The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-03-08
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY himself.
Autobiography Written Before
He Became President of the
United States.

\
in December, 1881
was born February u, 1909, in
Hardin county, Kentucky. My par
ents were born in Virginia of undis-
tinguished families second families
perhaps | should say. My mother,
who died in my tenth year, was of
of whom now reside in Adams, some
others in Macon counties, Illinois. My
paternal grandfather, Abraham Lin
coin, emigrated from Rockingham
county, Virginia, to Kentucky about
1881 or 1882, where a year or two
later he was killed by Indians, not
in battle but by stealth, when he
was laboring to open a farm in the
west. His ancestors, who were Qua
kers, went to Virginia from Berks
county, Pennsylvania. An effort to
identify them with the New England
family of the same name ended in
nothing more definite than a SINH
larity of Christian names in both
families, such as Enoch, Levi, Nor
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the
like.
My father, at the death of his farl-
er, was but years of age and he
grew up literally without education.
He removed from Kentucky to what
is now Spencer county, Indiana, in
my eighth year. We reached our
new home about the time the State
came into the Union. 1t was wild
region, with many bears and other
wild animals still in the woods. There
| grew up. There were some schools,
so-called, but no qualification was ev-
er required of teacher beyond 'readin',
writin' and cipherin' to the rule OF
three. If a straggler supposed to un-
derstand Latin happened to sojourn in
the neighborhood he was looked upon
as a wizard. There was absolutely
nothing to excite ambition for edu-
cation. OF course, when | came of
age | did not know much. Still, some
/ how | could read, write and cipher to
! the rule of three, but that was all.
! | have not been to school since. The
| little advance | now have on this
store of education | have picked up
from time to time under the pressure
of necessity.
/ was raised to farm work, which
continued till | was %. At u | came
to Illinois and passed the first year
in Macon county. Then | got to New
Salem, at that time in Sangamon, now
in Menard county, where | remained
year as a sort of clerk in a store
Then came the Black Hawk war and
| was elected a captain of volunteers
- success which gave me more pleas
ure than any | have had since. |
went the campaign, was elected, ran
! for the Legislature the same year
{ QS32) and was beaten-the only time
| ever have been beaten by the peo-
pie The next and three succeeding
y DleHuldl eleCllOHS L NdS SlcClSu w lilS
Legislature. | was not a candidate
afterward. During this Legislativ
period | had studied law and remov-
ed to Springfield to practice il. In
1916 | was once elected to the Low er
House of Congress. Was not a can
didate for reelection. From 1919 to
1854, both inclusive, practiced law
more assiduously than ever before.
Always a Wing in politics and gen
orally on the Wing electoral tickets,
making active canvasses. | was los
ing interest in politics when the re-
peal of the Missouri compromise
aroused me again. What | have done
since then is pretty well known.
If any personal description of me is
! thought desirable, it may be said ! am
in height six feet four inches nearly
lean in flesh, weighing on an average
$50 pounds; dark complexion, with
coarse black hair and gray eyes. No
other marks or brands recollecred.
Yours truly,
\. LINCOLN.
Rljndnecc fOr CitV JEWELLERS