Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-06-18
LINCOLN'S BOYHOOD HOME.

The Spot Where His Mother Rests, in
Spencer County, Indiana.
On the Evansville branch of the Air
Line railroad traversing Indiana the
traveller will find if he desires to go to
Cannelton, little thriving manufactur-
ing and mining town Oh the Ohio river,
that he is fated to lie at Lincoln City for
two hours waiting to make connections
with the branch trains. Lincoln City,
he finds, is not what its name promises.
1t is a collection of a few saloons res
taurants, cottages and a small depot.
Near the little place lies buried the
mother who gave life to the son whose
name the place. bears-to Abraham Lin
coin, writes correspondent.
On inquiry / found that the place re-
ceived its name from the fact that
A braham Lincoln called the place his
home from 1917 until 1929 or 1880. His
father, Thomas Lincoln, who was a
squatter on piece Of land in what is
now Spencer county, entered this tract
on section 80, township south, range
west, October Is, 1917.
Here A braham, who was then eight
or nine years of age, lived until 1929 or
1880. At that time the family removed
to Illinois. Here was his home; here he
grew up to manhood here he laid the
foundation for his future eminence and
success in life. 1t was here, on a tract
of land which is now converted into
Lincoln park. that Abraham Lincoln
lived his backwoods life. The cedars
which surrounded the humble cabin of
the future president of the United States
are yet to | e seen in the incipient park
of the little Indiana village, and they
are, in fact, its nucleus.
Says the historian of the county: He
saw hardships; had meager clothing,
coarse food and no advantages of Secur-
ing any education. All who knew him
agree that his ways were not like those
of other boys. He was not fully under
stood, doubtless unconsciously holding
his real character or disposition in re-
serve for his intimate friends only.
He was not fond of work, but whether
from sheer laziness or because he was
fonder of mental exercise in reading or
otherwise is not clear. He enjoyed
books of all kinds, especially biography,
and is known to have borrowed much
of the little reading matter in the neigh
borhood. After 1920 Spencer county
had, at Rockford, a public library OF
several hundred volumes of the stand
ard works of the day. The name of
Lincoln does not once appear on the
record as borrower. Thomas Lincoln,
and no doubt his son A braham, We're at
Rockford several times a year, to pay
taxes or for other purposes, and could
easily have obtained books had they so
desired. AS far as l have become ac-
uuainted with the Indiana county IL
brary laws, have always found that it
was required that books should be re-
turned within thirty days from the time
of their withdrawal and so it was hard
" possible for the Lincolns to return
| the books at the proper time.
.All agree in the matter of Ahe's
good nature and honesty. Joseph
Gentry says he never saw Abe mad but
once, and that was when one of the
| Gingsbys and his stepbrother johnson
| had a fight. Abe, then a strapping
| youth six feet four in his stockings, was
| anxious to fight. He had written what
| was known as The Chronicles, giving
| an account of certain transactions in
the neigh borhood rejecting on some of
! the people. The person or persons of
| Tended would not fight Abe, as he was
| too young a man physically, but John
| son, his stepbrother, took his place. and
he got the worst of the fight, if ac-
counts are correct. Many boys scrapes
of the great Abe could be told, but
they are useless except to show the
bent of his character, which is now
| well known to the world.
| His mother died in the autumn of
| 1918. and was buried on the hill north
of Lincoln City. But little is known of
her except that she was a sweet. quiet
woman. \ short time ago a small mar
| BILE slab was erected over her grave by
the Studebakers of South Bend. Ind.
The epitaph reads as follows: Nancy
| Hanks Lincoln. mother of President
Lincoln. Died Oct. 5. 1918. aged 35
years. Erected by friend of the mar
tyred son. 1879
Thomas Lincoln is remembered as
an Industrious carpenter or farmer; as
a man of good brain and no culture; a
quiet, unassuming man. His second
wife was a woman of much worth and
force of character louisville Courier
| Journal.
| Wanted to BE on the Safe Side.
| NVba,, tho devil was sick his aaparneSs