The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-01
From the Chicago Press and Tribune.
"H0NEST OLD ABE"
ThoPeoplo's Candidate for President
"RAILs AND FLAT.BOATs."
LOG CABINS AND HARD CIDER COME
AGAIN
Biographical Sketch Of Abraham Lincoln.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN is q native Of
Hardin county, Kentucky. Hc was born ON
tho 10Th day of February, 1903. His par
ents were both from Virginia, and were GER
tainly not Of the first families. His pattern.
al grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, emigrated
from Rockingham county, Virginia, to Ken
lucky, about 1871 or '2, whcrc a year or two
later he was killed by Indians. not in battle,
but by stealth, while he was laboring to open
a farm in the forest. Ills ancestors, who
were respectable members of the Society OF
Friends, went TO Virginia from Berk's coun'
ty, Pennsylvania. Descendants OF the same
stock still reside in the eastern part Of that
State.
Mr.. Lincoln's father, at tho death of his
father was but six years Of age, and he grew
up literally without education. He remoy.
cd to Kentucky to what Is now Spencer coun.
ty, Indiana, in 1916. Tho family reached
their new home about tho time the State
was admitted into the Union. The region in
which they settled was rude and wild, and
they endured, fer some years, the hard expe-
rence of frontier life, in which the strug-
gle with nature for existence and security Is
to be maintained only by constant vigilance.
Bears, wolves and other wild animals still in
tested the woods, and young Lincoln acquir.
cd more skill in the use of the rifle than
knowledge of books. There were institu.
tions here and there known by the fiattering
denomination of schools, but no qualifica-
ton was required of teacher beyond 'read-
in, writin' and cypherin', Us the vernacular
phrase ran, us far as the rule Of three. Ii q
stragrlcr supposed to understand Latin hap
pened to sojouin in the neighborhood, he
was looked upon rs q wizard, and regarded
with an awe suited to 80 mysterious char
acter. Hard work and plenty OF 1t was the
order Of the day, varied indeed, by an occa'
sional bear hunt, not unfrcqucnt deer
chase, or other wild sport. OF course when
Young Lincoln became of age he was not q
scholar. He could read and write, and had
some knowledge of arithmetic, but that was
about ali; and rs yet, he had but little am,
biAi64o know more Of what was to be found
n His attainncnts otherwise were
nd. despised. lie had grown TO DO six
feet {oir inches in stature, was active and
athletic, could WELD the axe, direct the pillow,
or usc the rife, as well as the best OF his
eompcers, and was fully up to all the myste-
rios of prarie farming. and fully Injured to
hardship and toll. Since he arrived ut aso
ho has not been to school. Whatever bis ac-
auiremcn,s are. they have been picked up
from time to time as opportunity occurred
or us the pressure Of some exiSency dcmahu'
ed. ,
At twenty-onc he removed to Illinois, and
nasse,l the first year in Macon county, In g.
tive labor ON farm, where he and fellow
laborer. named Hanks, SPLIT THREE
THOUSAND RAILS, In the year 1880. |,
will be interesting TO tho millions before
whom he is now placed as candidate for
the highest Office in the gin Of a free people,
to know that he once managed a fiat boat on
tho Ohio river. The anecdotes which he
sometimes relates to his friends of his mari,
,imo experiences before the introduction Of
steam ON the western rivers, are indcscribabiy
laughabls. From Macon county he went 70
New Silcm, aud what Is now Mcnard coun'
ty, where he remained about year. Ihen
came the Black Hawk war. a company o.
volunteers was raised In New Salem and th'
surrounding country. and young lncoir
was elected captain-a success; wnicn. h'
has since said, gave him moro pleasure thar
no bss ever since enjoyed. He served viii
cp,dit during the campaign, and became
popular. Returning 70 Sangamon county
he learned the art of surveying, and prose
cutod that profession until tho dnsncia
crash Of 1887 destroyed the value Of real q