Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-19


He chose Lincoln because nobody els,
possessed these qualities in more EN-
nent degree. He hunted him up, CAV,
him book, told him to study it anl
said that as soon as he was ready he
! should have as much work as he could
do.
Abe Becomes Surveyor.
Lincoln took the book and retired te
the country-that is, he went out to
Minter Graham's for about six weeks
In which time, by the aid of that good
master, he became an expert surveyor
and was duly appointed Calhoun's dep.
uty. Of course he made some money,
merely his pay for work, but it is a re-
markable fact that, with his vast
knowledge Of the lands in Sangamon
| and adjacent counties, he never made
single speculation on his own ac-
count
1t was not long until he acquired a
considerable private business. The ac-
curacy of his surveys were seldom, If
ever, questioned. Disputes regarding
corners and Zines" were frequently
submitted to his arbitration, and the
decision was Invariably accepted as
final. 1t often happened that his busi-
ness kept him away from New Salem
and his other studies for weeks at
time, but all this while he was gather
ing friends against the day Of cleo
ton.
In after years-from 1874 onward
it was his good or bad fortune fire.
quently to meet Calhoun on the stump,
but he never forgot his benefaction to
him and always regarded him as the
ablest and best man with whom he
ever had crossed steel. To the day Of
Calhoun's death they were warmly at
tached to each other. In the times
when it was most fashionable and
profitable to denounce Calhoun, when
even Douglas turned to revile his old
friend and coadjutor, Mr.. Lincoln was
never known to breathe a word Of cen
sure on his personal character.
On the 7th of May, 1888, Mr.. Lincoln
was appointed postmaster at New Sa-
lem. His political opinions were not
extreme, and the Jackson administra-
tion could find no man who was at
ly competent to perform the duties Of
the office. He was not able to rent a
room, for the business is said to have
been carried on in his hat; but, from
the evidence before us, we ina gine that
he kept the Office in Mr.. Hills store,
MIR. Hills partner, McNamar, having
been absent since 1882. He held the
place until late in 1886, when New Sa-
em partially disappeared, and the Of
Zee was removed to Petersburg. For a
little while before his own appoint
nent he is said to have acted as deputy |
postmaster under Mr.. Hill.
The mail arrived duly once a week, |
md the labors of distributing and de-
lVering it were by no means great. |
But Mr.. Lincoln was determined that |
lie dignity of the Place should not suf-
er While he was the incun bent. He
therefore, made up for the lack Of real
sus:ness by dec;nhering tie letters Of
le l!nedgcated portion of the commu-
!ity and by reading the newspapers
loud to the assembled inhabitants In
ront of Hills store.
One Of L:ncoIn's Jokes.
But his easy good nature was some
mes imposed upon by inconsiderate
cquaintances, and Mr.. Hill relates one
the devices by which he sought to
top the abuse. Zone Elnore johnson.
n ignorant, but ostentatious, proud
ian, used to go to Lincoln's postofiee
very day-sometimes three or fou,
ines day, If in town--and inquire
AEJJ7ta.1g fos me-: This bored Lincoln
ct it amused linn. Lincoln fixed ii
lan-wrote letter to johnson as com.
lg from negress in Kentucky, say.
lg many good things about opossum,
ances, corn shuckings, etc.; Johns,
ome and see me, and old master won't
lex you out Of the kitchen any moreG
lmore took 1t out, opened it, couldn't
lad word; pretended to read it, went Q
way and got some friends to read it
hey read it correctly. He thought the
'ader was fooling him and went to
hers, with the same result At last he
i'd he would get Lincoln to read it,
Id presented it to Lincoln. It was al :,
ost too much for Lincoln, but he read =
The man never asked afterward, |,
nything here for me?" C
It was in the latter part of 1884 that 81
r. Lincoln's personal property was n
Id under the hammer and by due n
ocess Of law to meet the judgment " "
tanned by Van Bergen on the note -
signed to him by Radford. Every. s,