The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31
E. LINCOLN is A COUSIN
OF MARTYRED PRESIDENT.
interesting Personality of Well
Known and Respected Citizen "a
Fort Branch, Ind.

Evansville. Ind. May 30.-In the quiet lit
tie town of Fort Branch. a few miles north
of this city, lives Elijah Lincoln, a frs:
cousin Of the immortal President. He is
loved by his townsmen because of his broad
character. his kindness to everybody and
his resemblance TO his iliustrious cousin in
many ways. Lincoln stands G feet . inches
in height, is very erect and muscular. and.
as he humorously remarks. ii would have
been no trouble whatever for his wife Ito
have gone with a handsomer man."
Mr.. Lincoln was born in Muskingum
County, Ohio. September Il. 1Ss2. When he
was 10 years old he moved with his parents
to Fort Branch. but his father lived but a
short time after he arrived there. TIL fam
lily were in poor circumstances, and young
Elijah was started out at the age of IL to
make his way in the world. He first went
Il was like Abel could not stand that in
fernal slavery"
Leaving New Orleans. Elijah went to
Robinson, Ill, where his mother and broth
ers had moved during his absence in the
South. II was here that he learned he had
a cousin practicing law in Springfield, III.
Abe since he left HIS Indiana home at
Lincoln City. Mr.. Lincoln had started to
visit his cousin at Springfield; but met a
party going to Colorado. and. being in
formed there We're riches in gold and sill
Yer. decided to join the party. They made
the trip on horseback. and when they
reached Colorado several in the party were
sick. They had not been there long when
they, heard the Southern States had left
the Union. and that Indiana would proba-
bly, be a battle-ground in the coming strug-
gle Lincoln started back to Indiana. and
Ehsn he arrived at Princeton decided TO
enlist in the Union Army. He Joined the
F1ity-eigh:h Indiana Regiment. His COM
races say there never was a harder fighter
than Elijah Lincoln. He served in The
army three years.
HE is STRENUOUS.
Mr.. Lincoin's patriotism can best be illus
trated by an incident that happened in For!
Branch a few years ago. A tramp painter
came through the town and in conversation
remarked to a crowd that nine out of every
ten soldiers were ioafers and towards. Mr..
Lincoln was told of this and went in search
of the man. He asked him to repeat the re-
mark and the tramp did so. He was knocked
the town as soon as he could.
Mr.; Lincoln is a good story teller and Is
the life OF the company and regimental re-
unions and Fourth of July celebrations in
MS town. Speaking of his cousin. the great
war President. Mr.. Lincoln said:
Abe told me one time about a capital liae
h, had to deal with while employed In the
practice of law at Springfield. The fellow
lawyer and also the biggest liar. He always
had a ribbon tied in the lower buttonhole
OF his coat; and when in a hard study as to
what. question to ask a witness or what
would be the most effective statement to
make to the Judge or jury, whether true or
not he would invariably twist the ribbon
into a string. At one time he and Abe were
opposed in an important lawsuit.
RESEMBLES FAMOUS COUSIN.
ABE was on to his ribbon habit and man
aged to get close to the attorney to ask
him a question on some subject. At the
same time he pulled his knife from his
pocket and clipped off the attorneys ribbon.
Shortly after this tie attorney got IN to
mike his final plea for his client. He had
only spoken a short time when he began
fumbling about his coat for the ribbon. II
wis not there. and during the rest of his
speech the awyer felt lost. After the had
finished. Abe rose and apologized to the
jury for his opponent, saying 1t was difficult
fots an attorney to make a speech when he
had no case to begin with. Abe won the
cate"
: lHr. Lincoln is fond of hunting. and until
re,entiy spent his winters in Arkansas,
where he has a fine farm. He tells of many
thrilling adventures in the swamps of that
Stite, and boasts of the fact that he has
killed more wild cats and bears than any
other man in the State. To all who know
him Mi. Lincoln is called Uncle Elijah"
Hts is sill active and spry for his age, and
sa,ss he is going to live a long time yet.
lie bears a marked resemblance to the dead
President. L