Our American Holidays: Lincolns Birthday | Page 4

I came to Illinois, and passed the first year in Macon
County. Then I got to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, now
Menard County, where I remained a year as a sort of clerk in a store.
Then came the Black Hawk War, and I was elected a captain of
volunteers--a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had
since. I went into the campaign, was elected, ran for the Legislature the
same year (1832), and was beaten--the only time I have ever been
beaten by the people. The next and three succeeding biennial elections I
was elected to the Legislature. I was not a candidate afterward. During
the legislative period I had studied law, and removed to Springfield to
practice it. In 1846 I was elected to the Lower House of Congress. Was
not a candidate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive,
practiced law more assiduously than ever before. Always a Whig in
politics, and generally on the Whig electoral ticket, making active

canvasses. I was losing interest in politics when the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise aroused me again. What I have done since then
is pretty well known.
"If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said I
am in height six feet four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing, on an
average, one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse
black hair and gray eyes--no other marks or brands recollected.
"Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN."
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF LINCOLN'S LIFE
BY OSBORN H. OLDROYD
From "Words of Lincoln"
The sun which rose on the 12th of February, 1809, lighted up a little
log cabin on Nolin Creek, Hardin Co., Ky., in which Abraham Lincoln
was that day ushered into the world. Although born under the humblest
and most unpromising circumstances, he was of honest parentage. In
this backwoods hut, surrounded by virgin forests, Abraham's first four
years were spent. His parents then moved to a point about six miles
from Hodgensville, where he lived until he was seven years of age,
when the family again moved, this time to Spencer Co., Ind.
The father first visited the new settlement alone, taking with him his
carpenter tools, a few farming implements, and ten barrels of whisky
(the latter being the payment received for his little farm) on a flatboat
down Salt Creek to the Ohio River. Crossing the river, he left his cargo
in care of a friend, and then returned for his family. Packing the
bedding and cooking utensils on two horses, the family of four started
for their new home. They wended their way through the Kentucky
forests to those of Indiana, the mother and daughter (Sarah) taking their
turn in riding.
Fourteen years were spent in the Indiana home. It was from this place
that Abraham, in company with young Gentry, made a trip to New

Orleans on a flatboat loaded with country produce. During these years
Abraham had less than twelve months of schooling, but acquired a
large experience in the rough work of pioneer life. In the autumn of
1818 the mother died, and Abraham experienced the first great sorrow
of his life. Mrs. Lincoln had possessed a very limited education, but
was noted for intellectual force of character.
The year following the death of Abraham's mother his father returned
to Kentucky, and brought a new guardian to the two motherless
children. Mrs. Sally Johnson, as Mrs. Lincoln, brought into the family
three children of her own, a goodly amount of household furniture, and,
what proved a blessing above all others, a kind heart. It was not
intended that this should be a permanent home; accordingly, in March,
1830, they packed their effects in wagons, drawn by oxen, bade adieu
to their old home, and took up a two weeks' march over untraveled
roads, across mountains, swamps, and through dense forests, until they
reached a spot on the Sangamon River, ten miles from Decatur, Ill.,
where they built another primitive home. Abraham had now arrived at
manhood, and felt at liberty to go out into the world and battle for
himself. He did not leave, however, until he saw his parents
comfortably fixed in their new home, which he helped build; he also
split enough rails to surround the house and ten acres of ground.
In the fall and winter of 1830, memorable to the early settlers of Illinois
as the year of the deep snow, Abraham worked for the farmers who
lived in the neighborhood. He made the acquaintance of a man of the
name of Offutt, who hired him, together with his stepbrother, John D.
Johnson, and his uncle, John Hanks, to take a flatboat loaded with
country produce down the Sangamon River to Beardstown, thence
down the Illinois