The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-04-02
Ivy WILLIAM D. nAnroN

Abraham Lincoln lived ana died
not knowing whether his parents.
homas and Nancy Lincoln. had
ever been legally married.
Those who knew him intimately
heiicvcd that this haunting untvr-
tainty was one cause ct hlz periodic
melancholy. a sadness w deep that
when he was in it, black possession.
gloom dripped from him as he
walked.
tie made some Intellectual at
tempts to learn the truth. ana gave
II up he learned nothing ana his
inquiry started ugly rumors.
lie thought he could nnd the
record OF the marriage Of his par
"nts IN Hardin county. kentucky. In
which ho was born. and at whose
county seat. Elizahu.htown. his
parents were living when his older
sister was born The records show
ed his father second marriage.
that TO Sarah Bush Johnston. hut
not his first marriage to Nancy
Hank.
Abandoned Scarch
Abraham lincoln gave up the in
quiry, ana there was what was
called a significant reserve In his
conversation about his parents
Ho believed In them. ngt lac did
1 not know.
II would have chccrcd his heart
could he have known the truth
which this story contains.
In 1875. William - Booker.
county clerk 81 Washington county.
I kentucky. found In his records a
marriage bond dated June 10. 1900.
between Thomas Lincoln and
Nancy Hanks. and also Il return Of
- marriages alleged TO have been
performed In the years tSO6 ana
1897 by Rev Jesse Head. 70 Me,h-
1d 30 minister. including that NJ
Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.
/ Jrn" 10. 1905
But who WIS Jesse Head Au.
ihoritlps IN the Methodist church
could lind no record uf him. and 10
Wa freely charged That this record
was o. fnrErry trumprd up To- gIg,
color Of legality Go the Irregular
relations of the parents NJ Lincoln.
That there had been no man mined
le,s" Head. or % there we're such d
man he a not a Methodist
preacher
Fncts Discovered
Aft"r q search Of years. IN which
! have been aided hy Joseph roiin
county attorney OF Washington
county. l. > Pence OF Lebanon. Ky
and Miss Mary A.. Stephenson II
Harrudsb"rr. Ky. am able "a
give the facts In full.
The Journal OF the Western
Conference for the years 1900.
iSil' has recently been published
in Nashville. and N shows what H.
go far no ! know the only &c.
closiusiical record 81 Jesse Haad
on oct g. 1905. Bishop Azbur,
presided az .hc conference head NJ
anthony Huston = In Scott county
Fentucky and Jesse Head was re-.
ported as "a deacon.
~ the legal status % his author.
ity a. n minister. there H. this rec.
ord. discovered hy Mr. Ponce in a
li-t ~ courts martial Of the militia
of Washington county from 1891 ca
1879
May TO- i7as Jesse Head re-
turned us delinquent, IL cleared OF
muster roll. he having "a license O.
preach according 60 tho rules 81 IA,
sect To which ho belongs
This %s,ttlgs both his legal and cc.
clesinstical status To tell how N,
other Information wns dug up iu
many and remote places would d,
too long a matter for this story.
Hrnd'- History
hut here are the facts about him.
Jesse Heads home was on Road
Run now known A. Lincoln Run
in Washington county Kentucky
lie was neiFhhor 60 tho Lincoini
and Bcrrys and u was prohabl,
this fact. and no lemon natinnlI
rcln ionrhip. that caused him a.
perform the marriage
He wns a cabinet maker and d
Nus'lcc 81 the peace
Year by year Jesse Head turned
In his lists ~ marriages performed
Re dozen or more ut a time. not bs
calendar yonrs but In convenient
groups
Nils last signature ON the Wash.
ington county records II dated OCT
10 $50. when he signed the cour.
order ~ Justice % the peace AZ
hat time he had given up his HON,
In the village and was living or
his farm.
But hts name Immediately reap
ncnr~ and thai on the records a..
Harrod-hurE the oldest town DO
kcntucly He bought 70 lot ther,
IN March 1910 ON oct II. 1871
hc was elected to nm "a vacancy ~
the town board He continued on,
~ the town trustees until 1871
whom he resigned and apparent,
lived nut Of town: hut he was re
elected IN 1919 and arain Al inter