Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-29
Lincoln's Early Life.
"REMINISCENCES OF A FELLOW RAIL-
sPLITTER-HIs MARRIAGE INVITA-
TON.

Lincoln in his younger days had many
warm and aincere friends, but perhaps
there is no man living who ever was more
intimate with the lamented President than
John Hanks, the old raileaplifter, who for
years was hia bOSom com 1anlon and trusty
friend.
Mr.. Hanks resides on farm four miles
east of this place. He was born in Nelson
county in 1909, and, notwithstanding his
age, isa anely preserved old gentleman. ST
suppose it seems very long time to you
since Lincoln and you used to split rails
and run fat-boats down the Mississippi
rivers said visitor to him the other day.
''Yes, it does,'' replied Mr.. Hanks, "but
1 remember the tizAe as distinctly as
though il was but yesterday. Lincoln was
only twelve years of age when first FORM
ed his acquaintance. This was in Spencer
county, Indiana, and he was at shat time
as homely and awkward a country boy as
a person could very we'll imagine. He
was raw-uoned and wore the commonest
and coarsest kind of clothing, which SEEM
ed to have been put on IN rather care
less manner. His suspenders were attach.
ed to his pantaloons by hickory splinters,
which answered the pprnosa of buttons.
He did net searn 70 have a particular fond
ness for farm work, but no one could call
him lazy boy. He was always ut some.
thing, and while on the fern seemed to-
have a PARTICULAR fandness for horses.
"+insoln had just reached his twenty
first year when he came to Macon county,
illinois. This was fifty-one years asa aud
the country was raw and aas 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 stands.
We sold them for fif.y cents per hundred.
We cut hundreds Cords Of wood, selling
and dividing eq, the Proceeds We
built three flat-boats I, sade swo differ
ent trips to New 0rRssns, I'D l do not
think that ever enjoyed myself so much
as I did on those never-so -hs.forgotten
occasions. During t.le trips Lincoln told
stories after stories, and each one re-
lated reminded him of another. In per-
sonal appearance he looked a good deal as
he did after be BECAME famous. There was
the same mild and thoughtful 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 got. When he was boy
he used to 60 to church whenever he got
an opportunity, but for some reason the
habit grew away from him as he became
older, yet I never knew man who was
more fond of reading religious works or
discussing religious subjects than Lincoln.
He was always ambitious, and be used
often to talk with me about lettering his
condition in ife."
Mr.. Hanks here related an incident
wien Lincoln was store-keeper at the
town of Salem, Massachusetts. He was
also engaged in surveying and filled the
position of postmaster of the place. One
day in the early summer farmer drove up
in great haste to inquire if there was LETT
ter for him. He found the office closed and
20 postmaster in sight, He began to look
around the neighhorhood and soon discov-
| cred Lincoln sitting upon the banks of a
stream engaged III fishing. The man ap-
| preached and asked Lincoln to go to the
| Office ard see if there was any mail for
him. Whereupon Lincoln took off his hat
and handed the man letter, saying that
would be the last letter he ever would de-
liver him in the capacity of postmaster.
as he intended to resign in d few days.
s'Lincoln never was what the world
would call money-maker," Continued Mr..
| Hanks. HE was very generous when a
| young man, and his acts of benevolencu
chung to him during the remainder of his
life. l remember distinctly the first time
we arrived in New Orleans. After we had
attended to our business the first purcha!
SEES made by Lincoln were books and sur
veyors' instruments. and, instead of rua-