The Gavelyte, December 1908

I '6 THE GAVELYTE, Abraham Lincoln. BY W. R . MCCHESNEY. Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, Febrmrry 12, 1809. His father was Thomas Lincoln. His mother was Nancy Hanks. He was of English descent on the Lincoln side of the house. His New England ancestors as well as those in New Je·rsey and Pennsylvania were for the most pact Quakers, which may explain why Abraham Lincoln never identified himself wiLh the church; for, no doubt, to one familiar with his religious sayings and writings it is evident bis convictions religiously favored the tenets of the Quaker church, with which he never had a favorable opportunity of identifying himself. However, Abraham Lincoln in his maturer years, notwithstanding his liberal religious views in earlier years, became a pronounced Christian in belief and during his abode in Washing-· ton, D. C. was a faithful attendant of the Presbyterian church and a devout public and private worshipper of Goo. His English ancestors immigrated to Hingham, Mass. in 1638. Thence some of them went to New Jersey and Pennsylvania and eventually to Rock– ingham county, Virginia. In the last named place, the Lincolns became intimate friends of Daniel Boone, who induced Thomas Lincoln's father to move to Jefferson county, Kentucky, where be was killed by the Indians. Thomas, the father of Abraham Lincoln, was a restless, thriftless farmer, carpenter, and jack of all trades, but at last he settled for a while in a cabin on a farm where Abraham Lincoln was born. Young Lincoln was fond of fishing and hunting, but even amid these sports be showed a turn for serious meriitatiun. He secured his few monLhs' public school training at a little log school house, four mile from hi cabin home; and his sister, a few years older than himself was hi:. school companion . He was noted as a good speller and was ~eloved for his sense of justice and bis dislike to cruelty even in his buyhoorl. His lal:'t attendance at school was in 1826. and though only 17 years of age, he had now reached his full height 6 feet 4 inches. H~ is described as having di~proportionately long arms and legs and large hands and feet and over all a rather mall he'ad. His skin was yellow and wrinkled and his complexion swarthy. He wore coarse home-madP. clothes, and on account of his rapid growth, ,