The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-31
I.incOln's Birthday.

A correspondent of the Louisville CONNER
cial, writing from Elzabehtown, Ky, sends
the following statement of Capt. Haycratt,
detailing many unpublished incidents in the
life of Lincoln and exploding the story OF
Mr.. Lincoln's illegitimacy:
.."I was born in this town 18th Augu st, 1905,
and have good memory OF persons and
things as they existed in days Of auld lang
syne." knew Thomas Lincoln well. He
was universally called Linkhorn-I suppose
through ignorance of his real name. Some
time in the year 1906, or about that time, he
was married to Miss Nancy Hanks, and when
married and before that time he lived in Eli.
zabethtown In the 1907 his first child "a
daughter) was born.
| Some time between 1907 and 1908 he left
town with his wife and child and settled
near Buffalo, Larue county, about four miles
from IIodgenvile, then in Hardin county. 1t
was then called Hodgon's Mill, and is now
in Larue county, at which place Abraham
| Lincoln, late President, was born. But, tc
put the whole matter ut rest, | quote from q
! letter written by Abraham Lincoln to myself
now in my possession, dated Springfield Ill.
May 90 1860 In the main you are righ
about my history. My father was Thomas
Lincoln, and Mrs. Sallie Johnson was his
second wife. You are mistaken about my
mother Her name was Nancy Hanks.
was not born in EliZabetEtOwn, but my moth
er's first child, u daughter, was. | was born
Feb -, 1909, near where IIodgenville now
| Is, then in Hardin county do not think
ever saw you, though | know very well who
you are-so well that recognized your hand.
writing on opening your letter before l saw
the signature. My recollection is that Ben
Helm was first clerk, thatyou succeeded him,
that Jack Thomas and Wilson Fairleigh
graduated in the same Office and that your
lhandwritings were all very similar. Am
right My father has been dead near ten
years, but my stepmother, Mrs Johnson, is
still living.
! THE second wife of Thomas Lincoln
originally Miss Sallie Bush, daughter of CHS
topher and Hannah Bush, was raised in Har
din county, half mile from Elizabetht0wn
She was married to Daniel Johnson on tn,
18th day Of March, 1909, and lived in Eliza
bethtown, where johnson died carly in April
1 1914 of what was then called cold plague.
sat by his bedside several nights during hi,
illness, and one morning on returning home
which was the 4th of April, | found snow on
the ground four inches deep and the peach
trees in bloom, which attracted my attention
and caused me 10 note the time. The widow
Mrs. Johnson, continued 10 live III Eliza
bcthtown until the Cd day of December
1919
Thomas Lincoln moved with his famil,
to Indiana. | do not know the time OF hi
removal, but in 1919 he lost His first wifi
there, and on the LIST day of December of tina
year he returned 10 this place and inquiries
for the residence ofthe Widow Johnson. Sh
lived near the Clerks office. ] was Clerk
and informed him how to find her. lie wa
not slow to present himself before her, whe
the following courtship occurred: He sai'
to Mrs Johnson, Il am lone mas and yol
are lone woman | have known you from
a girl, and you've known me from boy, all,
have come all the way from Indiana to asl
if you will marry me right off, AS have II
time TO lose 10 which she replied, 'Tomm
, Lincoln, have no objection 10 marry yoi
but cannot do 1t right off, for | owe severa
little debts which must first be paid" TIL
gallant old gentleman promptly said. Civ
me list of the debts The list was furnish
ed and debts paid the same evening. I'll
r next morning, Dec. ,, 1916, | issued tie
= ccnse, and the same day they were marie,
:, bundled up ard started for home, where Il
" new wife added much to the comfort of ii
! establishment, and took great interest in Il
training and education OF her step-son Abr
IL ham,
hrl 4 nrisnupr I'm the Missouri pCnitentiar