Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-02-06
LINCOLN DID SPLIT RAILS.
The Fact Attested BY Many OF his old
Nelghbors.


The Fact Attested BY Many OF HIS old
Neighbors.
In February OF 1872 was in attend
ance at the State Republican conyeu-
ton at Indianapolis writes G. G.
Powell in the Washington Star, and
met at the Bates house at that time a
gentleman whose name cannot re-
call, who was resident of Spencer
county. He came there soon after the
Liucolns left This gentleman had
served two terms as treasurer of the
county, having been first elected in
1860, and was candidate before the
convention where was in attendance
for state treasurer and only lacked a
few votes of nomination. He was a
man OF splendid personal appearance
and OF the highest character. He told
me that all of the older citizens OF his
locality wnen he came there were
we'll acquainted with Abraham Lincoln.
Instead OF being IAN awkward, indo-
lent and apparently unambitious boy. =
he was a studious. industrious, and
thoughtful young man. whose habits
"GtN AiNpLAOuttIl1 EOOG- mere
were but few books within his reach
while he lived there, but he managed
to borrow or buy these and carefully
peruse them This gentleman informed
me that many of his neighbors saw
Abraham Lincoln making rails. cutting
cord wood and doing other manual
work. He was also gifted as a cabinet
maker. having made quite respect
able book cases and other household
furniture, which this gentleman had
frequently seen. In August OF 1860
went to Springfield Ill.,. to Repub-
lican mass meeting. As approached
Mr.. Lincoln house vast procession
was passing, and the wide street run
ming in front of that building was
packed as far as one could see either
way with people. Mr.. Lincoln stood
By the side Of his door, facing the
street eight or ten feet above the side
walk. In front of the place where he
stood, not ten feet away. were two
high stone gate posts rounded Off at
the top, and upon one of these several
gentlemen We're eleyating the rotund
form Of John Hanks, a cousin of Lin
coin. This Hanks was big, burly
fellow All manner of questions were
| put TO him. some wise and some not
20 wise. In the talk with Hanks Lin
| coin took a hand. Hanks was asked.
remember distinctly il he ever split
rails with "Old Abc, and he said he
had. as we'll as cut cord wood He
said he had always been a Democrat.
but he was going to vote for his cousin
| that time, for he had worked with
him and been with him many years
| and knew that he was honest and re-
/ liable.
stood in Mr.. Lincolns house that
| day from nine o'clock in the morning
until three o'clock in the afternoon
and saw the procession as it continued
to wend its way along, and il seemed
almost every other wagon that passed
was drawing u big log and men were
on it making rails. never saw so
much rail-sp.itting in all my life else
whore as | witnessed on that occasion
! There was no one in the whole OF
that vast assemblage that doubted Mr.
| Lincoln made rails. both in Indiana
as well as in Illinois. and never
heard nor saw the apparently univer-
sal belief in his having done so doubt
ed or disputed until this article which
appeared in the Star recently. II
is too late in the day to attempt 10
overthrow and destroy so welt anthem
ticnted fact as the one under consid-
GRAFTON. That Mr.. Lincoln made
rails there can be no doubt. and it had
better be conceded that he did 80, as il
has always been admitted, for in try
ing to maintain the contrary will only
bring the author into ridicule and
| contempt