The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-07-19
LINCOLN's EARLY DAYS.
Correspondence ofthe Cleveland (O) Leader
PEORIA, TIL. June 25, 1860.

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PEORIA, Til. June 25, 1860.
A full and truthful biography of Abra
ham Lincoln would make book of th'
deepest interests. He furnishes in hit
history and individual character, a noble
specimen of true moral courage and man
bood-the best sample among us of the
gigantic growth Of intellect and character
under the fostering influences of Ameri
can institutions and society, when moi
dwarfed BY idleuess, dissipa alton, or dis.
honesty. Every laboring man in the
country toiling under the weight of pow
erty with view to better days, and eve.
~ student struggling for knowledge
and advancement under whatever diff
cultes, has stock in Old Abe, and may be
Justly proud of him as one of bis class
who has demonstrated the distinguished
success that may crown any honorable
ambition, properly cultivated.
Forty-four years ago Mr.. Lincoln's
father emigated from Kentucky to Speu-
Ger County, Indiana, where be purchased
a small farm. Ten years or SO after, the
project of public school iu the eighbOr-
hood was started, aud meeting with en-
couragement, log schoolhouse was built,
at which Abe, then about | g years old
and who had peTer attended school be-
fore, was installed. Exact six weeks af-
ter the school commenced, an execution
against his father-the result Of indorsing
a note for friend-swept away the lit
tie farm, aud the student vas compelled
to leave school to join his parent. who
greatly di-hesrteDed by his misfortune
had determined TO emigrate to Illinois with
bis family. The six weeks schooling in
that log school house is all that Mr.. Lin
coin ever reseived. lie is indebted for
whatever education he possesses solely to
his own unaided exertions, made during
the leisure hours of laborious life, often
consuming the time that should have
been devoted to rest, and always in the
earlier part Of bis life, under circumstan-
ces of great difficulty, induced By poverty
In due time the Lincoln family reach.
ed Coles County, where it was decided to
seek their fortunes. BY dint of hard la
bor at low wages, enough money was
saved in the course OF two years to pur-
chase and pay for eighty acres of Gov
ernuent land The son assisted his faith
er for some time 10 the cultivation of thi:
farm, bet becoming imbued with the spir
it of enterprise, he eventually started out
to try his own fortunes, aud coming tc
Macon County, after considerable diff
Guilty in obtaining work, came across a
Mr.. Hawks, With whom he closed con
tract to cut and split three thousand rails
While at work at this job be found more
time than heretofore to improve his mind
and it is related Of him that when moor
arrived be would mount log, swallow bis
dinner in from eight to ten minutes, and
then spend 6fty minutes in close stud
before commencing the afternoons work
While engaged upon this JOB our hero
made the acquaintance OF man (whost
name | have forgotteu), who proposed
that they build 6at-boat, that he would
stock it with grain and provisions, and
that Abe should commend said fat-b boa
on an expedition down the SaDgsmoD Riv
er to the Illinois; down the Illinois Rivel
to the Mississippi, and down this Rive
to New Orleans, when the hatboat an
cargo should be disposed of. The enter
prise looked promising, the dat-bOat wa
built and loaded, Capt. Lincoln proceed
ed ou his voyage, 10 due time arrived il
New Orleans, disposed of boat and cargo
aud shipped for home as decE-hand o.
board one of the Mississippi River steam
boats. On this trip up the river Mr.. Lin
coin states that he frst met the Hon. Jes
sc r. Du Bois, the present State Audito
Of Illinois and candidate on the Republi
can ticket for reelection, who was ais
discharging the duties of deck hand.
The first fat expedition proved 6
successful that two others we're projected
and By the time they were completed
Lincoln had saved several hundred do
lars. With this money be opened sma
store at settlement known as New-Sa
lem, and with the usual foolishness {
new beginners iD business, be took in
partner. Il reckon now," said LiBcoll
slludiDg to the enterprise on one occasion
with one of those proyerbally comic ez
pressions of couDtenance, 81 reckon no
that that was The store," and l judg
from bis ludicrous description of its mi'
celIaneous contents that it might hay
been. However, the new business wei
along badly, and did not prove proftabl
The partner insisted that they must sd
some whisky to their stock in trade
they would save themselves, but to tb
proposition Lincoln stoutly objected, b.
the partner as stoutly insisting, Lincol
finally sold out to him.
About this time the Black Hsv
war was the subject Of excitement.
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