The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-02
ALINCO, n LhTEkR.

The Great Presiden;- Family History n
Skeiched by His own Hand.
Chattanooga (Tala T@a
DR.. Lincoln, or this city, cousin Of Alb
raham Lincoln, has in his possession let
ter written to his father by his relatives In
1854, which sheds some light on the illus
trious statesman's family history. DR.
Lincoln's father was at the time living in
an upper East Tennessee county. The
fame OF Abraham Lincoln was becoming
national at that period. Mr.. Lincoln's
name was Israel, and all his relatives bore
Biblical names. When the name OF Abra
ham Lincoln reached his ears he wrote
him, making inquiries regarding his fam
| lily, feeling confident that he was relative,
and the following was bis response:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April l, 1854.
Ny DEAR SlR:-On yesterday had the
pleasure Of receiving your letter Of the I6;h
OF March. From what ycu say there can
be no doubt that you and are Of the same
family. The history Of your family, as you
give it, Is precisely what have always
heard, and partly know, OF my own. As
you have supposed, / am the grandson OF
your Uncle Abraham, and the story Of his
death by the Indians, and of Uncle Nor
decai, then II years old. killing one OF the
Indians, is the legend most prominent Of
all others imprinted upon my mind and
memory. l am the son OF grandiathsr's
youngest son, Thomas. I have often
heard my father speak OF his Uncle
Isaac, residing on the Wstauga, Il
think), near where the then States
OF Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee
join. You seem now to be some hundred
miles or 60 west OF there. I often saw
Uncle Mordacai and Uncle Josiah, but
never in my life resided near either Of
them. Uncle MoIdacai died in 1881 or
1882 in Hancock county, Ill.,, WHERE he
had then recently removed from Kentucky,
and where his children had also removed
and still reside, as understand. Whether
Uncle Josiah is dead or living / cannot tell,
not having heard from him for more than
70 years. When las. heard from him he
was living on Big Blue River, Hancock
county, Ind, l think, and where he has re-
sided ever since before the beginning Of
my recollection. My father, Thomas,
died the l7th Of January, 1851, in Coles
county, Ind. where hehad resided 20 years.
am his only child. / have resided here
and hereabouts % years. am 45 years
Of age, and have wife and three children,
the Oldest II years. My wife was born
and raised at Lexington, KY, and my con.
nectisn with her hiss sometimes taken me
there, where l have heard the old people
Of her relatives speak OF your Uncle
Thomas and his family. He ia dead long
ago, and his descendants have gone to some
part Of Missouri, as l rccollect what was
told. When was at Washington, ia 1919.
| got up correspondence with David
Lincoln, residing at Sparta, Rockingham
county, Va, who, like yourself, was
first cousin Of my father, but forget, If he
informed me, which OF my grandfather's
brothers was his father. With Col. Gro
zter, Of whom you speak, l formed quite an
intimate acquaintance for a short one, and
when you meet again would thank you
to present him my respects. Your pres.
ent Governor, Andrew johnson, was also
ct Washington while was, and he told me
Of there being people Of the name Of Lin
coin in Carter county. can no longer
claim to be young man myself, but l In
fer that az you are Of the same generation
Of my father you are some older. shall
be very glad to hear from you again. Very
truly your relative. A. LINCOLN.