Chapter I: Introduction

Everything pertaining to the life of Abraham Lincoln is of undying interest to the public.

It may at first appear unnecessary, if not presumptuous, to add another volume to the already large number of books in Lincoln literature. Hitherto efforts have been made by the biographer, the historian, and the relic-hunter to gather everything possible connected with the life of Lincoln.

If an apology is needed in presenting this volume to the public, it may be said that it has fallen as a rare opportunity to the author, during the passing years, to gather some well-authenticated facts, reminiscences, and illustrations which have never before appeared in connection with the history of this great man.

Like many others, I have always taken great interest in the life and work of Abraham Lincoln. There are some special reasons for this, upon my part, aside from my interest in the lives of great men, and the magnetic charm which surrounds the name and fame of the most eminent American and emancipator of a race.

The name, "Abraham Lincoln," is connected with my family history, and with one of my first achievements with pen and ink. Because of an affliction in early life, I was, for two or three years, unable to attend the public schools. At home I learned to make figures and letters with slate and pencil, as other writing material was not so common then as now. The first line I ever wrote with pen and ink was at home, at the age of ten, under a copy on foolscap paper, written by my sainted mother, "Abraham Lincoln, President, 1861."

After the birth of John the Baptist, there was considerable controversy among the kinsfolk as to what name he should bear. The father, old Zacharias, was appealed to, and when writing material was brought him, he settled the matter by writing, "John." On the 7th of May, 1863, when a boy baby was horn in our old home, the other children and I were very anxious to know what name would be given the little stranger. We appealed to father. He did not say, but called for the old family Bible, pen and ink. He turned to the "Family Record," between the Old and the New Testaments. I stood by and saw him write, with pen and blue ink, the name, "Abraham Lincoln Hobson."

I was born in due time to have the good fortune to become acquainted with a number of persons who personally knew Mr. Lincoln in his early life in Indiana, and heard them tell of their associations with him, and their words were written down at the time. I am also familiar with many places of historic interest where the feet of Abraham Lincoln pressed the earth. I resided for a time near the old Lincoln farm in Spencer County, Indiana, on which the town of Lincoln City now stands. I have often visited the near-by grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the "angel mother" of the martyred President; have stood by the grave of Sally Grigsby, his only sister, at the Little Pigeon Cemetery, one mile and a half south of the Lincoln farm; have been in the Lincoln home at Springfield, Illinois; have seen Ford's Theater building, in Washington, where he was shot; have stood in the little rear room, in the first story of the house across the street, where he died; have been in the East Room of the White House, where his body lay in state; and have reverently stood at his tomb where his precious dust rests in peace in Oak Ridge Cemetery, at Springfield, Illinois.

This volume can hardly claim the dignity of a biography, for many important facts in the life of Mr. Lincoln are omitted, the object being to set forth some unpublished facts, reminiscences, and illustrations to supplement larger histories written by others. However, it was necessary to refer to some well-known facts in order to properly connect the new material never before in print. It was necessary, in some instances, to correct some matters of Lincoln history which later and more authentic information has revealed.

The illustrations were secured mainly for this publication, and none, so far as I know, except the frontispiece, has ever appeared in any other book on Lincoln. I am indebted to a number of persons who have assisted me in securing information and photographs, most of whom are mentioned in the body of the book.

This being the centennial year of Abraham Lincoln's birth, it is with feelings of genuine pleasure and profound reverence that the opportunity is here given me to exhibit some "footprints" from the path of one whose life is imprinted in imperishable characters in the history of the great American republic. The excellent principles and noble conduct that characterized his life should be an inspiration to all. As Longfellow says:

"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time."

J. T. HOBSON.

_Lake City, Iowa, February 19, 1909._

ILLUSTRATIONS

Abraham Lincoln.

The Author.

Jacob S. Brother, who when a boy lived in the Kentucky Lincoln
cabin.

United Brethren Church on Indiana Lincoln farm.

Rev. Allen Brooner, an associate of Lincoln in Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Captain Lamar, who knew Lincoln in Indiana.

Honorable James Gentry, of Indiana.

