The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-05-31
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oTIOncst Cd Abe"

! 1t Is one OF the most admlTable Workings
of our government that men of humble orr
/ gin may reach the first hOnorS of the nation
And it is remarkable that The greatestStatcs-
men we have had, have been indebted to no
adventurous circumstances of birth, or wealth
or station, for their position. Where real
manhood is the only aristocracy, men, and
not mere human beings hoasting, as we do
of cattle, Of their "hlood," are apt to "consti-
tute the State" The unlettercd "mill boy
cf the slashes," though never President,
needed not that honor to add to the fuliness
Of his fame An humble school teacher in
a village of Maine, arose to the expounder of
the Constitution. A laboriouS surveyor be-
came, in earlier times. the first Of his coun-
trvmcn and the admiration of the world
| Whether Mr.. Lincoln shall he President or
not, he is an admirable cxcnrliication ofthe
| truth we have been attempting to Illustrate
His life is lesson which it is profitable to
all, both friend and opponent to study
This all men must admire, whether thay be-
lieve in his political doctrines or not.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in the year
| 1S0s-Frbruarv 12th-in Hardin county,
! Kentucky. His paternal grandfather, Ahra-
ham Lincoln. was an early cmigrant from
| Virginia to Kentucky, removing thrther not
! far from the time when the surrender Of
CORVALLIS crowned the success Of American
independence. Not long afterwards he was
killed by the Indians. At this time his son,
the father Of "Old Abe" was but SIX years
OF age He removed to Indiana when abe"
was a rather awkward looking boy, eight
years old but already accustomed to the
hardships and tolls of pioneer life. Mean
while, away from schools, in a rude and I'M
settled country. Abraham grew up to the
stature of six feet four, in his stockings. and,
being twentv-one years of age, understood
far better how to handle an axe or shoot
rife, than he understood how to work out a
sum in the rnlc Of three At this time he
removed to Macon county Illinois, where,
in 1880 with fellow workman by the name
of Hawks, he split the famous three thousand
rails 1t was not long afterwards that he
took part in the Black Hawk War. With
a Captains commission in his pocket he
served with credit, and by reason of his per-
petual good nature was Immensely popular
with his company. Previously to this, how
ever, he had fat-boated it trip or two,
"down the Ohio - and to this day he loves
to narrate the laughable incidents connected
with his hat-5oat exp ,rience
After the B'ack-Hawk War; he went to
Sangamon county, and learned to survey
a business which he pursued till the finan
cal revusion of '37 involved him in ruin
and brought his COMPASS and chain to the
Sheriff's hammer Undismaved and undis-
couraged, he betook himself to the study of
lav. Laboring through the day, he studied
by the light of fire at night, and thus learn
ed the inStitutes-anl learned them we'll
of profession in which he has since be-
come so distinguished. About this time he
was elected 10 the Legislature by the Wings.
He represented his county during four sue
cessive sessions, and from an humble posi-
ton arose to he a leader both in debate and
counsel Nor did he omit during all this
time to continue his legal studies.
He then removed to Springfield and com
menced there to practice law, business flow
ing in upon him from the very first. As a
lawyer, he is remarkable for the clearness
and strength of his rcaSonin"s. As an adj
yocate before Jury, he is, perhaps, unequal
led by any man in the country. His candor,
his easy style, his familiar and opposite illus
trations, his undoubted honesty, give him a
power over jury which it is almost inpossi-
BILE to resist
About this time he received the famous
challenge from Gen. Shields. The history
Of that laughing matter runs about in this
wise: A then young lady of Springfield,
wrote an article for the Sangamon Journal,
IN which the General was treated Of in high
burlesl le. Shields was incensed He de-
manded the name Of the person who wrote
the article. The editor asked for time
Meantime he met Lincoln and stated to him
his auandary, "Te'l him wrote the article"
said Abe, and so reported it was. Diplomacy
could not secure a retraction. and a challenge
ensued Lincoln cho Dsing broadswords for
the weapons and an unfrequented island in
the Mississippi for the place. When Shields
arrived at the place, he found Lincoln, with
his coat and hat off, his sword in one hand
and hatchet in the other clearing away the
underbrush A mutual friend getting wind
of the matter, found the parties, argued blunt
ly that "they were making ID fools of
themselves and persuaded them that he
was right. Lincoln AYERS to this day, that
the acceptance of the challenge was the
meanest thing he ever was guilty of in his
life.
In 1914, Mr.. Lincoln was a candidate for
elector on the Wing ticket, and canvassed
the most Of Illinois and portions of Indiana
in behalf of Henry Clay. In 1916 he was
elected to Congress, where he opposed the
annexation of Texas, and heartily supported
the Wilmot Proviso. "Mr. Lincoln, let me
make you acquainted with my particular
friend Mr.. Wimot. Such was the way in
which Judge Douglas introduced these dis
tinguished men.
p III. I tnc'y M