer — Shaking the Hands of Five Thousand Soldiers — The Rebel Soldier — Extracts from Letters — Sorrow over Slain Soldiers — Dr. Holland's Words and Facts — His Praise of General Garfield — His Letter to a Mother — In terest in Soldiers' Aid Societies — Letter and Speeches — Joy over Relief for Soldiers — Pity for "Boys" in Rebel Prisons — Retaliation — Visiting Rebel Prisoners — The Penitent — Herndon's Eulogy — Climax of the Sacrifice . 372

XXVI. His Work For The Colored Race

' Liberator of a Race " — His Sentiments Stated — Letter to Greeley — Sojourner Truth — Frederick Douglas — Children of Concord — Counting Greenbacks for a Negro — Colored Delegation from Louisiana — Protection of Colored Soldiers, his Order — Refusing to give up Colored Soldiers — Refused to Pardon Slave-Trader — Committed to Negro Suffrage — Reverence of Colored Soldiers for him — Negroes in Virginia — Their Joy over Lincoln in Richmond — Colonel McKaye's Account of them — Their Gift of a Bible — Of Wax Flowers — Asking for Proclamation of Emancipation — First Proposed Freedom —

Cabinet Meeting — Proclamation Issued — His Signature

— Carpenter's Painting — Copy of Proclamation — Words

of Colfax 4°i

XXVII. Still In The White House

Re-nomination — The Soldiers for him — The German — Call for 500,000 Troops — His Re-election — Reply to Committee — Its Effect — Second Inauguration — His Address Remarkable — Copy of it — Sumner's Words — Civil Service Reform — Office-seekers — Going to City Point — His Telegrams — Fall of Richmond — Lincoln enters the City — At Jeff Davis's Headquarters — Reading Shakespeare — Surrender of Lee — National Joy — Sumner Classes Lincoln with Washington 420

XXVIII. Shot Of The Assassin

Threats of Assassination — His Remarks — Objected to Guards — Colonel Halpine's Appeal — Plot to Abduct him

— Robert Lincoln's Return — Ford's Theatre — Ashmun and Colfax — The Fatal Shot — The Assassin — Fearful Excitement — Seward Wounded — Death-bed Scene — Terrible Night — The Assassin — Assassin Caught — A Fact about Booth — Lincoln and William of Orange — Description of the Nation's Sorrow — The Sabbath — Vengeance in New York — Garfield's Words — Grief of Colored People — Letter from Charleston, S. C. — A Friend's Story down South — Foreign Sympathy — Victoria — Eugenie — France — Italy — Belgium, etc. — Tributes of Bancroft and Speaker Colfax 433

XXIX. Funeral Ceremonies

Preparation for Funeral — Action of Congress — Lying in State — The City in Black — Funeral in East Room — Dr.

Gurley's Eloquent Tribute — Ceremonies at the Capitol — Vast Multitude — Ceremonies throughout the Land — Floral Tributes — Funeral Train to Springfield — Scene in Baltimore — Sorrow in every Village — Philadelphia in Tears — Prophetic Words — Tribute of New York — Mottoes — Other Cities — The Scene at Midnight — Funeral at Chicago and Springfield — Closing Tributes .... 449

XXX. Oration

By Hon. George Bancroft 459

Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.

Chapter I. Birthplace

|HE miserable log cabin which the artist furnishes further on in this chapter, tells the tale of poverty and lowliness into which Abraham Lincoln was born. It was a floorless, doorless, windowless shanty, situated in one of the most barren and desolate spots of Hardin county, Kentucky. His father made it his home simply because he was too poor to own a better one. Nor was his an exceptional case of penury and want. For the people of that section were generally poor and unlettered, barely able to scrape enough together to keep the wolf of hunger from their abodes.

Here Abraham Lincoln was born February 12th, 1809. His father's name was Thomas Lincoln; his mother's maiden name was Nancy Hanks. When they were married, Thomas was twenty-eight years of age, and Nancy, his wife, twenty-three. They had been married three years when Abraham was born. Their cabin was in that part of Hardin County which is now embraced in La Rue County, a few miles from Hodgensville — on the south fork of Nolin Creek. A perennial spring of water, gushing in silvery brightness from beneath a rock near by, relieved the barrenness of the location, and won for it the somewhat ambitious name — " Rock Spring Farm."

" How came Thomas Lincoln here ? " the reader will ask, "Whence did he come?" "Who were his ancestors ? " . •

Thomas Lincoln was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1778. Two years later (in 1780), his father lured by the stories of the remarkable fertility of the soil in Kentucky, and the rapid growth of the population, removed thither for a permanent abode. He had five children at the time — three sons and two daughters — and Thomas was the youngest child but one. He settled in Mercer, now Bullitt County.

Then, a hundred years ago, the Indians in that region, and throughout the whole north-west territory, were deadly hostile to the whites. The pioneer " took his life into his hands " by removing thither. His rifle was his constant companion, that he might defend himself against the savage foe, whether at home or abroad. If he went to the field to plough or build fence, or into the woods to chop, his rifle was indispensable. He knew not when or where the wily Indian would surprise him.

Four years after the father of Thomas Lincoln moved into Kentucky, he went into the field to build fence. He took Thomas, who was then about six years old, with him, and sent his two older sons, Mordecai and Josiah, to work in another field not far away. While busily engaged in putting up fence, a party of Indians in ambush fired at the father and he fell dead. The sons were terribly frightened, and little Thomas was well-nigh paralyzed. Josiah ran to a stockade two miles off, and Mordecai, the eldest, ran to the cabin, from the loft of which, through a loop-hole, he could see the Indians. A savage was in the act of lifting his little brother from the ground, whereupon Mordecai, aiming his gun through the hole in the loft, fired, and killed the "redskin." The latter fell to the ground instantly and Thomas ran for his life to the cabin. Mordecai continued at his post, blazing away at the head of every Indian who peered from the underbrush. Soon, however, Josiah arrived from the stockade with a party of settlers ; and the savages fled, leaving their dead comrade and a wounded one behind them. Mordecai had done good execution with his rifle.