Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-31

deserve a fairer estimate than has
been allotted them by most of the
biographers Of Lincoln" said Mr.. Nc
Gregor, '.and the story, as told by the
records that are still to be found in
the archives of Little Pigeon church,
Indiana, of the devotion paid by the
parents Of Lincoln to Him who guided
the lad Of Pigeon Greek in the hour
of the nations travail, goes far to
give to them their r estimate. In
fact they were we'll to do pioneers of
their day; Of sturdy ancestral stock,
owned q farm, domestic animals, tools
and a family Bible; neighborly, sacri-
ticing and active church-geing mem
beers.
pigeon Creek church was founded
OF June 8, 1916, the year that Thorn
as Lincoln and his family moved
from Kentucky and settled on Little
Pigeon Creek in what was then War;
rick county, Indiana territory. 1t was
vicinity. When the meeting house was
built, it's site was selected about a.
mile west of Thomas Lincoln's home,
the church building today occupying
practically the same place, When Lin
coins mother died she vas buried be-
tween their home and the church, the
graveyard not having been at that
I&tlkc otlFtcA III LflES ClluTCtl, nut Wueu
Lincoln's sister, Sarah Grisby, died in
1928, h was buried at the church
burying ground, where her grave is
yet to he seen, marked by a rough
stone.
''This church, with it's continuous
existence since 1915, has only two
books containing its records. and min
utes; the first covering the period
from 1916 to 1910. 1t is in this book
haf VIC frJ 4 Ipo y ~ NJ 7 irno1p'c !, kh
er. stepmotheT and sister were active
members of the hard-shell Baptist
church of Pigeon Greek, and this
book with it's deer skin cover, the
hair still remaining, not only reveals
in its crude historic way the true re-
ligion Of Lincoln's parents, but gives
us the best insight yet found to his
own religious views.
THOMAS Lincoln and Nancy Hanks
were married by a Methodist minister
by the name Of Jesse Head, but short
ly afterward they were united with
one of the, churches of the Baptist
clearinghouse Association of Regu-
lar Baptist churches in Kentucky, and
when Nancy Lincoln died in Indiana,
Abraham, by his own efforts, had
their Kentucky pastor, Elder David
Elkins, come to their wilderness home
and preach 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 as the minutes
of June l, 1928, show, he united with
the Pigeon Creek church by this let
ter and Mis- wife by experience. From
that date until they moved to Illinois
in 1880, their names appear frequently
in the minutes of the church proceed
ings, Thomas being one of the pillars
Of the church., acting as moderator,
on committees to investigate the on
duct of brethren and sisters, and mes
senger to associations, bearing the let
ter Of Pigeon Creek to her sister
churches.
1.-The historic minutes which REQ
ords the utilization of Thomas LINCOLN
n his wife with this little pioneer
church follows:
June the It'll, 1923.
THE church met and after prayer
proceeded to business.
list, inquired fer fellowship.
'2nd, invited members of sister
churches to seats with US.
"srd, opened a dore for the recep-
ton of members.
DIN by letter and :
18th. RECEIVED Brother John Wire
by relation and Sister Linkhon and
Thomas Garter by e~xperance."
Thomas Lincoln was not in such
poor circumstances but that he al
ways donated to the needs Of his
church," said Mr.. McGregor in offer
ing the following copy OF an agree
ment to build a now chimney on the
meeting house:
I'VE the undersigned Do agree one
with another to pay the Several
Somes next U names in produce
this fall to be Delivered Betwixt the