Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-02-15

n AIo1ME A1CdlAOA WuSu u0 Was pASIOO
WV against Stephen A. Douglas
for senator Of Illinois In
runs as follows:
II was born February IL, 1909, in
Hardin county, KY. My parents were
both born in Virginia Of undiatin-
guished families second families per-
haps I should say. My mother, who
died in my tenth year, was of a fam
lily of the name of Hanks, some OF
whom now reside in Adams, and 9TH
ers in Macon county, Ill. My paternal
grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, emil.
grated from Rockingham county, Va,
to Kentucky about 1871 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 forest. His an
cestors, who were Quakers, went to
Virginia from Berks county, Pa. An
effort to identify them with the New
England family of the same name end
ed in nothing more definite than q
similarity of Christian names in both
families, such as Enoch. Levi, Morde-
cal, Solomon, Abraham and the like.
my father at the death of his faith
er was but 6 years of age, and he
grew up literally without education.
He removed from Kentucky to what
is now Spencer county, Ind, in my
eighth year. We reached our new
home about the time the state came
into the Union. It was wild region,
with many bears and other game ami.
mails still in the woods. There grew
up. There were some schools, So
called, but no qualification was ever
required for teacher beyond readin',
writin' and cipherip' 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 abso-
lutely nothing to excite ambition for
education.
"Of course when came Of age i did
not know much. Still, somehow, I
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 upon this store
Of education I have picked up from
time to time under the pressure Of
necessity.
IT was raised to farm work, which
l continued till I was %. At 81
came to Illinois and passed the first
year in Macon county. Then got
to New Salem, at that time in San
canon, now Menard county. where
remained year as a sort of clerk in
store. Then same the Black Hawk
war, and was elected captain Of
volunteers, success which gave me
more pleasure than any have had
since I went through the campaign,
was elected, ran for the legislature
ne same year (1S32) and was beaten
he Only time have ever been beat
= By the people. The next and three
proceeding biennial elections was
'ected 10 the legislature. I was not
'and.date afterward. During this
legislative period had studied law.
ana removed to Springfield to prac.
tice it.
In 1846 I was once elected to the
lower house Of congress. Was not a
candidate for reelection. From 1849
to 1854, both inclusive, practiced law
more assiduously than ever before.
Always a Wing in politics and gem
orally on the Wing electoral ticket,
making active canvasses. I 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.
'ad"If any personal description Of me
is thought desirable, 1t may be said l
am lin. 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 recollected.
Yours very truly,
"A. LINCOLN"
This was written couple Of years
before he ran the first time for presi-
dent. "The rest as the phrase is.
'.is history" Though Douglas beat
him for senator, the popular vote Of
the state was with him, as the legis-
lative returns showed, namely, for
Lincoln 126,048, for Douglas 121, $40.
In his first campaign for the presi-
dency Lincoln received $50 Of the 3O3
electoral votes, and had a plurality of
491, 1876 Of the popular vote in total
of 4,608,193. In his second campaign
he received PIP electoral votes out CT
233, leaving Mcclellan only 81, and he
lad a clear majority of All, 42S in the
popular vote. Thus, as in the tribute
of London Punch, by Tom Taylor,
the dramatist, when the assassin's
bullet had laid him low, his course
and conduct Of the war had been vim.
dicated: .It
So he grew up, q destined work to do.
And lived to do It: four longf suffering
# years Il, Isl a
III fate i'll feeling. i'll report lived through,
And then he heard the Misses change to
IL cheers. 3 s
His work was done, but he was cut