Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-05-30


D and athletic, could WELD the axe, direct
the plow, or use the rifle, as well as thc
best of his compeers, and was fully up tc
all the mysteries of prairie farming, and
fully Injured to hardship and toll Sinct
he aruiEed at age he has not been to school
Whichever his requirements are, they have
been pickedup from time to time as op
pOrtunity occurred, or as the pressure OI
some exigency demanded.
At twcnty-one he removed to Illinois,
and passed the first year in Macon County,
in active labor on a farm, where he and a
fellow laborer, (named Hanks) SPLIT
THREE THOUSAND RAILS, in the yea1
1880. 1t will be interesting to the mil
lions before whom he is now placed as a
candidate for the highest office in the gift
of free people, to know that he once
managed a fatboat on the Ohio River
The anecdotes which he sometimes relates
to his friends of his maratime experiences
before the introduction of steam on the
western rivers, are indescribably laughable
From Macon County he went to New Sa-
lem, in what is now Menare County, where
he remained about year. Then came the
Black Hawk war. A company of volun-
teers was raised in New Salem and the sur
rounding country, and young Lincoln was
elected captain-a success which, he has
since said, gave him more pleasure than he
has ever since enjoyed. He served with
credit during the campaign, and became
popular. Returning to Sangamon County,
he learned the art of surveying, and prose-
cuted that profession until the financial
crash of 1887 destroyed the value of real
estate and ruined the business-the result
of which was that young Lincoln's survey
! ing apparatus was sold on an execution by
the sheriff. Nothing daunted by this turn
Of i'll luck, he directed his attention to the
law. and borrowing few books from a
neighbOr, which he took from the office in
the evening and returned in the morning,
he learned the rudiments of the profession
in which he has since become so distinguish
ed, By the light Of a fire place.
About this time the Wings of his coun-
ty conferred upon him the nomination for
the Legislature. He was successful in this
and three succeeding elections. by triumph
ant majorities. While a member of the
Legislature he first gave indications of his
superior powers as debater, and he in
creased, by frequent practice, his natural
faculty for public speaking. He improved
lndustriously the opportunities that were
offered Of selfcultivation. From the posi-
tion Of a subaltern in the ranks of the
Wing party, position that was appropri-
ately assigned him by his unaffected mod
esty and humble pretentions, he soon be-
came recognized and acknowledged as a
champion and leader, and his unvarying
courtesy, good nature and genial manners,
united with an utter disinterestedncss and
abnegation of self. made him a universal
favorite.
During his legislative period he cOntinu-
ed his law studies, and removing to Spring
field, he opened an office and engaged ac-
lively in practice. Business flowed in up
on him, and he rose rapidly to distinction
in his profession He displayed remarka-
bic ability as an advocate in jury trials,
and many Of his law arguments were mas
ter-pieces of logical reasoning. There was
no refined artifcialityin his forensic efforts. {
They all bore the stamp of masculine COM
mon sense: and he had natural, easy mode
Of illustration, and made the most abstruse
subjects appear plain. His success at the {
bar, however, did not withdraw his atten-
ton from politics. For many years he was
he wheel horse" of the Wing party of Hi 4
lois, and was on the ELECTORAL ticket in
everal Presidential campaigns At such l.
lines he canvassed the State with his usual '
igor and ability. He was an ardent :
riend of Henry Clay. and exerted himself !, \
powerfully in his behalf in 1914, traversing I I
he entire State of Illinois, and addressing l
ublie meetings daily until near the close L
the campaign, when becoming convinced =
hat his labors in that field would be un- .
yailing, he crossed over into Indiana, and ~
ontinued his efforts up to theday of cleo q q
on The contest of that year in Illinois IL
as mainly on the tariff question. Mr.. q
lincoln, on the Wing side, and John Cal u u
oun, on the Democratic side, were the y
eads Of the opposing electoral tickets IT.
alhoun, late of n ebraska, now dead, was
zen in the full vigor of his powers, and "a
as accounted the ablest debater of his oI
lrty. They stumped the State together, re.
nearly 50, making speeches, usually on -
ternate days at each place, and each ad-
essing large audiences at great length,
netimes four hours together. Mr.. Lin no
In, in these elaborate speeches, evinced a tri
orough mastery.o of the principles of pOliti- arc
economy, which underlie the tariff ques- ne,
N, and presented arguments in favor of ret
; protective policy with power and con-
lsiveness rarely equalled, and at the same mi
ne in maner so lucid and familiar hin
so welli nterspersed with happy illustra- tin
n and opposite anecdotes as to establish VIII
equation which he has never since failed
maintain, as the ablest leader in the
hig and Republican ranks In the nrnat