The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-06-29
MISCELLANY.
LINC0LNS FRIEND, JOHN HAWKS.
AN OLD MANS "REMINISCENCES OF HIS Eel
Low RAIL-sPLtTTER.

anu otuSeto iiteuuey Dub perhaps tnero is no
man living who ever was more intimate with
the lamented President than John Hanks, the
old rail-splitter, who for years was his bosom
companion and trusty friend. Mr.. Hanks re-
sides on farm four miles east of Decatur,
III. He was born in Nelson county in 1862,
and, notwithstanding his age, is a finely pre-
served old gentleman. ~ suppose it seems
very long time to you since Lincoln and you
used to split rails and run fat-boats down
the Mississippi River" said visitor to him
the other day. Eyes, it does,n replied Mr..
Hanks, shut / remember the time as dis
tinctly as though it was but yesterday. Lin
coin was only twelve years of age when first
formed his acquaintance. This was in Spen-
Ger county, Ind, and lie was at that time as
homely and awkward country boy as a per-
son could very well imagine. He was raw
boned and wore the commonest and coarsest
kind of clothing, which seemed to have been
put on in rather careless manner. His sus-
penders were attached to his pantaloons by
hickory splinters, which answered the pur-
pose of buttons. He did not seem to have
could call him lazy boy. He was always at
something, and while on the farm seemed to
have particular fondness for horses. Lin
coin had just reached his twenty-first year
when he came to Macon county, Iii. This
was fifty-one years ago, and the country was
raw and not very thickly settled. Something
must be done SO he hired out as farm hand,
breaking prairie and making rails. A year
later he went to Sangamon county, and here
we split rails together upon the land not very
far from the spot where his monument now
stands. We sold them for fifty cents per hun
bred. We cut hundreds of cords of wood,
selling and dividing equally the proceeds.
We built three fiat boats, and made two diff
ferent trips to New Orleans, and | do not
think ever enjoyed myself so much as did
on those never-to be-forgotten occasions.
During the trips Lincoln told stories after
stories, and each one related reminded him
of another. In personal appearance he look
ed good deal as he did after he became fa-
nous. There was the same mild and thought
full expression of the face, the same deep,
searching look from his eyes. He used to say
he intended to be a Methodist preacher or
lawyer, and said he intended to read law the
first GOOD chance he 9ot. When he was hoy
he used to 60 to church whenever he bad an
opportunity, but for some reason the habit
grew away from him as he became older, yet
reading religious works or discussing religious
subjects than Lincoln. He was always am
bilious, and he used often to talk with me
about lettering his condition in life."
Mr.. Hanks here related an incident when
Lincoln was storekeeper at the town OF
Salem, Ill. He was also engaged in survey
ing and filled the position as Postmaster of
the place. One day in the early summer
farmer drove up in great haste to inquire if
there was a letter for him. He found the
office closed and no Postmaster in sight He
began to look around the neighborhood, and
soon discovered Lincoln sitting upon the
banks of stream engaged in fishing. The
man approached and asked Lincoln to go the
Office and see if there was any mail for him.
Whereupon Lincoln took off his hat and hand
ed the man letter. saying that would be the
last letter he would deliver him in the capa-
city of Postmaster as he intended to resign
In few days. +
"Lincoln never was what the world would
call money maker" continued Mr. Hanks
"He was very generous when young man,
and his acts of benevolence chung to him dur
ing the remainder of his life. l remember
distinctly the first time we arrived in New
Orleans. After we had attended to our busi-
ness the first purchases made by Lincoln were
books and surveyors Instruments and, in
stead of running around town to see the
sights, he would remain at his boarding house
engaged 10 reading or telling stories to the
boarders, who pronounced him to be remark
ably gifted in that direction. Lincoln, in fact
was always Ia close financial circumstances,
and at the time be was nominated for Presi-
dent he did not have any property to amount
to anything, except his residence in Spring
field was well acquainted with his wife
Mary Todd, before he married her, but never
knew there was an engagement between them
until about two weeks before the marriage
took place. The invitation to the wedding
was written in Lincon's own peculiar style,
and read as follows:
DEAR HANKS am to be married next
Thursday eve., the 18th, to Mary Todd.
hope you will be on deck at early candle light.
A. LINCOLN.
s,During the memorable campaign Of 1850
the rails used by the Republican party in pro-
cessions and political gatherings were taken
from my farm, and Lincoln's father, Lincoln
and myself helped to split them. erected
the first house in Decatur, and Lincoln helped
me to do nearly all the work. Lincoln was
pretty much the same man after being elected
President He loved all of his friends TO the
hour of his death. After his election
iourneyed TO the capital to witness his inaug-
uration, and while 10 Washington called at
the White House number of times to see my
old friend, always remaining to take dinner
with him. II was matter of great surprise
to the dignitaries of the Nation and the dis
tnguished gentlemen who were at that time
thronging the capital, to hear me approach
the President and call him Abe, and hear the
President say, Familiarity Hello, Hanks
how are you ?" Before | left for Washington
I purchased a bran new suit of blue jeans