Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-02-06
Martured President Most lllustrious
Example Of What World Calls the
Self-Made Man.

he forsook farming and sought a position as .
clerk in a country store.
Whether Lincoln ever would have been heard
of had not the Black Hawk war occurred about a
year after he went to work Mt New Salem Snngn-
mon county, remains question. 1t need not
bother any one, however, because the war did
occur and Lincoln did go into 1t us captain ct
volunteers.
This might be said to have been the turning
point in his career. Up to this time he had not
found himself. He was studying, but drifting. He
does not appear to have had any aim in life be-
You'd the ambition to educate himself and to sue
coed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience In
the Black Hawk war gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred to him UP to
tEat time. He had no opportunity to distinguish
himself In that little conflict, but he returned to
New Salem a man Of more public Importance than
woen ne left 1t. He started store, but 1t failed
ana the debts fell upon him. He appointed
postmaster, the first federal office he ever held
lie ran for the legislature but defeated. But
the next election he ran again, and was elected
and later returned for another term.
Law and Politics.
While he was keeping general store he began
the study OF law. He once said that one of his
first books was copy of the laws Of Indiana.
and that was about all the law he knew up to
tina. time.
1t was while serving rs u legislator in Illinois
that Lincoln first turned his attention to theA blot
OF slavery. which he began to oppose with all his
might and influence. After he decided to retire
from the legislature he started to practice law,
having been licensed to practice in 1887. He
moved to Springfield, where the remainder Of his
days, until he went to Washington us president,
were mainly spent.
In 1916 he was elected to a seat in congress-
but he declined reelection and settled down to
the practice Of his profession in Springfield.
Lincoln spent his spare time lin the store Of his
friend, Joshua Speed, which was the rendezvous
OF many prominent men in that section. He was
famed for his stories and for his keenness In de-
bate 1t was in this little general store that Lin
coin f1rst met Douglas In debate Douglas was
regarded far and wide as little giant in debate,
and he remarked that the store no place for
him to debate any question with Lincoln.
BY this time Lincoln had become something of q
politician. His party was the Wing. He took
lively interest in political affairs and finally took
part on the Wing side in joint debate with the
Democrats. Lincoln was the last speaker in that
debate. but his words took the deepest hold of the
spectators and added greatly to his reputation
1t was in Springfield that Lincoln married Mary
Todd, who, 1t Is interesting to note. was also
sought In marriage by Douglas. who thus became
Lncolns opponent in love us well us in politics
but beaten by him in both
AS Il lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
to those who did not understand his methods. He
dlsliked office work and the drawing of legal pa-
pers, but when case had to be brought to the
attention of jury court Lincoln was in his
element. He was born debater and story.teer
4 He knew how to get the jury in good humor and
how to make his point to them reach home.
He had the genius for putting the human touch to
all he did, and his homey SMILES and good stories
often went further than his opponents knowledge
of the law.
Apostle Of Abolition.
But 1t should not be imagined that Lincoln knew
no law, for that would be mistake. He often
would sit up to the small hours Of the night read.
ing law and studying cnse, while his opponents
sprobably would be soundly sleeping. When Inc
went into court he was master Of his case, ana
that goes "a long way toward winning verdict
The practice Of law was beginning to take
firm hold on Lincoln to the exclusion of politics
when the Missouri Compromise was enacted, That
reused him, and from that time onward he was
strongly for the abolition Of slavery
His position was known throughout the coun.
try, for he had stumped the East for Taylor years
before, and the stories Of his quiet humor and
fund Of anecdote had penetrated the East, conse-
quently, when 1t was evident to the country that
It stood on the eve Of conflict between slavery
and abolition, Lincoln was made the nominee of
the party that was firmly intrenched on the prin.
was nominated. and was enthusiastically elected
at the national election in 1860.
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
burst upon the country. 1t was trying time, and
no one suffered under It more than did Lincoln
himself. But he meant to do his duty, and, as
always had been his habit he did It then although
It was most unpleasant and most difficult
When the war made Its inroads into many
homes, Lincoln had an unpleasant duty to Der.
form. He sympathized with the mothers left AT
home and did what he could for their boys Mt the
front He received the mothers at the White
House, talked things over with them and nearly
every one Of them left feeling that her boy had a
friend who looked after him although he was far
away in an army corps doing his duty.
It was this gentle character who was coldly
struck down Just when the war was at an end
and the country was getting ready to rejoice nj
the glorious news. The whole country, South ar
well as North. mourned the loss, for even in the
South. where tho war had been most disastrous
the name of Lincoln was Joined In memory with
grand, human. just character. who was even
more than man.