Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-17
Abrabam LtneOln.

pestedly publishedi and 1t would seem su-
perAuous to give it in print again. But in
visw Of the recent events which culni-
mated in the horrible assassination Of our
msrtyred President, anything pertaining
TO his former life will be perused with
melancholy interest - his sorroWing coun-
trymen. We will therefore give short
sketch of the life Of this nlnstrious man.
who has earned for himself the title Of the
Great EmancipEtor.
Abraham Lincoln was born on the 18th
day of February, 1909, in Harden county,
Kentucky, and was consequently Sc years,
two months and three days old when he
was murdered. His father, Thomas Linz
coin, was man of humble means, who
earned his living by laborious toll, hencs
his son Abraham never had the advRn-
fage of any education, except that which
he picked up as he progressed through h life
When Abraham was in his eighth year
his father, becoming disgusted with thein-
stitution of slavery and forseeing that free
labor stood no chance with slave labor, de-
termined on removing to Spencer county,
Indiana. Accordingly the old home was
sold, and their effects were placed upon
raft, and the family Aosted down the river
on its way to the then new stste of Indi-
ana. For the last few miles of their jour
ney they we're obliged TO make their own
road through the wilderness. At their
new homs Mr.. Thomas LiAcoln, with the
sid of few kind-hesrtsd neighbOrs, the
nearest living three miles of, put up log
cabin, with one room on the ground floor
and one in the loft. In this humble tene-
msnt the future President lived for twelve
years. His mother was q pious woman,
and assisted him to learn 10 read. At her
death, which occurred when he was ten
years of sge, she had the satisfaction of
hearing him read athe Book of all books"
which he had never since neglected.
After awhile, Abrahsm learned TO write.
This was an accomplishment unheard Of
in the region, and be was set down SIS
prodigy. His fret epistolsry attempt was
an affecting one. It wss letter to an old
friend of his mother-s travelling preacher
begging him to come and preach ser
mon over her grave, which he did shortly
sfCer.
In 1880, Mr.. Thomas Lincoln emigrated
to Decatur, Illinois, at which place he ar
rived after q journey of fifteen days. Here,
after Abraham had finished aiding his
father in building rail fence around his
farm. he set out to find his own support
He found employment on the different
farms in the neighborhood, and subsequent
ly obtained situation as clerk in 8 store.
In 1882, when the Black Hawk war broke
out, Abraham Joined g volunteer company,
which elected him its Captain. He served
with credit to himself having won the
eatesm of his men by his efficiency as an
officer his promptness in the discharge Of
his duties, and by never shrinking from any
danger or hardship.
After his military life was over, he ran
for the Legislature, and was defeated.
Although he carried his own precinct
by 8 vote of 277 out of 2S4, this was
the only time he was beaten before
the people He bought store and went
into the mercantile business, but failed.
At the same time he wss appointed
Post Master. In 1884 Mr.. Lincoln was
elected to the Legislature. In 1886 he OBJ
tanned law license, and in 1887 removed
to Springfield, where he commenced the
practice of law in partnership with the
Hon. John T. Stuart.
Mr.. Lincoln was three times elected to
the Legislature as member of the Wing
party. In 1876 Mr.. Lincoln was elected
to Congress, and took his seat in lS47, as
the only Wing member from Illinois. BE
took 8 position in opposition to the
Justice of the Mexican war, but voted in
favor of supplies for our soldiers. Mr..
Lincoln srrsyed himself in favor of the
right of petition, and invariably voted in
favor of receiving petitions bssring on the
question of slavery. On that question he
took rather prominent plrt. Mr.. Gott
of New York, had introduced resolution
directing the Committee on the District Of
Columbia TO prepare bill to abolish the
slave trade 10 the District. Mr.. Lincoln
moved an amendment instructing the
Committee TO introduce bill, not merely
to abolish the slave trade but to abolish
slavery in the District. A bill was after
ward reported by the Committee forbidding
the slave trade il ths District. This bill
Mr.. Lincoln supported, but in vain. He
was simply fifteen years in advance of the
time. When the famous Wilm0t Proviso,
forbidding slavery in territory now free
came up, Mr.. Lincoln to use his own Ian
guRge to Judge Douglas, avoted for it in
one way and another about forty times. ."
He thus showed himself to be the same
friend of freedom that his subsequent act:
proved him TO be.
In 1s4s Mr.. Lincoln was appointed 6
delegate to the Philadelphia Convention
which nominated General Taylor for the
Presidency. He esnvsssed his own STATE
in favor of the Generals election. In ls49
he was the Wing candidate for United
Ststes Senator, but failed, owing to the
Democratic party havir g the control Of the
legislature. In 1854, when the Infamous
Nebraska Bill was passed, Mr.. Lincoln
again appeared on the political stage AnC
toek strong ground against the repeal o
the MISSOURI Compromise. In 1855, sc
snd 81 Mr.. Lincoln was prominent in hii
foundations of the outrages perpetratet
in Kansas by Franklin Pierce and the i'm
R.zslo p,,,L.-..-