Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-12
DOllie Mae Richardson Was
Born in Lincoln's
Native State

Dear Juniors After finishing the
reading Of the Junior page, l am glad
to write about one Of the great mon OF
the past. He being born in old Ken
lucky The blue grass state, which Is
my native land, having just moved to
this state.
just one hundred and seven years
ago, IN February, 1909, Abraham Lin
coin was born in the state OF Kentucky
Wnen he was seven years old his
rather moved to Indiana, and then h,
began to select a place in the wood,
TOT new home, and with the help O.
little Abe, shelter was soon built o
poles and covered with branches ant
leaves, one side was left entirely open
This shelter he called the half face
camp" and in front of this openinp q
nre was kept burning all time to
warm the camp. In this uncomfort.
aDle nome the Lincoln family lived a
whole year, then they moved into a
log cabin which seemed like a palace
10 young Abe, although it had dirt
moor and no doors nor windows, save
the openings in the walls, over which
hung skins of wild animals.
His mother taught his father to read
and write and I suppose she taught
ABE also. He went to school in lit
tie log cabin, though his father put
him to work at an early age. Still
he continued his studying He had no
paper to write on, so he worked prob
lens and wrote compositions on
wooden shovel, in front of the fire.
when the shovel was covered with
figures and work he shaved them of
and began again.
At the age of 10 he was a good
scholar, but young Lincoln longed to
see something Of the world beyond his
fathers little farm, so at the age of
20 the chance came, when a neighbor
hired him to accompany his son on a
nat boat loaded with corn and products
for New Orleans. While on his trip
the crew had several tussels with
negro robbers which with hard work
they succeeded in throwing most of
the negroes over board and returned
safe in a short time.
Then Abe's father moved to Illinois.
Here another log cabin home was built
and Abraham with the help of his
cousin split enough rails for his
father to fence his fifteen acre field
When the Black Hawk war broke
out Lincoln Joined the army, and he
was made captain of a company. Al
though Black Hawk was captured and
the war ended before his men had a
chance to do any fighting, but often
said in his speeches afterward. he
charged with the wild onions and had
many bloody battles with the mos
quitoes.
tie practice, he was elected to the leg
islature. Of Illinais where he held Of
flee for sove:7l tG!Tcs. Then his peo-
pie sent him to congress.
During the time c. the bitter feel
ing Of the north and south, Abraham
Lincoln. the rail splitter" was chos-
en- president of the United States and
was later killed by John Wilkes
Booth. 49,. -..- ~. 81
Abraham Lincoln who was reared IL
poverty. with little school advantages,
conquered every difficulty, made OPP
portunijes and then improved them.
He was high minded, truthful. gener-
GUS and brave, and well worth the eX-
ample Of all American boys.
Washington who was born Feb. %.
was equally great man as Lincoln,
although enjoy the reading of Lin
coins life more than Washington's SO
I preferred to write about Lincoln.
Best wishes to the Juniors and the
editor. The new reader,
Dnllye Mai Richardson, Age IL.
Fremont, Iowa, Route I.