The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-17
KNEW LINCOLN AS A YOUNGsTER
"reminiscences Of Squire Barnett of I'LL
nois, Aged Ninety One

"reminiscences Of Squire Barnett of I'LL
I nois, Aged Ninety-O One.
There was held near Galesburg recent
ly a celebration In honor of the ninety
first anniversary of the birth of John D.
Barnett, or Squire Barnett, as he is gen
| orally known. 1t took place at the log
home west Of the city, and many de-
scendants from Knox and Warren
counties were present. A peculiar in
terest attaches to the life of Mr.. Bar
nett for he was one of the young men
friends of Abraham Lincoln, who was
a few months his senior. The Barnetts
came to Sangamon in 1899, and for six
years Barnett resided in that county.
He has lived in Knox county since 1916,
having spent ten years in Hancock
| county.
| The Squire says that Lincoln and he
were often together, and that, although
Jhe thought much of Lincoln, he never
voted for him but once, and that was
when he ran for the legislature against
Peter Cartwright. He recalls many
pleasant Incidents. When he first be-
came acquainted with Lincoln the lat
Fter was engaged with William Berry in
running grocery. Mr.. Barnett says of
Lincoln at that time: He was the
greatest reader / ever saw. He was al
ways reading. If he did not have the
money to buy books he borrowed them.
In the store / often saw him lying on
the counter at full length and listening
to discussion that he stirred up among
the patrons, for he was fond of provok-
ing a debate and listening to what the
contestants had to say"
Squire Barnett and Mr.. Lincoln were
members of a fishing party one night,
and Lincoln was holding the light while
Barnett was manipulating the spear.
Lincoln, in order to see Barnetts exc
cution, held the torch above his head so
that the light would not be between his
eyes and, the water. This prevented
Barnett seeing well, and he shouted
ABE, bring down that torch. You're
holding it clear out of Sangamon coun-
ty"
This was a joke on Lincoln's height
That Lincoln remembered it was shown
in 1858. when he debated with Stephen
A. Douglas. He noticed Mr. Barnett in
the crowd and inquiring, us not that
JOIN DILL dllL DClHS dllSWeEGu, IL |
is said, II must speak to him." He |
then introduced Mr.. Barnett to his COM
panion as he man who said / was hold |
ing a torch clear out of Sangamon |
while I was holding it for him |
rs he was spearing a fish"
Mr. Lincoln and Mr.. Barnett went to I
Springfield together In 1882 and cast
their first votes, Lincoln for Henry
Clay and his companion for Andrew
Jackson and they jolled each other
about having killed vote apiece. They
voted in the old brick court house,
whose site is now occupied by the cap
toll.
Barnett tells that the second time l
lincoln ran for the legislature he Gin
,oln) and the other candidates, includ-
ng w. F. EllIin, John Dawson, William I
Carpenter and E. d. Taylor. happened
~ Held where Barnett ana other men |
we're engaged in cutting rye with sckles
# long, hook-like shape. It was sug-
,ested to Lincoln that the workmen did
lot have time to stop labor, but If the
andidates would dismount and assist
hey could talk as the reaping went
n and the Others would listen. The
politicians assented. The grain was |
eavy. Lincoln moved along easily,
eing skilful in the use of the sickle.
lie went across the sixty rods and left |
smooth path. Barnett kept the sickle |
hat ABE" reaped with for many years |
nd priced it highly, but some years ago
was broken.
The Squire also recalls an anecdote |
f MIR. Lincoln's honesty. One night a
'oman came into the store when Lin