Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Curious story About the Paternity Of the
Dead President.
TIE ORIGINAL NANCY HANKS.
,u.ecd 20 r,c Abe's Mother-father of An
drew Johnson--facts for the ru-
ture Historian.
,r,-re.ponacnco Of tho DlspatcS.)

distinction. u. c.. November H.
-, TIE bronze monument 20 Abraham
,....,a vas unveiled in Marlborough last
..h several Of the New York papers
FL. ,hat he was never certain OF his
..r paternity" Mr.. Lincoln probably
.- more Of hls anteccdents than the
..,s knows. There are many reputable
....,. living who also know all about the
..'.-.iv Of the great and good Presi-
zen. end many who are now proud 20
.....s,elce that the same blood flows
....r veins. Here Is the true story Of
.,,-.Aarn Lincolns birth as related by
........I Allen T. Davidson, late a member
OBJ, confederate States Congress. for
......r wears an officer In the House OF
~. ....rtativcs. and the lawyer who set
re Euloe estate. His address Is
,.....e. y. {. lie says:
.r.sm Enloe lived in Rutherford
.... 10 had in his family n girl
nancy Hanks. about 10 or Il years
Na moved from Rutherford to
rte and settled on the branch
o.. Dconcc. in what was afterwards
...l ana what Is now Swain
..t-. 50 the end OF eight years he
% the house at the foot Of
>.v Mountain. which is the present
20 Wesley Enloa. Soon after
b.. r moved his daughter. Nancy Enloc
., MS wish. ran away and married
.-rkv gentleman named Thompson,
,- Hariin county in that state.
NANCY AND HER Roy.
.-. tfe meantime. during the absence
t ... Nancy Euloe-Thompson in Ken
., the home OF Abram Enloe n son
.-1 90 Nancy Hanks. then about
wears Of age. The relations be-
. ,'rs Fnloe and her husband be-
...- q matter Of course. unpleasant.
-.. ,. s lady now living who as q girl.
- eng the family 81 Abram Enloe.
.ays that Nancy Enloe-Thomp-
saving become reCOnCilcd 10 her
...t. Rad returned from Kentucky 70
... r.,oiiua. They were 10 start to
.... ... again in a few days. and she
hearing her neighbors say
..7 Nancy Hanks and her boy
fl Kentucky with Mrs. Thomp-
.e Eulon VIII be happy again
ul>iIs0n continues: Il married
.... t. E'lle family myself. I settled
...- Ir'ua's estate. and ! frequently
tt.- tradition. and have no doubt
... t..'h. ] was seated IN my law
1ay since the war. soon after
Gentleman called. introduced
Thompson. and said he had
was the attorney who settled
,.-.. rr'1a's estate.
GREAT OBLIGATION.
Do was the son of Nancy
-r-.n. he stated. among other
..t ha was n Democrat. and had
l.l.u agent during Mr.. Lin
f-.5'rati,n. I asked him how
rl. was Republican. appointed
Democrat. as an Indian agent.
-r replied that Lincoln was un-
rrat obligation 10 his mother,
,.f ...-.e-,l @ deslre 10 aid her IN
essential way. She consented
ri-r' DO something for her son.
., U.s. The way got my appoint
.-rev FOR the estate OF Abram
~.... colonel Iavidson's opinion in this
-.- .- especially entitled to respect
hon. A. r. Davidson. late At
--..- -...rll = North Carolina. VII
.... t. fr- above facts.
..- WAS BORN IN SWAIN.
--. r.l-'otto Observer. one Of the
e.. 1'- daily papers published in
O. -.t. .f North Carolina. edited by
r caldwell. a son Of the late
rl caldwell. contains the fol-
. . rec nj issue. Mr.. Caldwell
fra writer's name:
sr years ago-probably In 1889
3 . e.~u.l 10y Or. 4. W. Miller
q ..- Do u. IN the Presbyterian
t.t there was 4 tradition In
-v tlat Abraham Lincoln was
f.t county: that his father was
'tm Euloe. and the name Of
..- v4s Nancy Hanks; that the
which he was born
r.t time occupied by Wesley
n ~ Abram Enloe, and there
.. t'fMother Of the dead Presi-
" '. being I'm Webster Jackson
u.f % gentleman who was
rr..vor az Jackson county,
...r clncilel with the facts re-
.. u-. Miller Dr. Miller was very
oppressed by the evidence in this
Thought that Wesley Enloe
close resemblance 70 the dead
.r ar'.-. equally reliable, and In
paper. who had heard the
t.r. determined 10 20 10 the
.l .e- Wesley Enloe. The Enloe
aa4 just fourteen miles from
wh.r. this writer lives. and
at'r hired "a private convey
'l- lin % the foot Of Smikey
li.ra ls bis story:
tIrANE TALKATGVE.
i WAS rocky and my driver
- silent Kind. 50 / gave my at
' 3D.. shaping OF my Interview
doomed up To- me as a very diff
90 handle. \ silence OF five
|.r.f.r tvfarfl1rfll nv the
.I-.tr as 20 my business with
Wesley Iul.s ] replied promptly
Hl principally 10 look at him.
..r l,ff me TO my own retec-
ye enjoyment Of the scenery
--.,gfta riyor. a branch OF
.-, which is beautiful be
..u.u Suddenly, however, the
.riau.l with curiosity. at
milestone interrupted ME with
would ] mind telling him
t.I 10 look at Wesley Enloe
no au' / answered. I have
--.uhlel Abraham Lincoln,
is his half brother. The
.... became satisfied and talka-
I. .'el that he had heard the
ufy, and was q relative OF
u.y himself"
..a CITY narrator continues:
yellow I'm. the Indian school
1r the United states Govern
Nn grade Of three or four
.1l Us 70 a beautiful rich val
'e- present home Of Wesley
Ahgam EnlOe homestead.
was not unlike many OF the
H North Carolina, one story,
ping down over the piazza,
CONS auy-rOOm opening on the
r Wesley Lnloe and his wife
d. 'front.'. picture Of undis-
eminent and rural happiness.
carried his team 10 the barn
i.r retired 10 look after din
N..i.. Enloe was about feet 2
.aI. and 10 my great disap-
..Il-hcaGed. His right shout
t.a t..e iJ,yer than his left; when
'r stopped slightly forward.
r'1n took varied turn-the
tI- Alliance. crops. walnut
finally inquired II he had a
himself before he lost his hair.
.l.r jdla. about - years old,
.nei aud brought a basket
B.. .t1Haphs
.N MUCH SURPRISED.
.nt9n was taken at once by the
utiance between Julia and
lincoln The pictures with "a
..t .. hair failed 20 satisfy me Of
'f f4Dial resemblance between
rs and Abraham Lincoln. Mr..
H. 600 nae that he had never
't fathers name mentioned In
-.E lu connection with Abraham
Is