The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-02-23
Lincoln's Own Story.

Lincoln's autobiography, OF rather
sutobiographic sketch, in December,
1859, after repeated solicitation by
his closest friend Jesse w. Fell OF
Bloomington, ILL.,, is still in the pos
session of Mr.. Fell's descendants. 1t
is yellowed by age. Mr.. Fell play
cd no small part in bringing about
Ijncoln's nomination for the presl-
dency.
In the fall of 1858, during the Lin
colr and Douglas debates, Mr.. Fell
travelled over the country quietly
sounding the praises of Lincoln and
eppointing ieutenants and campaign
managers. Finding that there was
much curiosity concerning Lincoln's
life history, he judged it advisable
to procure a biography to be utilized
IN part for campaign purposes. After
repeated requests Lincoln finally plac-
ed in Fell's hands the manuscript,
written with that freedom and un-
reserve which one friend would dis
Play in taking to another, and in which
Ljncoln's peculiar conversational style
il happily illustrated. This sketch,
which was never intended for publica-
tion, reads:
"I was born February IL, 1909,
in Hardin county, KY. My parents
were born in Virginia of undistin-
guished families, second families,
perhaps 1 should say. My mother,
who died in my tenth year, was of
q family by the name of Hanks.
My father was but six years Of age
when his father died, and he grew
up literally without education- He
removed from Kentucky, to what is
nnw Spencer county Indiana in. my
eighth year. r
I'VE reached our new home about
the time the state came into the un-
ion. It was wild region, with many
bears and other wild animals still
in the woods. There I grew up.
There were some schools, so-called,
but no qualification was ever required
of a teacher beyond readin', writin'
and cipherin' to the Rule Of Three.
II straggler, suppose to understand
Latin, happened to so-journ in the
Eeighborhood, he was looked upon as
q wizard. There was absolutely moth
ing to excite ambition for education.
OF course when I came Of age / did
not know much; still, somehow, I
could read, write and cipher to the
Rule of Three, but that YVES all. l
hsve not been to school since. The
little advance I now have upon this
store of education I have picked up
from time to time under pressure of
necessity.
=. II was raised to farm work, which
I continued till I was twenty-five.
At twenty-one I came to Illinois and
passed the first year in Macon county.
Then l got to New Salem, at that
tile in Sangamon (now Menard)
county, where I remained a year as
q sort of clerk in store. Then came
The Black Hawk war, and was elect
ed captain of volunteers, success
that gave me more pleasure than
anything I have had since.
"The next year, 1882, ran for the
legislature, but was beaten, the only
tine I was ever beaten by the peo-
-ple. The next and three succeeding
biennial elections I was elected to
the legislature. l was not a candi-
date afterward. =.
During this legislature period l
had studied law and removed to
Springfield to practice it. In 1s41 l
was elected to the lower house in
congress. Was not a candidate for
reelection. From 1s41 to 1854, both
inclusive, practiced law more assidu-
ously than ever before. Always
Wing in politics, and generally on the
Wing electoral tickets, making active
caDvasses. I was losing interest in
politics when the repeal of the Mis-
souri Compromise aroused me again.
What I have done since then is pref
ty well known.
eff any personal description Of me
is thought desirable it may be said
that 1 am in height 6 feet A inches,
nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an
average 1e0 pounds, dark complexion,
with coarse, black hair and gray eyes.
No other marks or brands recollected.
yours very truly, A. LINCOLN"