Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-06


The history of this family is known
to all the residents of Rutherford
county, being handed down from
father to son. The spot where the
home of the parents of Nancy stood
is pointed out, and her kinspeople
are scattered all over that section.
They ere plain mountaineers, 100 per
cent. American.
Nancy was fine sample Of 4
healthy mountain lass, large in size
and remarkably good looking. In fact,
she was represented as the hand
soonest young woman in the Chimney
Rock section. The Hanks were poor
but ambitious, and they gave Nancy
n good rural school education. She
fitted herself to teach the three
months school then found throughout
the mountain settlements, and was Of
fered and accepted a school in Macon
county, North Carolina, not far from
her home.
Mr.. W. r. Dillingham; Of Spartan
burg tells me that his grandmother
lived in Macon county at the time
Nancy Hanks came there to teach
school and knew her well. She said
that Nancy was one of the finest look
ing girls she ever saw, was the pic
ture of health, and well educated for
those times. She was given three
months school and boarded with n
family named Enslow, who were well
to do and ranked high in the county.
But the head of the family had bad
moral reputation and his wife was
very Jealous Of his attention TO other
women. The attention shown by En-
slow TO Nancy Hanks became the talk
of the settlement, and she gave UP the
school and returned to her family in
Rutherford county. The scandal fol-
lowed her there, and her family being
sensitive and high spirited people,
Nancy was sent to some Of her rela-
tives in Kentucky, where she met and
married Lincoln. Her being sent
away was also due to the fact that she
had cevaral unmarried sisters and
who hoped by this step to put an end
to goesip. There is no question about
this part Of my story being true, for
that old mountainecr spoke Of his
grandmother's regret at having been
instrumental in driving Nancy from
home, and for which act she expressed
regret on her death bed.
Some years ago n little pamphlet
was published, which endeavored to
prove that Enslow was the father Of
Abraham Lincoln, and showed pic
lures of the Lincoln and also those of
the Enslow family. The Enslows still
live around Asheville and do not deny
their relationship with the martyred
president. Mr.. Dillingham; says that
tie old citizens of Macon county firm
ly believe that Lincoln's father was
Enslow, and as proof of this fact some
years ago member of the family en-
tered Il court house, where new
judge was presiding, and who was inn
pressed with the striking resemblance.
| spent some time tracing the 10
cal history>of the Lincoln family, and
also read n number OF books on Abb
raham Lincoln. But except this old
scandal. and which was resurrected
after Lincoln became famous, l can
not find a thing to subStantiate it. On
the other hand the life of Abraham
Lincoln states that he was born thee
years after Nancy moved from Ruth
erford county to Kentucky, and her
marriage to Lincoln.
But there was no doubt or question
but that Nancy Hanks was born
among the mountains of Rutherford
county, North Carolina, that she was
sent to Kentucky after her name be-
came mixed up with Enslows, and
that members of her family are today
found among the hardy and brave
mountaineers of the Old North State.
Also. the strong resemblance be-
tween the old mountaineer and Abra-
ham Lincoln, and which is noticeable
to even a stranger, shows that the tai
stature and marked and rugged fea-
lures of Lincoln were inherent from
his mothers family.