Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-05-23
"HONEST Old ABE"
The Peoples Candidate for
President.
"nAILs AND fLAT-BoATs."
Log Cabins and Hard Cider come again
Biographical sketch Of Abraham
Lincoln.


ABRAHAM LINCOLN is native Of Hardin
County Kentucky. He was born on the
18th day of February. sos. His parents
were both from Virginia. and were certain
ly not OF the first families. His paternal
grandfather. Abraham Lincoln. emigrated
from Rockingham County, Virginia, to
Kentucky. about 1871 or ., where a year
or two later he was killed by Indians, not
in battle. but in stealth. while he was la
boring to open a farm in the forest. His
ancestors. who were respectable members
OF the Society Of Friends. went to Virginia
from Berks County. Pennsylvania. De.
scendants Of the same stock still reside In
the Eastern part 81 that State.
Mr.. Lincoln's father, at the death Of his
father. was but six years Of age, and he
grew up literally without education. He
removed from Kentucky TO what IL now
Spencer County. Indiana, in 1916. They
reached their new home about the time the
State was admitted into the Union. The
region In which they settled il rude aud
wild, and they endured. for some years,
the hard experience Of frontier life. 10
which the strugglewirh nature for existsncs
and security Is TO bs maintained only by
constant vigilance. Bears. wolves and
other wild animals still infested tho woods
and young Lincoln acquired more kill In
the use Of the rifle than knowledge OF
books. There were institutions here aud
there known by the hattering denomina
ton Of schools" but no qualification
was required Of y teacher beyond "ryadin',
writin' aud eypberin'." ~ the vernLeolar
phrase ran, M far ~ the rule OF three
n q strsggler supposed 10 understand
Latin happened Ia soiourn In the neighbor-
hood be was looked upon ~ wizard mud
regarded with mn awe suited to 80 mystic.
rious n character.
Hard work and plenty Of II was tho order
Of the day. varied. indeed, by an occasion
al bear hunt, 4 not uulrsquent deer chase,
or other wild sport or course when
/ young Lincoln came of age he was not n
scholar. Nc could read and write, and
had some knowledge Of arithmetic. but
that was about all; and s yet, he had but
| little ambition 10 know more of what was
To he found IL hooks. His attachments
otherwise were not 10 be despIsed. Ito had
grown To be ak feet four inches In stature.
was active aud athletic, could WELD the
axe. direct the pillow. or use tho rifle. as
we'll ms the best Of his cemPeers. and was
fully up to all the mysteries ofprairis
farming. aud fully Injured To hardship and
toll. Since he arrived at age ho has not
been To school. Whatever bis acquire
ments are. they have been picked up from
time TO time m opportunity occurred, OF
rs tina pressure Of some exigency deman.
ded.
Al twenty one hp removed 10 Illinois
aud passed the first year In Macon county
in active labor on farm, where he aud .
fellow laborer tnamed Hanks) SPLIT
THREE THOUSAND RAILS in the yea
1890. II will be interesting ~ the millions
before whom he Is now placed as a candi
date for the highest Office In tho gin Of a
free people. to know that he once managed
a aaf boat on the Ohio River. The anec
dotes which he sometimes relates 10 biz
friends Of his maratime experiences before
the introduction Of steam on the western
rivers, are indescribsbly iaughable. From
Macon County he went TO New Salem. In
what IL row Meusrd County, where b,
remained pbout n year. Then came the
Black Hawk war. A company Of volun
teers was raised In New Salem aud the sur
rounding country. aud ysung Lincoln wal
elected eaptain-a success which, he ha'
since said. gave him more pleasure than
he has ever since enjoyed. He served
with credit during tho campaign, aud be-
came popular. Returning to sangamou
County he learned the art Of surveying
and prosecuted that profession until th'
financial crisis Of 1897 destroyed the vaiu,
OF real estate and ruined the business--th'
result Of which was that young Lincoln,
surveying apparatus was sold on execution
by the Sheriff.
Nothing dsunted by this turn Of III luck
be directed his attention 10 the Law, Ant
Borrowing u few books from = nsighbor
which he took from the Office 10 the even
Ing. aud returned them again In the morn
| L.. 4. Al A.. s.f
fession In which hs has since become u
distinguished. BY the light Of a fire place.
Abou, this time the Wings Of his county
conferred upon him the nomination for The
Legislature. Ito was successful In thi'
aud In three succeeding elections. by ri
umphAnt maIoritiss. While n member o
the Legislature he first gave indications o
his superior powers as debater. and he In
creased. by frequent practice, his natora
faculty Tor public speaking. He improved
industriously the opPortu mites that wer'
here offered Of selfcultivstion. From III,
position Of a subaltern Ia the ranks OF tn,
Wing party. q position that was sppro'
hSs'kHcu W." W
modesty aud humble pretensions. he soor
became recognised aud acknowledged as .
champion aud leader. and his unvsryine
courtesy. good nature aud genial manners,
united with an utter disinterestedness and
abnegation Of self. made him q universal
favorite.
During his Legislative period he continu
ed his law studies, and removing TO Sprisg
field. he opened an office and engaged
actively in practice. Business flowed in
upon him. aud he rose rapidly to distinc
ton in his profession. He displayed re-
markable ability Is an advocate in jury
trials. and many Of his law arguments were
master pieces Of logical reasoning. There
was no refined ratiiicialily 10 his forensic
efforts. They all bore the stamp Of mascu.
line common sense and be had a natural
-a-y mode Of illustration. that made the
sbs,raee subject. appear plain. His sue
cess at tie bar. however. did not withdraw
a