The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-29
SPENCER COUNTY.

! Yesterday was grand day FOE "Old
Spencer" The first railroad in the
county was finished 10 the county line,
and all the "old wheel-horses, were
tout in full force with music. banners
and general rejoicing. AT Evansville we
were notified thai distinguished speak
ers had been invited from abroad. and
that Governor Her bricks had promised
to adorn the occasion with mcllifluous
oratory. Leaving that city at 10 O'Clock.
Up. m. "Wednesday. [ reached here, by
steamer Grey Eagle. at 4 o'clock yes'cr-
day morning. Nothing was TO be donc
Till o'clock p. IN. and | lad abundant
thine 10 study the ancient town OF Rock
port. To this spot in The first wears of
the present century came certain exiles
from North Carolina and Nirgiuia. and
by the close of the late war with Eng
land. several flourishin. settlements
were scattered along the valley OF the
Ohio river and il. tributaries. William
N. uynes and Isaac Il. Wright laid OF
the town OF l,ockpori. June 5th. 1878.
naming il FROM the Lady Washing
tom the front OF an enormous rocky
mole that rises abruptly from tie val
ley; even now hides most of thc town
from the view OF the Traveller by the
river
\ Those were the good old times" Of
which historians -peak 30 feclingly.
w hen stout men laOOred for thirty to
fifty cents DAY. half cash, and The other
halt whisky. dry goods. and sometimes,
though rarely, family groceries The
first land entered ia this county was the
plat OF Rockport. by Daniel Grass and
Nv. X. llynes, May 4th, lsU7. Seven
years afterward an express rider from
Pittsburgh brought the startling new
ihat one of the new river crafts. known
as steamboats,. was coming down the
Ohio; and several families from the
country came in aud camped some days
on the river bank 10 see her go by
About that time one Thomas Lincoln
and Nancy Hanks. his wife. moved here
from Hardin county. Kentucky. and.
after few weeks prospecting. took a
claim" on Anderson river. establishing
What was long known as Lincoln's Fer
i.y.
J In the fall OF 1917 Mr.. Lincoln set
tied on section 81 i'm Carter township.
where he resided till 1880. The railroad
now runs within hundred yards of the
homestead, aud the grove ia which the
grave of Abraham Lincoln's mother j.
iOcatci, borders the track Tor a quarter
lJf "a mile. A ] saw il yesterday il seem
cd as near "A primeval forest a. any To be
hound ia Indiana. The grave of Mrs.
Lincoln j. unmarked even 10y a mound.
but on the surrounding trees the old
nei ghbors have cut rude inscription
indicating about where the body was
laid.
J But the surroundings arc still appro-
PIRATE. y dense forest OF OAK. hickory.
'walnut and dog-wond extends over the
ridge and there /, scarcely the mark OF
AN axe or anything TO Indicate that tie
Same is changed from what IL was ii.fy-
six years ago. when Nancy Lincoln was
iUurIcd. a mile south Of the grave. and
near the railroad. still stands The :. Lit
tie Pigeon Baptist Meeting g-house.' on
which Thomas Lincoln worked, aud in
which he aud his wife worshipei. The
church books show that they "uniicd
llby letter" June 9Th. 1923. and were dis
missed by letter in ls3l, with intent
GO be Joined to another church vi the
same iaith and order"
4 The books also show fbe name Of
Thomas Lincoln a. serving on several
-icommiitees where sound sense and some
tact and delicacv were required. This
church. organized June stb. 1917. was
the first ia Spencer County. The neigh
THOR boys. now men of seventy year. or
'morc, say that Thomas Lincoln tried ia
have his son Abraham help him on ihe
building and learn the trade. bal that
l''Abe turned ont 4 miserable poor car
rlpentcr." Mr.. IameS Tinker, the oldest
resident, was an intimate friend ana oc-
OCCASIONAL schooi-fcllow of young Lin
+. coin. and told us yesterday. with great
: lenioynleni. how he was the prime
cause of bis getting the orst licking
i, lhe ever had in lii~ life" Il appears that
: some OF the rude "sc.is" OF tie present
= day were known even then to the coun.
} Try boys; and when laey met nj a horse.
= mill in the neighb0rhood. Abe :. soid'
:. him very handsomely on one whicl
will hardly bear publication. He ieli IL
, duty bound TO yet even with somebod,
else. aud few DAYS after played il on
!, stranger, who rode np 10 his father
! house. (" But" 10 Use his own words
u" the stranger didn't take il a. funny a
:. did. and lit OH aud whaled mc like th,
!, mischief" Lincoln City il tie ambi
e iious title given to the station and 1--WE
:. or three new frame houses on tie oil,
!, Lincoln farm.
After speaking Of the opening exer
= cises previously published in the Cor
.RIFR. Beadle SAYS the road j. 10 be con
i tinued on Al once 10 Jasper. tie count,
iseat of Dubois. where IL will sion for