New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
+ BOYHOOU FRIEND or LINCOLN.
AUSTIN GOILAHER. or KENTUCKY. Is THE ONLY
ONE NOW KNOWN TO BE LIVING.


AUSTIN GOlLAHER. OF KENTUCKY. Is TIE ONLY
ONE NOW KNOWN TO BE LIVING.
From The Louisville Courer-Journa.
Austin Gollaher. a playmate of Abraham Lincoln.
is eighty years old to-day. He lives near the
top OF Muldrdugh's Hill. a few miles north OF ihe
great age and rheumatism. is still cheerful and
ready talk with any visitor
Austin GOllaher, in spite OF his unique cialn 70
remembrance 10y the world at large. has been little
heard Of When Nicclay and Hay published their
ferred very briefly his existence and published his
portrait Gollaher was then; as now, hvlns with
his sol. Thomas Gollaher. When he was playmate
OF the martyrei President he lived on little farm
three miles south Of Hodgenville They moved therc
ing the Lincoln homestead Being Older than Lincoln.
hood days though his conversation Is rather barren
Of details and is probable tnat ne mas coniusri
happened That he actually knew ana played with
the man who looms up 50 large In history IS, how
ever not doubted by historians
The Gollaher home Is difficult Of access. You wind
YOUR way through the scruhhy ceddrs and still
ovrr series OF rocks ana gullies. then come upon
clearing in the midst Of which stands mouse, sur
banner floating from its top suggests the idea -
some kind Of flag but is only TO keep tn. hawks
beginning t. run about the yard The dogs ar"
friendly ana The door you may De gTgr ~ ,
nnak ,Ic wears white flannel Jacket ana walks
WIZ wi,b two cane lie sees and hears Of little that
going on at the present day, ana ms conversation
interesting to talk to him-pr hear him talk -about
ANYTHING vet every one wants to hear about Lin
he subicc, TO him IIc is go fun Of it that he soon
comes TO il uncOnscously. and then talks freely.
IVES said he TO a reporter who visited him he
other day. Il am known all over the tuited states
and in other countries. Men from d"d!, Oh
sometimes come here to hear me TAX ABOUT Ahia-
ham Lincoln. man from Mew,i orb ,s WAS mere mere
wanted 10 hear what ! knew about II. They sent me
one Of them histories once but It had mighty hca
thing in print and swallow 1t down as If II must
be all correct, but hgy aSn but k" Gyern anG al
WAYS returned TO the theme that ne loVed :" wen I"
speak about. As to his first acquaintance with Lin
'c I'm si2 my father settled near the Iinchorn
come over to see me an my mother: AZ first sight
must say didn't IKE Abe one pit III, lis aPpIar,,
little to do with him. In few days NOR NOR me an
my mother goes over 10 see mem men Ms Ms
him Irst-rate Abe was three years younger than
but we became las, shed together am
When school took up in the little cabin r oyer o.,
South Fork Creek we went nerE over N on yf b
other Side Of creek Abe was great learn nr,
hing he could find to read: The fence corners
was full of big ronweeds an hed gamer h 'in rn IN
night to make big blaze sos ne coud see 10
~" have heard that you saved his life once How
was b ,ha res and his face Frightened 1T was when
had To- coon IT across on a log Abe slipped an
fall off an |
an rha histories all say that Abe was seven years
old When he left for Tndiany, but he must have
paan ;ieven They weren't there, an they can
bo Nv nected 10 get everything correct
Are there no other of Lncon's early schooimates
now living? ~ Thar. r,os ona living ov.r
here near Etown some years "e'' "'' Nv - ' 80
far as / can find out. ,o,,, Chr,s,io, r,bere
20 litte BAPTIST church on the Louisville ana Nash
~ a liz near the top of Muldraughs Hill. where
hn holds his membership II IS small frame build
i r. ,nnaintcd and unceied He Is sometimes as
,res.sed that they cannot fish It, He Is an upright
anJ mons man but cannot endure the sancuhcatioh
or nnu hat IL strong In his community
trho following is the reference 70 MI. tollaher
IN Hcoay and Hays History Of Lincoln as first
III ,-.,isbed I'm 'The Century Magazine:
Pu!.Thare s still living near Knob Creek. In Ken
.i,,, a, the age of eighty, man. OF whom a
s.i, il given on page ~. who claims to have
Ponwn Abraham Lincoln In ms chlidhoodIAust,n
khUmh Ne saws he used TO play with Abe Lincoln
~ No. cravings of his fathers carpenter shop. lie
IN .'e ,"r ,ybich If accurate. entities him to the
LII sIo crown which the Romans used TO give to
cIvic saved the life of citizen. When Gollaher
oio s eleven and Lincoln eight the two boys were IN
TS woods in pursuit OF pHtrdges; In trying to coon
.ir Knob Creek on log Lincoln fell In. ana
ac IVsS nebed him out with sycamore branch-a
,re 70 the Republic the value OF which 1t fatigues
r. Imagination to compute