Elizabeth Grigsby, one of the double wedding brides in Indiana.

Ruth Jennings Huff, daughter of Josiah Crawford.

Rifle Gun owned jointly by Lincoln and Brooner in Indiana.

David Turnham, the Indiana Constable, and wife.

George W. Turnham, son of David Turnham.

William D. Armstrong, defended by Lincoln in 1858.

Hannah Armstrong, who boarded Lincoln; he later defended her son.

Walker and Lacey, associated with Lincoln in the Armstrong case.

Moses Martin, still living, signed Lincoln's temperance pledge in
1847.

Major J. B. Merwin, still living, campaigned Illinois with Lincoln
for prohibition in 1854-55.

Rev. R. L. McCord, who named Lincoln as his choice for President,
in 1854.

Site of the old still-house in Indiana, where Lincoln worked.

Triplets, yet living, named by Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln's mill.

CHRONOLOGY

Born in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky, February 12, 1809.

Moved to Spencer County, Indiana, in 1816.

His mother, Nancy, died October 5, 1818, aged 35 years.

His father married Sarah Bush Johnson, 1819.

Moved to Illinois, March, 1830.

Captain in Black Hawk War, in 1832.

Appointed postmaster at New Salem, Illinois, in 1833.

Elected to Illinois Legislature in 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840.

Admitted to the bar in 1837.

Presidential elector on Whig ticket, 1840, 1844.

Married to Miss Mary Todd, November 4, 1842.

Elected to Congress in 1846, 1848.

His father, Thomas, died January 17, 1851, aged 73 years.

Canvassed Illinois for State prohibition in 1855.

Debated with Stephen A. Douglas in 1858.

Nominated for President at Chicago, May 16, 1860.

Elected President, November 6, 1860.

Inaugurated President, March 4, 1861.

Issued call for 75,000 volunteers, April 15, 1861.

Issued Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863.

His address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863.

Renominated for President at Baltimore, June, 1864.

Reëlected President, November 8, 1864.

Reinaugurated President, March 4, 1865.

Shot by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865.

Died April 15, 1865.

Buried at Springfield, Illinois, May 3, 1865.

CONTENTS

Dedication 3

Introduction 4

Illustrations 7

Chronology of Abraham Lincoln 8

CHAPTER I.

LINCOLN'S BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE IN KENTUCKY.

Unpromising Cradles—Site of the Log Cabin—Tangled History
Untangled—Jacob S. Brother's Statement—Speaking with
Authority-The Lincolns Move to Knob Creek—"The Lincoln Farm
Association" 13

CHAPTER II.

THE LINCOLNS MOVE TO INDIANA.

Early Hardships—"Milk Sickness"—Death of Lincoln's Mother—Henry
and Allen Brooner's Recollections—Second Marriage of Thomas
Lincoln—Marriage of Sarah Lincoln—Redmond D. Grigsby's
Recollections—Death of Sarah Grigsby—Mrs. Lamar's
Recollections—Captain Lamar's Interesting
Reminiscences—Honorable James Gentry Interviewed 17

CHAPTER III.

INDIANA ASSOCIATES AND INCIDENTS.

The Double Wedding—One of the Brides Interviewed—"The Chronicles
of Reuben"—Josiah Crawford's Daughter—The Lincoln-Brooner Rifle
Gun—David Turnham, the Indiana Constable—The "Revised Statutes
of Indiana" 26

CHAPTER IV.

THE EMIGRATION TO ILLINOIS.

Preparations for Removal—Recollections of Old Acquaintances—The
Old Indiana Home—Blocks from the Old House—The Cedar Tree—More
Tangled History Untangled—Mr. Jones' Store—Various Experiences
in Illinois—Recollections of an Old Friend 32

CHAPTER V.

LINCOLN VISITS THE OLD INDIANA HOME.

Lincoln an Admirer of Henry Clay—A Whig Elector—Goes to
Indiana—Makes Speeches—Old Friends and Old-Time Scenes—Writes
a Poem 36

CHAPTER VI.

LINCOLN AND THE ARMSTRONG CASE.

