Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-21
SAVED LINOOLN's LIFE.
Death CT Austin Gollaher who Once
Rescued "Abe" From \ Watery
Grave,

ntbVutO "hUt' ETVhh - Waschy
Grave.
Austin Gollaher, who died Feb. % on
his farm in Hodgensville, KY, was al
ways known as the man who in early
boyhood was the friend and playmate
of Abraham Lincoln and the one per-
son who enjoyed the distinction OF
having once saved Lincoln's life. Mr.
Gollaher lacked just month OF be-
ing SO at the time Of his death, but
suffered only bodily inArmity. His
mind was a clear as that of many
younger man, and his memory
storehouse of facts regarding the
early history of the locality in which
he lived. To him came all who were
in doubt on phases of Kentucky his
tory, and his early intimacy with the
family Of Lincoln made him an au-
thority second to none on the boy
hood of the great emancipation. The
undisputed fact that he at one time
save Lincoln from death by drowning
gave him a place unique among men.
1t was a fitting coincidence that the
man who saved Lincoln's life should
die on the day celebrated for the
birth of the one who maze possible
the Union which Lincoln preserved.
But for this act in saving Lincoln the
whole history of the country from
that time on would have been chang
ed, possibly for the worse; those who
believe in Lincoln's proyidential cleo
ton to the presidency will hardly
concede that it could have been for
The better. Born and reared within
short distance of Lincoln's birth
place, Mr.. Golaher there spent his
whole life. He lived plainly and mod
estly, yet with the consciousness OF
an existence honestly maintained,
and enjoying the respect OF all his
neighbors. In his early years he was
a trader and afterward taught school,
but tnr the most part he devoted his
energies to farming. In his boyhood
he did as farmer boys do-he worked,
hunted, fshed, swan, roamed the
woods and became thoroughly ac-
quainted with nature.
IT was when Austin Gollaher was
about 3 years old that Thomas Lin
coin and his wife, Nancy Hanks Lin
coin, came to La Rue county and set
tied on farm on Big South Fork OF
Noin creek, three miles from Hold
gensville. Here Abraham was born,
Feb. 70, 1909. Mr.. Gollaher, who had
lived in the neighborhood all his life,
and had heard ali the stories which
had been told by those living at the
time OF Lincoln's birth regarding that
event, used to tell Of the poverty OF
the home into which the boy was
born, about as follows: AT the
time of Abraham's birth his father
was away from home. Some neigh
bors who were with Mrs. Lincoln at
the event learned that she was desti-
tute of anything in the nature OF
food. Some OF the ladies' called upon
Judge William Cessna, one OF the
most prominent men Of the time In
this section, in Mrs. Linclon's behalf,
and ne donated -four and other arti-
cles of food"
However, the Lincolns were not al
ways so destitute. They we're fortu-
nate enough to have COW and a calf,
milk and butter, good feather bed,
pots, big and little, a loom and q
wheel; and Thomas Lincoln, accord
ing to the accounts, always tried to
care for his family. Abraham was
robust and active. He had several
companions-his sister, Nancy or
Sarah, two years his senior; Dennis
Hanks, a cousin of his mothers, 10
years older than himself, and then
here were always the neighbors'
boys. One Of these was Austin
1ollaher. The nonogenarian never
fred Of telling Of his early associa-
lions with the boy who was destined
10 become president-how he hunted
looms with him in the woods, played
With him. And his exploit when a
ad only 10 years old, he saved "Abe's"
life, who was then s, he always re-
counted with pleasure and great sat
sfaction. His word was never doubt
ID, for Mr.. Gollahers reputation for
Ieracity was great. Mr.. Gollaher,
hen simply Austin, and Abraham at
ended school together whenever its
sessions were held, and be-
,ame greatly attached to each other.
then school disbanded on account Of
mall attendance, and for consid-
'rable time neither saw the other.
hen Mrs. Gollaher, Austin's mother,
listed the Lincolns at their farm on
mob creek, to which they had re-
moved, and the boy Of 10 was taken
long. II was at this time that the
ccident happened which came so
ear costing Lincoln his life. Mr..
Sonaher used TO tell Of the occur.
ence in this way:
One Sunday my mother visited the
lincolns and ] was taken along. Abe
I'D nlnved . rourd an A. M-.t1-