The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-02-05
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ton though, but those who have
made the life OF Abraham Lincoln study look
upon the birthday anny ersary as something
more than the mere pas sing OF a milestone
Historians say that Lincoln was born in Hardin
county, Kentucky. In fact, he was born in La
Rue county which, however is a subdivision OF
Hardin county. Chronicers continue with their
biographies and say that he. together with his
rather. mother and sister went TO Indiana and
entered claim TO a piece of land in Spencer
county. AS a matter OF fact he entered a claim to
piece OF land in Warrck county but which has
since been set aside and named Spencer county
The Lincolns went to Indiana in 1916 the same
year that Indiana was admitted to the Union as
state. lie entered a quarter section of land.
built log cabin and lived there until 1890
Ii was known that Thomas Lincoln, father of
Abraham Lincoln, was in poor circumstances To
say that Abraham Lincoln was the son OF a Door
carpenter and farmer gives an insight to the
hard conditions that little Abe had to face when
he was youngster. When he went to indiana
he was Just seven, and remaining in Indiana until
1880, he spent II years of his life in Indiana or
until he was twentyone years of age
IL is useless to relate the idle tales Of his bow
hood; but when he verged into manhood and i'm
bibed into his character those qualities and those
traits that led up TO his greatness this part of his
lie is interesting. II is well understood that if
Lincoln had done other boys OF his day he
would have achieved only small things But he
did not do as the young men and boys of his day
and the ways Of his early manhood are still inter.
esting to young America who strive for success
and do things
Lincoln saw hardships had meager clothing
coarse food and no advantages OF securing an ed
ucation. All who knew him agreed that he was
unlike other boys. He was not fully understood
doubtless holding his real character or disposition
in reserve for his intimate friends only. He was
not fond of work but whether from sheer lazi-
ness or because he fonder of mental exercise
in reading or otherwise is not clear. He enjoyed
books and is known TO have borrowed much of the
reading matter of his neighborhood
After 1920 Spencer county had, at Rockport its
county seat, public library of several hundred
volumns OF the standard works OF that day
Thomas Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln were at
Rockport at least two times during the year but
the name OF Abraham Lincoln does not appear as
a borrower of books at the library The field
from which Abraham Lincoln could CLEAN knowl-
edge in that neighborhood was very limited
though he borrowed every book that he could get
The list is short one and the following includes
most OF them Robinson Crusoe" "Aesops ia.
bles, Bunyans Pilgrims Progress" Weems'
Life OF Washington" and history OF the United
States
During Abraham Lincons 16 years of life in
Indiana he had read and reread this list of liter
airy and historical books over and over again His
good nature among Lincoln City people was not
unnotced; all agreed to his honesty and good ma.
ture. Questions of dispute and petty differences
and later in a sincere way. until he was compli.