Famous Law Cases—The Clary Grove Boys—The Wrestling Contest—Jack
and Hannah Armstrong—Trial of Their Son for Murder—Lincoln's
Tact, and the Acquittal—Letters from the Surviving Attorney in
the Case—More Tangled History Untangled—Unpublished Facts
Connected with Parties in the Case 39

CHAPTER VII.

LINCOLN'S TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES.

Promise Made to His Mother—Writes a Temperance Article Before
Leaving Indiana—Mr. Wood and Mr. Farmer—Did Lincoln Sell
Whisky—His Great Temperance Address—Testimony of
Associates—Moses Martin's Letter—The Internal Revenue Bill 51

CHAPTER VIII.

LINCOLN AS A PROHIBITIONIST.

Major J. B. Merwin and Abraham Lincoln—They Together Canvass
Illinois for State Prohibition in 1854-55—Lincoln's Arguments
Against the Saloon—Facts Omitted by Lincoln
Biographers—President Lincoln, Generals Scott and Butler
Recommend Merwin's Temperance Work in the Army—The President
Sends Merwin on a Mission to New York the Day of the
Assassination—Proposition for Freedmen to Dig the Panama
Canal—Lincoln's Last Words to Merwin—Merwin's Characteristic
Address at Lincoln's Tomb—"Lincoln the Christian
Statesman"—Merwin Living at Middlefield, Connecticut 57

CHAPTER IX.

LINCOLN AND THE SLAVERY QUESTION.

An Ancient Institution—The Evils of Slavery—Lincoln Always
Opposed to Slavery—Relic of "Cruel Slavery Days"—Discussions,
Laws, and Compromises—The Missouri Compromise—The Fugitive
Slave Law—The Kansas-Nebraska Bill—Lincoln Aroused—He Answers
Douglas—R. L. McCord Names Lincoln as His Candidate for
President—A New Political Party—"Bleeding Kansas"—The Dred
Scott Decision—"The Underground Railroad"—The John Brown
Raid—The Approaching Crisis 68

CHAPTER X.

THE LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS DEBATES.

Candidates for the United States Senate—Seven Joint Debates—The
Paramount Issue—The "Divided House"—"Acts of a Drama"—Douglas
Charged Lincoln with Selling Whisky—Lincoln's Denial—A
Discovery—Site of the Old Still House in Indiana—Douglas
Elected—Lincoln the Champion of Human Liberty 77

CHAPTER XI.

LINCOLN NOMINATED AND ELECTED PRESIDENT.

Rival Candidates—Great Enthusiasm—Lincoln's Temperance Principles
Exemplified—Other Nominations—A Great Campaign—Lincoln's Letter
to David Turnham—Lincoln's Election—Secession—Lincoln
Inaugurated—Douglas 83

CHAPTER XII.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THE CIVIL WAR.

The Beginning—Personal Recollections—The War Spirit—Progress of
the War—The Emancipation Proclamation—A Fight to
Finish—Lincoln's Kindness—He Relieves a Young Soldier—He Names
Triplets Who Are Yet Living—His Reëlection—The Fall of
Richmond—Appomattox—Close of the Rebellion 87

CHAPTER XIII.

DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Personal Recollections—The Tragic Event—Mr. Stanton—A Nation in
Sorrow—The Funeral—The Interment at Springfield, Illinois—The
House in Which President Lincoln Died—Changed Conditions—The
South Honors Lincoln—A United People—A Rich Inheritance 93

CHAPTER XIV.

UNPUBLISHED OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

A Discovery—Documents of Historic Value—Lincoln Owned Land in
Iowa—Copy of Letters Patent from United States, under James
Buchanan, to Abraham Lincoln, in 1860—Copy of Deed Executed by
Honorable Robert T. Lincoln and Wife, in 1892—Other
Transfers—The Present Owner 100

CHAPTER XV.

CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF LINCOLN'S BIRTH.

Preparations—General Observance—President Roosevelt Lays
Corner-stone of Lincoln Museum at Lincoln's Birthplace—Extracts
from Addresses at Various Places—Closing Tribute 105

Footprints of Abraham Lincoln