The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-03-18


who the world today Acknowledges
in the words Of Edwin NJ. Stanton
was a man for the ages"
Marked contrast between this rude
farm cabin now preserved as a her
itage Of the Nation. Is the wonderful
memorial erected at Lincoln's birth
place at Hodgenville. Every mo-
toris, visiting Kentucky should fol-
low the highway that leads to this
memorial Of man whose greatness
has increased as the events Of his
time have been more thoroughly un-
derstood.
II Is interesting to recall what
Kentucky was like in the days Of
Lincoln's youth. The President once
said IL: 1T was a wild region wife
many bears and other wild animals
still in the woods and there were
some schools, so called. but no quail
ificatisn was ever required Of n
teacher beyond readin'. writin', and
eipherin', to the rule Of three. "
straggler supposed to understand
Latin happened to sojourn in the
neighborhood. he was looked upon rs
wizard There was absolutely
nothing to excite ambition for educa-
ton"
II was amid these surroundings
that Abraham Lincoln made the best
use that his limited opportunities
afforded him. and learned all that
the half-educated lakewood teachers
could impart A bulletin board tells
that in Gentry's store. Elizabeth
town. Lincoln clerked at odd times,
until he was 10. when with Gentry's
son.he took his first flat boat trad
ing trip TO New Orleans
Various bulletin boards at Alex
andria, Bardstown. Canmer. Corbin,
Williamstown. West Point. Middles-
boro and Pineville are needed to tell
the story Of the early pioneers, who
carried their guns even TO church,
to be ready in case Of an Indian at
tack. also for chance shot at a
deer. bear or turkey to add to the
family's food supply. These pion-
neers had earth floors in their cabins.
As the settlement grew. puncheon
floors succeeded mother earth-hard
floors came when the wilderness
was conquered.
Sometimes the stories on these
bulletin boards show the contrast
between to-day and yesterday. One
board telling Of the pioneers Of West
Point says that they dressed in pio-
neer homespun. leathern leggins and
moccasins. hats Of Buffalo wool sew
ed together with deer sinews and
hunting shirts Of buckskin." Anoth-
er dealing with pioneer women set
tiers Of williamstown says that they
wore underwear Of doeskin. dress
and sunbonnet Of buffalo wool and
moccasins. in marked contrast to the
fashion plate women Of today"
At one time. elk and bison were
abundant in Kentucky. but the set
tiers and the hunters using their
death-dealing rifles. ext<rminated
the elk and drove the buffalo herds
westward until finally the white man
practically exterminated the animal
upon WHICH the Indians had lived
from time immemorial
Various bulletin boards have been
erected to tell of the sharp differ
enee Of the sentiment on slavery in
Kentucky. families often being di.
vided. IL will be recalled that Ken
lucky furnished both Presidents Of
the opposing sections-Abraham Lin
coin and jefferson Davis. the latter
being born in Christian county, Ken
lucky, which now forms Todd county.
Incidentally Governor Magoffin re-
fused to honor Lineoln's call for
troops. yet Kentucky sent $4,000
men to the Union Army. while 10000
joined the Confederacy.
A number Of bulletins are requir-
ed TO tell Of General Braxton Bragg.
who led formidable force Of 5000
men into Kentucky, but after the
battle Of Perryville on October :,
1862. retreated carrying with him a
vast quantity Of supplies.
Another notable soldier. who made
Kentucky history, and who is men
toned on various bulletins was
George Rogers Clark. who went TO
Kentucky in i775 as a surveyor. but.
when the western Indians were in
dueed By the British to take up the
tomahawk, became natural lead
or Of the people in defense Of their
infant settlement. He defended
the frontier Of Kentucky. and won
his appeal for 500 pounds Of pow.
der by insisting that a country that
is not worth defending is not worth
claiming" With his little force. he