The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-02-19

Enloe, another Calhoun, another Har-
din. and several different states claim
him. Only FIVE years ago book was
published In North Carolina to provo
that Lincoln's father was resident of
that state. The bulk OF the testimony
offered in this instance came from
men and women who had been born
long after Abraham Lincoln had never
seen him. and never heard the tale
they repeated until long after his ele-
walton 20 the presidency. OF the
truth of these statements as TO Lin
coins origin no proof has ever been
produced. They were rumors, diligent
ly spread In the first place by those
who for political purposes we're glad
to belittle a political opponent They
grew with telling. and, curiously
enough, two OF I.incoins best friends
helped perpetuate them -Messrs. La
mon and Herndon- both OF whom
wrote lives of the president which are
of great interest and value. But nei-
ther of these men was a student, and
they did not take the trouble TO look
for records OF Mr.. Lincolns birth.
They accepted rumors and enlarged
upon them. Indeed, It was not until
perhaps twenty-five years ago that the
matter was taken mp seriously and an
investigation begun. This has been
going on at intervals ever since. until
venture to say that few persons
born in the community as Lincoln was,
and as early as 1909, have their line
age on both sides as clearly estah-
lished as that Of Abraham Lincoln. It
takes, indeed, a most amazing credul-
tty for any one TO believe the stories
have alluded TO after having looked
az the records OF his family Lincoln
himself, backed by the record in the
Lincoln family Bible, Is the first an-
thority for the time and place OF his
birth, as well as the name OF his faith
er and mother The father, Thomas
Lincoln, far from being a poor
white was the son of a prosperous
Kentucky pioneer. a man of honorable
and well-established lineage who had
come from Virginia as a friend OF Dan.
iel Boone. and had bought large tracts
OF land and begun. to grow up with
the country, where he was killed by
tho Indians He left a large family.
BY the law OF Kentucky the estate
went mainly To the Oldest son. and the
youngest. Thomas Lincoln. was left
TO shift for himself This youngest
son grew 10 manhood and on June 10,
1906. was married, at Beechland. Ken
lucky. TO a young woman OF family
well knOWh IN the vicinity, Nancy
Hanks. There Is no doubt whatever
about the time and the place Of their
marriage. All the legal documents re-
/ quired IA Kentucky at that period for
marriage are in evidence. Not only
have we the bond and the certificate
but the marriage Is duly entered In a
list Of marriage returns made by
Jesse Head, one OF the bestknown
early Methodist ministers OF Ken
lucky. It Is now 70 be seen in the
records Of Washington county, Ken
lucky. There is even in existenee a
Very full and amusing account OF the
wedding and the fanfare which fol-
lowed by a guest who was present,
and who for years after was accus-
toned 10 visit Thomas and Nancy.
This guest Christopher Columbus
Graham. unique and perfectly trust
worthy man. a prominent citizen II
Louisville. died only a few years ago
But while these documents dispose
lemectuallY u the question Of the par