Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-21

BiographIeni Sketch Of Abraham LinooIn.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is native Of Hardin coun.
", Kentucky, He was born on the 18th day
Of February, 1903. His parents were both
from Virginia and were certainly not Of tht
first families His paternal grandfather, Abra-
ham Lincoln emigrated from Rockingham
county, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1881 q
2, where 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
His ancestors who was respectable members
Of the Society of Friends, went to Virginia
from Berks county, Pennsylvania. Descend
ents Of the same stock still reside in the cas-
tern part of that State.
Mr.. Lincoln's father, at the death of his IA
ther, was but six years of age, and he grew up
! literally without education. He removed
from Kentucky to what is now Spencer coun-
I ty, Indiana, in 1916. The family reached
| their new home about the time the State was
admitted into the Union. The region in which
they settled was rude and wild, and they en-
I dured, for some years, the hard experience Of
a frontier life, in which the struggle with ma
| ture for existence and security Is 70 be main
tanned only by constant vigilance. Bears,
| wolves and other wild animals still infested
| the woods, and young Lincoln acquired more
| skill in the use Of rife than knowledge OF
| books There were institutions here and
| there known by the fattering denomination
/ of ''schOols, but no qualification wasrequired
TO teach beyond ''readin'', 'swritin' and ICY
pherinn as the vernacular phrase ran, as far
as the rule of three. If a straggler supposed
TO understand Latin happened TO soourn in
the neighbOrhOod, he was looked upon as a
wizard, and regarded with an awesuited % 80
mysterious character. s-f -..s ...
Hard work and plenty Of it was the order
of the day, varied, indeed, by an occasional
bear hunt a not unfrequent deer chase, or 9TH
er wild sport 0fcourse when young Lincoln
came Of age he was not scholar. He could
read and write, and had some knowledge OF
arithmetic, but that was about all; and as
yet he had but little ambition to know more
ofwhat was to be found in books. His attain
ments otherwise were not to be despised. He
had grown to be six feet four inches in stat
ure, was active and athletic, could WELD the
axe, direct the plOw, or use the rife, as well
as the best of his cOmpeers, and was fully up
to all the mysteries of prairie farming, and
fully Injured 70 hardship and toll Since he
arrived at age he has not been to school
Whatever his requirements are, they have
been picked up from time to time as opportu-
nifty occurred, or as the pressure Of some exi-
gency demanded.
At twenty-one he removed to Illinois, and
passed the first year in Macon County, in ac-
tive labor on a farm, where be and fellow
laborer, manned Hanks,) SPLIT THREE
THOUSAND RAILS, in the year 1880. 1t
will be interestingly to the millions before whom
he is now placed as a candidate for the high
est Office in the gift of a free people, to know
that be once managed q 6atboGt on the Ohio
River The anecdotes which be sometimes
relates TO his friends of his mAratime expe-
riences before the introduction of steam on the
western rivers, are indescribably laughable.-
From Macon County he went 10 New Salem,
in what is now Menare County, where he re-
mained abOnt year. Then came the Black
Hawk war A company of volunteers was
raised in New Salem and the surrounding
country, and Yonng Lincoln was elected cap
tain--a success which, he has since said, gave
him more pleasure than he has ever since en-
enjoyed. he served with credit during the
campaign, and became popular. Returning
to Sangamon County, he learned the art Of
surveying, and prosecuted that profession un-
til the financial crash of 1887 destroyed the
value of real estate and ruined the business
the resnlt of which was that young Lincoln's
surveying 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 toDk from the office in the evening
and returned in the morning, he learned the
rudiments Of the profession " which he has
since become 20 distinguished By the light Of
a fireplace sf' ~. T.. l
About this time the Wings of his county,
conferred upon him the nomination for the
Legislature he was successful in this and
three succeeding elections, bytrinmphant ma
iorities, While member Of the Legislature
he FIRST gave indications of his superior powers
as debater, and he increased by frequent
practice, his natural faculty for pHblie speak
ing. He improved industriously the oPpor-
tunitis that were offered Of self-cultiyation.
From the position of subaltern in the ranks
of the Wing party, position that was appro
priately assigned him by his unaffected mod
esty and humble pretentions, he soon became
recognized and acknowledged as q champion
and a ieSqer, and his unvarying courtesy,
good nature and genisi manners, united with
an utter disinterestedness and sbnegation Of
self. made him a universal favOrite
During his legislative period he continued
his law studies, and removing toSpringheld,
he opened an Office and engaged actively in
practics. Business flowed in upon him, aud
he rose rapidly to distinction il his profession.
He displayed remarkable ability as 81 Rdyo-
cate in Jury trials, and many Of his law argu-
ments we're masterpieces of logical reasoning |
There vas no FefEed sFtifciality in his forensic |
efforts. They all bore the stamp of masculine |
common sense; and be had a natural easy |
mode Of Illustration, and made the most abb
Struse subjects appear plain. His success at
the bar, however, did not withdraw bis atten-
ton from politics. For many yeSTs he was
the awheel horse" of the Whlg party Of Ili-
nois, and was on the electoral ticket in sew
aral Presidential campaigns, At such times
be csnvassed tie SsAte With his usual Yigor
and ability. He was an ardent friend Of
Henry Clay, and eKerted himself powerfully
IN his behalf in 1874, traversing tho entire
State Of Illinois, and addressing public meet
ngs daily until near the close Of the campaign,
when becoming convinced that his labors in
hat field would be nnaYsiling, be crossed
,ver into Indiana, and continued his efforts
Up to the day Of election. The contest of that
rear in Illinois was mainly on the tariff ques-
ion. Mr.. Lincoln, on the Wing side, and
Iohn Calhoun, on the pemocratic side, were
he heads Of the opposing electoral ticketse--
1alhoun, late of Nebraska, now dead, was
hen In the full yigor Of his powers, and was
ccounted the ablest dehater Of his party
hey stumped the State together, or nearly
o, making speeches, usually on alternate
ays at each place, and each addressing lsrge
audiences at great length, sometimes four
ours together. Mr. lincoln, in. these elabo-
ate speeches, evinced thorough mastery of (
be principles of political eeonoEpy, which nm
erlie the tariff question, and presented argu-
ientsin favor of the protective policy With
over and conclusiYeness rarely equaled, and
: the same time in manner so lucid and (
lufliar and 40 vva7l intprlnaraad with hanrv ,