Smyrna times., 1922-07-19
BIB. CAHOON, NATIVE SMYRNIAN
TELLS OF MEETING LINCOLN
EPISODE THAT SHOWED GREAT
HUMANITY OF EMANCIPATOR
Mr.. CahOOn Went From Smyrna to En-
list as a Delaware Union Soldier
At Age of Is and Was Wounded

The Pennington (Mo.) News in a
recent issue, writes of former Smyr-
nian, Benson B. Cahoon, Sr., now a
lawyer of Fredericktown, Mo-, at the
advanced age of rs years. Says the
Pennington News: "Only few are
left who knew and came in contact
with him. Hon. B. B. Cahoon, ST., of
Fredericktown,M ,Missour,is one of them
Enlisted in 1861 at fifteen as a Del
aware Union Soldier, wounded at
Gettysburg battle, shortly after it he
met Mr.. Lincoln, who seeing his youth
and his wound, inquired of him his
name, age, parentage, residence and
unteer soldier. On being told, Mr..
Lincoln asked how old he was when
his mother died. Give years." said
the soldier. "Mine died." the Presi-
dent said, "when | was seven. l have
missed her all my life. Never forget
your mother. Always feel she is your
guardian angel. When will you re-
turn to duty? Do you expect to out
live the war GAS soon as am
well; l hope to survive the war;" the
boy replied. 81 hope you WILL" said
the President. "If you do. what do
you intend to make of yourself?
Where do you intend to live ?" "a
lawyer the boy said. "and | want to
live in the West" "That is right"
replied Lincoln, "you will make a sue
cess of life. You have already won
your spurs. But stick, study work
and be true to yourself and all will
be we'll with you" From that hour
Lincoln became the boys human and
political idol as he still is. No one
has read more of Lincoln and studied
him closer than has Mr.. Cahoon. Now,
an old man, he at seventy-six is an
authority on Lincoln. The incident
was characteristic of Abraham Lincoln
He took sincere and habitually deep
personal interest in every person he
lmet and strove to aid them. Therein
his deep humanity proclaimed itself.
1t is no wonder millions worship the
great, good man and seek to pattern
their lives after Abraham Lincoln's."
b. b. CahOOn's Tribute To Lincoln
Benson B. Cahoon gives the follow
ing estimate of the character of Lin.
coln:-As all know of the poverty in
which Lincoln was born, of his early
hardships, of the death of his mother
at seven, of his riding miles to get t.;
preacher to preach her funeral sermon
of his good step-mOther, Sarah John
son, who encouraged the ambitious
boy in every way, and said -thougl
she had son of her own-Abe wa
the best boy she ever knew, of hi
, great athletic strength, holding frml
a heavy axe at length by its handle
of his peace-loving disposition amOn
rowdy Cleary Grove boys, but read
to fight if forced, of his failure an
4 Indebtedness as young store keepe
of his honesty as postmaster, of hi
quickly learning to be a successfl
surveyor, of his youthful Captainc
in the Black Hawk war, of his sorro
on the death of his first sweetheart
e. Ann Rutledge, of his early election {
l.. the Legislature of Illinois, of his b,
IF ginning to practice law at 26
p Springfield, of his obliging capacit
with his unvarying kindness, to alwa!
make friends who were always reaC
to and in fact did succor him; in sho
as we all know the outlines of Lii
coins early career, we will not long,
dwell thereon, but will seek to disclo
his salient characteristics, seek an e
innate of what made him the create
and most beloved man of not alone Il
history of our country, but the hi
tory of mankind; for Lincoln tod;
stands next to Christ. In spite of h
defective education, not over 5
months in school, and that he nev
was a great reader or deep book st
dent, Lincoln saw clearer, thought o
more concentratively, for himse
every problem confronting him, thi
any man of his time. He sufficient
sr used books on the special occasions
needed them to strengthen the poir
he had reached. The fertility and {
iginality of his mind was like 10
ice ice MarshalPs. He required less resear
De- than other men needed. 1t is NJ
Nav recognized that for pure intellect, Ii
Ich coin was the superior of any Americ
ma of his time; he knew his mental pow
knew that he had never met his int
tbs lectual master. In the end he tn
of impressed every body, as he avail
no, himself of the worth of every man
of worked with.
ted He used selfish men to their caI
of city to aid the Union Cause. He 81
all pressed all egotism, covered it, p
~. haps cunningly, for he was very
de cretive, with a show of humanity. /
unit LONELINESS, awkwardness and angu
of form were great aids in giving h
Mt. greater fame and power in this. WI
aroused in speech his sweet smile v
- so beautiful and so softened his