Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-11

The return of the Black Hawk war
riors to New Salem occurred in the'
month Of August, but short time be-;
fore the general election. A new leg
islature was to be chosen, and as Lin
coin had declared to his comrades in
the army he would, and in obedience
to the ELUSIVE declaration of prin-
ciples which he had issued over his
signature in March, before he went to
the war he presented himself to the
people of his newly adopted country
as candidate for the legislature. The
election being near at hand only
few days remained for his canvass.
One who was with him at the time de-
scribing his appearance says: He
wore a mixed jean coat, clawhammer
style, short in the sleeves and bob-tail
in fact it was SO short in the tail he
could not sit on it; flax and tow-linen
pantaloons, and straw hat think
he wore a vest, but do not remember
how 1t looked. He wore Potmetal
boots.' His maiden effort on the
stump was speech on the occasion
of public sale at Pappsville, a vii
lage eleven miles west of Springfield.
After the sale was over and speech
| making had begun, fight-"a gen
eral fight" as one of the bystanders
relates-ensued, and Lincoln, noticing
one of his friends about to succumb
to the energetic attack of an infuriat-
ed ruffian, interposed to prevent it. He
did so most effectually. Hastily de-
scending from the rude platform he
edged his way through the crowd and
Selling the bully by the neck and seat
| Of his trousers, threw him by means
of his strength and long arms as one
witness stoutly insists twelve feet
away Returning to the stand and
| throwing aside his hat he inaugurated
his campaign. The election as he had
predicted resulted in his defeat, the
only defeat, as he himself afterwards
! stated, that he ever suffered at the
| hands of the people. But there was
little defeat in 1t after all. Out Of
| the eight unsuccessful candidates he
stood third from the head of the list,
! receiving 657 votes The most crafty
| ing feature of it all was the hearty
support of his neighbors at New
| Salem. OF the entire 2OS votes in the
precinct he received every one save
three.
The unsuccessful result Of the cleo
ton did not dampen his hopes nor
sour his ambition. The extensive
acquaintance, the practice in public
speaking, the confidence gained of the
people, together with what was aug
mented in himself made surplus of
capital on which he was free to draw
and of which he afterwards frequently
availed himself. The election being
over, however. he found himself with
out money. though with good supply
Of experience, drifting again. His poll
tical experience had forever weaned
him from the dull routine of common
labor. Labor afforded him no time for
study and no incentive to profitable
reflection. What he seemed to want
was some lighter work, employment in
a store or tavern where he could
views with strangers, discuss politics,
horse races, cock fights, and narrate to
listening loafers his striking and
significant stories. In the communi
ties where he had lived the village
storekeeper held undisturbed sway He
took the only newspapers, owned the
only collection of books and half the
property in the village; and in general
was the social, and ofttimes the poll.
teal head of the community. Natural
ly. therefore the prominence the store
gave the merchant attracted Lincoln.
But there seemed no favorable open
ing for him-clerks In New Salem
were not in demand just them. My
cousins, Rowan and James Herndon,
were at that. time operating a store,
and firing OF the Investment and con-
finement it necessitated, James sold
his interest to an idle, shiftless fell
low named William Berry. Soon aft
A few weeks only were sufficient to
render apparent Lincoln ill-adapted to
the requirements of a successful
business career. Once installed be-
hind the counter he gave himself up
to reading and study depending for
the practical management of the bust.
ness on his partner. A more unfortu-
nate selection than Berry could not
have been found for while Lincoln at
one end Of the store was dispensing
political information Berry at the other
end was disposing Of the firms
liquors, being the best customer for
that article of merchandise himself.
When the firm failed Lincoln assumed
all the debts and set resolutely to
work to pay everything. This was
strictly in keeping with his fine sense
of honor and justice. He was long
time meeting these claims, even as
late as 1S4S, sending to me from Wash
ington portions of his salary as con-
gresham, to be applied on the unpaid
remnant Of the Berry and Lincoln in
debtedness, but in time he extinguish-
ed it all even to the last penny.
(Out of employment again, he work
ed at odd jobs and continued his
studies of law. He was appointed post
master at New Salem and subsequent
ly worked as a deputy county survey
orr The Herndon history continues:
In the summer of 1884 Lincoln de-
termined to make another race for the
legislature. Lincoln was one of the
four successful candidates and at last
had heen elected tn the 1apiSla tIra