The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-04-26
President Lincoln.

us piece Of biography OF President LIN
coin which we regard as true, and so Gu
rious that it ought not to be lost W.
had seen something like it, years ago, II
the newspapers, but we never supposed
then, that there was word of truth II
it. The publication was made in the
Southern papers at the beginning OF the
recent secession war.
Col. Jones owns landsin Hardin Coun.
ty, KY, and went there to look after
them. He met Governor Helmes, oi
Kentucky, living in that County, who
told him that he know Abraham Lincoln
very well, when boy. He was born in
that neighborhood, and was five years
younger than Governor Helmcs. Ills
mothers name was Nancy Hanks. There
were two men who were attentive to her,
Abraham Winslow, OF Enslow, and.a Mr..
Geetv. Abraham was born out of we'd
lock, and it was doubted by the commu-
nifty whether he was the son of Winslow
or Geety. The latter person was mem
Der of the Kentucky Legislature, and
living at the time Lincoln was elected
President of the United States He was
very old, and some one jeered him about
being the father of the President The
old man said "No," ne was not the father
of Abraham Lincoln, although he had
had hundred chances of being So Lin
coins father was Abraham Winslow"
In proof oft, he said that he, Geety, wasa
short, fat man, and all Of his family were
so. Winslow was Il tall, gawky man, six
feet two inches high, and was intimate
with Nancy Hanks Moreover, she named
her son. "Abraham," after Winslow. This
proof of old Gcety was regarded as pref
ty conclusive, considering the tall, gawky
figure Of Lincoln.
When Abraham was FIVE years old, his
mother, Nancy Hanks, married an OLD
fellow named Lincoln, who was miller,
and moved with him to Illinois. He
there took the name OF Lincoln, and per-
haps never knew but that Lincoln was
his father. His mother soon died, and
his step-father, Lincoln, married again.
His second wife was said to have been a
good, clever woman, and was very kind
to Abraham. Old Lincoln died whilst
Abraham was young" Mr.. Bancroft, in
his Grafton on the Character OF Presi-
dent Lincoln, saws that mis- mother could
read, but not write, and that his tather
could do neither.
Abraham grew up and evinced great
deal of talent and cleverness. When
twcnty-ono years old he was elected a
member of the Illinois Legislature.
Whilst, in the Legislature he made
speech which attracted attention. A
lawyer at Springfield. the Capatal of Hi
nois, suggested to young Lincoln the idea
of reading law, whilst member of the
Legislature. He told him he could read
with him, and apply to Judge at Cham
bers and be admitted. This he did du-
ring the time he was member OF the
Legislature. Immediately after his adj
mission to the bar, the candidate for Con-
grcss in Lincolns Congressional District,
had to 90 off electoneering, and could
not attend the Court. He requested Lin
coin to take charge of 4 case Of homicide,
which he had, and make a speech for a
gambler who was indicted Tor murder.
| He told Lincoln that the defendant would
pay him handsomely, if acquitted. Lin
coin defended the gambler successfully,
and he was acquitted. Hc received a fee
of five hundred dollars in cash. There
upon he went to Joshua Speed, offspring
field, who was wealthy merchant, and
said to him, 81 have five hundred dollars,
which is more money than | ever expec-
ted to have at one time in my life, and II
had one hundred and fifty dollars more,
l would purchase quarter section OF
land for my step-mother, who is very
poor, and has always been very kind to
me-" Mr.. Speed replied, 81 will lend
you the money" Lincoln said, 81 owe
You one hundred and fifty dollars al
ready" Speed said that made no differ
ence, and gave him the money. Lincoln
Immediately mounted his horse, went to
the Land Office and took up. the quarter
section in the name of his step mother.
After Lincoln was elected President, he
wrote to Joshua Speed that it was now
in his power to reward him for his kind
ness when he was starting in life. Mr..
Speed replied that he wanted no Office
himself, but that he hada young brother
who was practising lawyer at Louis
vile, Kentucky, and would be glad tor
Lincoln to do something for him. This
young brother was thereupon appointed
Acknowledgement of the United States
and is still discharging the duties of this
high Office under President Johnson:
Col. Jones informed US that he had the
above information likewise from j. Win
ter Smith, of Kentucky, who knew the
statement of Governor Helmes to be true
in every particular.-GreenviH M0un
taineer. M
1 The New York Tribune mentions al