, 1874-01-08
LlNC0LN'S BIRTHPLACE,


Iscforc PublisIlctl".rhomns Links
horn's Abrupt Co1rtsltp of Widow
Ioaanson--Tlio Historical Old House
..Capt. EQaycrnftss Memory.
A correspondent Of tho Louisville Commercial,
writing from Efizabsthtown, Ky, undor date Of
Dec. 81. senda the following statement Of Capt.
Hnycraft, detailing many unpublished Incidents
A1r. Lincon'a illegitmacy:
~ was born in this town 18th August, 1906,
aHd nave good menory OF persons and things
Al they existed in "dayB Of auld lang Byne." I
know Thomas Lincoln we'll. He was universally
called Ltnkhorn--J suppose through ignorance
Of his real name. Some tinao in tho yoar 1906,
Or. abont TINT time, lie wns married to Miss
Nancy Hanks, and when married md before that
time 1e lived in Elizaheshtown. In the yoar
"some time between 1907 and 1907 ho left
town with his wifo and child and settled near
Buffalo,. Larue County, about four miles
from Hodgenyillc, then III Hardin Coun-
ty., It wns then called Hodgcn'a Mill.
place Abraham Lincoln, late President was
born. But, to put the whole mattor at rest, I
quote from letter written by Abraham Lincoln
to myself, now in my possession, dated Spring.
field, ILL.,, h1ay IS, 1860: In the main yot arc
right about my history. Ny fathor was Thomas
Lincoln, and Mrs. Sallio JOHNSON was ls Sec
ond wife. You are mistaken about my mother,
Her nAmo was Nancy Hanks. was not born in
Elizabothtown, but my mothers first child,
daughter, was: H., 7 was born Fob. II, 1899, near
County. I do not think / ever saw you,
though know very we'll who you are--so we'll
tint recognized your handwriting OH opouiug
your letter before I saw tho signature. Ny
recollection is TINT Ben Holm was first Clerk,
that yort succeeded him, TINT Jack Thomas and
Wilson Fairleigh graduated IN Tho sumo Office.
and that your handwritings were all very similar.
Am right NY father has been dead nenr ton
years. but my stepmother, Mrs. Johnson, is still
liyinE;' d'. socon, ,x,. :, r.or,.. ,.,, 49,;
inally Miss Sallie Bush, daughter of Christopher
aud Hannah Bush, waH raiscd u Hardin County,
half 3 mile from Elizhbothtown. She was mar
rlod to Daniel johnson on tho 18th dny Of h1nrch
1900, and lived in Elizabothtown, where john
son diod early III April. 1914, Of what WIS then
nights; during his illness, and ono morning on
returning home, which was tho 4th Of April,
found SHOW On tho ground four inches deep nnd
the peach troes Ill bloom. which attracted my
attention and caused mo to note the time. Tho
widow, Mrs. johnson, continued to 1--we i'll
1910.
"rhomas Lincoln moved with his family to
Intliana. do not know tho time Of bis remoy-
al, but in 1873 lo lost his first vito there. aud
turned to this place aud inquired for tho resi-
donco Of tho Widow Johnson. She lived noar
tho Clerks office. I was Clerk, and informed
linn how to find her. He was not slow to pro-
Hcnt himself before hor. whon tho following
conrtship occurred: He said to Mrs. john
1ono woman. I have knowod you
from girl, mud you've knowod mo fr0m Il boy,
aud have come all tho way from Indiana to ask
# you viii In marry mo right of. 9s hsyo no time
coin, have no objection to marrying you, bnt I
cannos do It right Off, for owo several littlo
debts which must first 10 pail Tho gallant old
gentleman promptly said Giye mo = HIST Of tho
dohts.' Tho liHt was furnishcd and the debts
Dec, 2 1910, ! issuod tue liconse. and
tho uano lay thoy wore n,arrlod, bundled
up and started for homo, whero the now
wifo added much to tho comfort Of the estab-
and teo grs,s nteras Abrshs ~ e training
''ThomaB Lincoln waH lale loarty-looking
man, Of medium height, heavy and aqiaro-built,
rathor clumsy III his gait. had i hind-looking |
lace, was moderate good houHo- carpenter,
ncighborhood, quite illiterate. and was regarded
AZ very honost nln1l.
''Nallcy Hanks was a rather low-Hot, aeavy-
built woman, without education, as in her day
oook-learning was not In high repute, and ullo
Nas considered about on 4 par with tho ordinary
,lass or circle in which sl.e moved.
"alrs johnson, formerly sa!lie lhslI, was, tnl
slender built woman. quite good looking. and
was taken In those days to 10 quito graceful
gay Indy; was very neat, md was thought to
laya beon good mitch for Thomas Lincoln,
"TI,o house IN which Tllomas Lincoln ljyol In
Ehis place stood OIL tho bauk Of an old mil raco.
ras built Of rough logs slightly hewn, and was
.boat fourteen foot square. After it wus cpau-
Toned by him, 1t was moyod below tho bridge
md made slaughter~houHe; In course Of ti1le
mas removed still lower dawn tile greek aud
lgain naal for samo purpose, and aGterwartl 1t
Sna removed baok to worry nenr tho spot 1t
originally occupied on tue bark Of tho mil raco,
! few logs added, a1,d'th ,iaod for stable.
Aftor Abraham Llncoln's olootion to tho prosi-
lonsy the house suffered many assaults Of tho
Iew York NJ relicH."
Such is tho statement furnished me by Capt.
lhycraft. 4, In addition Askad linn how about