PRESENTING Many Interesting Facts, Reminiscences and Illustrations Never Before Published BY J. T. HOBSON, D.D., LL.B., Author of "The Lincoln Year Book." Nineteen Hundred and Nine The Otterbein Press Dayton, Ohio Copyright, 1909, by J. T. Hobson DEDICATION To all my Kindred, Friends, and Acquaintances among whom are Fellow Ministers, Teachers, Students, Pupils, Parishioners, though Widely Scattered, and to All Who Cherish the Memory of Abraham Lincoln The Apostle of Human Liberty, Who Bound the

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 opportun

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. It has been said truly that God selects unpromising cradles for his greatest and best servants. On a cold winter night, a hundred years ago, in a floorless log cabin, the emancipator of a race was born. Like the Redeemer of mankind, there was "no room" in the mansions of th

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 P. Grigsby's Recollections—Death of Sarah Grigsby—Mrs. Lamar's Recollections—Captain Lamar's Interesting Reminiscences—Honorable James Gentry Interviewed. Thomas Lincoln moved with his family to southern Indiana in the fall of 1816. There were two children, Sarah and Abraham, the former nine, and the lat

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." Reuben Grigsby had quite a family of sons. Aaron, the oldest, who married Lincoln's sister, and Redmond D., the youngest, have already been mentioned. Two sons, Reuben and Charles, were married the same day, the former married in Spencer County and the latter in

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. After residing in Indiana fourteen years, and having rather a rough experience, Thomas Lincoln, through the inducements of others, concluded to move to Illinois. Abraham was now twenty-one years old. The farm products were sold to David Tu

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. In 1844, Henry Clay was a candidate for President of the United States, on the Whig ticket. Abraham Lincoln was a great admirer of Mr. Clay, and referred to him as his "beau-ideal of a statesman." He was placed on the Whig ticket as presidential elector, and made speeches in favor of Mr. Clay's election. During the canvass he visited hi

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. Lincoln , as a lawyer, was employed in a number of noted cases involving great interests. One was the defense of a slave girl, Nancy, in 1841, in the Supreme Court of Illinois, who, throu

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. It is well known that Abraham Lincoln was strictly a temperance man. His early training was on that line. In his maturer years, while a member of Congress, when urged by an associate to drink on a certain occasion, he said, "I promised my

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's 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 Panama Canal—Lincoln's Last Words to Merwin—Merwin's Characteristic Address at Lincoln

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 His Candidate for President—A New Political Party—"Bleeding Kansas"—The Dred Scott Decision—"The Underground Railroad"—The John Brown Raid—The Approaching Crisis. It may be wondered what fut

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. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were candidates for the United States Senate from Illinois. Mr. Douglas, who was a Democrat, had already served as Senator, and was a

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. Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the Republican candidate for President of the United States, at Chicago, Illinois, May 18, 1860. Salmon P. Chase, William H. Seward, Simon Cameron, William L. Dayton, and Edward Bates were the opposing candidates for the n

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 Still Living—His Reëlection—The Fall of Richmond—Appomatox—Close of the Rebellion. On the 12th of April, 1861, after Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, the first outbreak of the Civil War was the bombardment of Fort Sumter on the part of the South. President Lincoln at once ca

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. On the 15th of April, 1865, my father came hurriedly into the house with the exclamatory interrogation, addressed to mother, "Guess who's dead!" Mother at once thought of her old father, and asked if it were he. Then came the sta

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. A few months ago I learned through a newspaper that Abraham Lincoln, at the time of his death, owned land in the State of Iowa, by virtue of his having served in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He was given a