The New York herald., 1921-10-31
LINCOLN SHOWN AS
HARDSHELL BAPTIST
Deerskin Bound Book Tells of
AffiliatiOn of Parents
With Church.

LINCOLN CITY. Ind. Oct. 30.-Rolling
back the mists of a century and Offer
ing the deerskin bound records Of Little
Pigeon Baptist Church. near here, as
the missing link Of Abraham Lincoln's
religion. Thomas B. McGregor, Assistant
Attorney-General of Kentucky, has
given to an apprecietive American SUBJ
etantial evidence that Abraham Lincoln
was reared In the simple faith Of the
"hardshelr' Baptist church.
Much of the mystery of Lincoln's re-
llgion and that of his parents. for more
than half n century mooted question.
has been evaporated by the findings of
Mr. McGregor in the records of Little
Pigeon Church
There is no record of Abraham Lin
coins afflliation with any church de-
nomination, but Mr.. McGregor's story
OF Thomas Lincoln. moderator and
pillar Of the little Baptist church, proves
conclusively, Mr.. McGregor says, that
the Lincoln family were Baptists.
"The parents of Abraham Lincoln
deserve fairer estimate than has been
allotted them by most of the bioe-
raphers of Lincoln" said Mr. McGregor.
and the story, as told by the records
that are still to be found In the archives
or Little Pigeon Church. near Lincoln
City. Spender county. Ind, of the devo-
ton paid by the parents OF Lincoln to
Him who guided the lad of Pigeon Creek
IN the hour of the nations travail, goes
far to give to them their true estimate.
In fact they were we'll to do pioneers OF
their day, OF sturdy ancestral stock,
owned farm, domestic animals. tools
and family Bible, neighborly, sacri-
hcing and active churchgoing members.
Pigeon Creek Church was founded on
June 8. 1915, the year that Thomas Lin
coin and his family moved from Ken
lucky and settled on Little Pigeon
Creek, in what was then Warrick county,
Indiana Territory. IL was then, as now.
the chief church In that vicinity. When
the meeting house was built It's site was
selected about a mile west Of Thomas
Lincoln's home. the church building to-
day occupying practically the same
place. When Lincoln's mother died she
was buried between their home and the
church. the graveyard not having been
at that time started at the church, but
when Lincoln's sister. Sarah Crisby, died
In 1898. she was buried at the church
burying ground. where her grave is yet
10 be seen, marked by a rough stone.
This church. with IT'S continuous ex-
istence since 1916. has only two books
containing It's records and minutes; the
first covering the period from 1915 to
1s40. II Is In this book that we find
Abraham Lincoln's father, stepmother
and sister were active members OF the
hardshell Baptist Church OF Pigeon
Creek. and this book. with it's deerskin
cover. the hair still remaining. not only
reveals in its crude historic way the
true religion OF Lincolns parents, but
gives us the best insight yet found TO
his own religious views.
Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks
were married by Methodist minister
by the name OF Jesse Head. but shortly
after*ard they were united with one Of
the churches OF the Baptist Licking-Lo-
Gust Association OF Regular Baptist
Churches in Kentucky. and when Nancy
Lincoln died In Indiana Abraham. by
his own efforts. had their Kentucky pas
tor. Elder David Elkins. come to their
wilderness home and preach at his
mothers funeral
after Thomas Lincoln had married
Sally Bush Johnson he sent back TO his
Kentucky church and obtained his letter
Of fellowship. and. az the minutes on
June 1. 1929 show, he united with the
Pigeon Creek church by this letter and
his wife by experience. From that date
until they moved to Illinois in 1890
their names appear frequently In the
minutes of the church proceedings
Thomas being one of the pillars of the
church. acting as moderator. on com
mittees 10 investigate the conduct OF
brethren and sisters. and messenger 10
ansociatiorr. bearing the letter Of Pigeon
Creek 10 her sister cnurches.'