Abraham Lincoln Biography

Dromo's Den

LINCOLN, Abraham, sixteenth president of the United States, born in Hardin county, Kentucky, Feb. 12, 1809; died April 15, 1865. He descended from Samuel Lincoln, who came from England to Massachusetts in the early history of American settlements. His father, Thomas Lincoln, married Nancy Hanks in 1806, and in 1816 removed with his family to Indiana and settled in Spencer county, not far from the Ohio River, where Abraham grew to manhood. In 1818 his mother died, and the following year his father married Sarah Johnson, under whose careful training his youthful character was formed in the line of prudence and industry. His early education was necessarily limited, but, being studious, he developed remarkable proficiency in the elementary branches and became a studious and scrutinizing reader. His father again emigrated in 1830, settling in Macon county, Illinois, where Abraham, having attained the unusual stature of six feet four inches, joined with his father in clearing the field, building his cabin, and splitting the rails for inclosing the land used for farming purposes. After clearing and fencing the farm, Abraham engaged with a man named Denton Offutt, whom he accompanied to New Orleans on a trading voyage, and later engaged with him as a clerk in a general merchandise store at New Salem. While there, Lincoln read extensively, began the study of surveying and the principles of law, but soon after raised a company to oppose an Indian uprising, being elected captain of a company of volunteers.

The company was mustered out of service after a short time. However, Lincoln reenlisted as a private, and was mustered out in 1832, returning home to make a canvass for the legislature, but was defeated. He next purchased a store, giving his note for the purchase money, but was unfortunate in selecting a partner, on account of which the business venture proved a faailure, and he was called upon to pay the indebtedness out of his personal earnings. Soon after leaving the store, he devoted his whole time to the study of law, was appointed deputy county surveyor, and in 1833 became postmaster of New Salem, a position he filled successfully or three years. He served in the legislature from 1834 to 1842, declining further election. In 1837 he formed a law partnership with John C. Stuart at Springfield, and built up a successful practice. He married Mary Todd in 1842, and in 1846 defeated Peter Cartright, a famous Methodist preacher, for congress but was not a candidate for reelection. While in congress he took an active position against the extension of slavery, favored the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, but, after retiring, gave little heed to politics, though still favoring the whig party. When the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed, in 1854, he again undertook active campaign work, and became a leading exponent of the newly formed republican party in the state of Illinois.

In 1855 the whig minority of the state legislature of Illinois supported Lincoln for United States senator, but his democratic opponent, Lyman Trumbull, was elected. His party chose him to oppose Stephen A. Douglas for the senate in 1858, and he immediately challenged his opponent to a joint debate. The debate that followed attracted national attention, but the legislature chosen selected Douglas as senator. He had been mentioned for the vice-presidency in 1856, receiving 110 votes in the national convention, and in 1860 he was nominated for the presidency on the third ballot in the Chicago convention over William H. Seward, who was his principal competitor. In the election that followed the democratic party was divided, and the vote in the electoral college was as follows: Lincoln, 180; Breckinridge, 72; Bell, 39, and Douglas, 12.

Soon after the election of Lincoln to the presidency, a secession movement began in the southern states. This course on the part of the southern people was occasioned largely by a widespread alarm at the aggressive anti-slavery policy proclaimed by many leading republicans. At the tine Lincoln was inaugurated, March 4, 1861, seven states had announced their secession, and began to organize resistance to the policy of the administration. Lincoln adopted a conciliatory course holding steadfast to the union of states, and denying the right of secession claimed by the seceding states. The Confederate government was organized as early as April 4, and on April 13 the Confederates struck the first blow of the Civil War by capturing Fort Sumter. It was a period of intense excitement. The long war that ensued was the most terrible conflict of recent times, the northern states holding steadfast to the union of states, and putting forth every energy to maintain the Union. In the history of the struggle Lincoln is identified with every important phase, giving studious attention to foreign complications, domestic politics, and military and naval movements, as well as routine domestic duties. Profiting by the partial success of Antietam, he issued a preliminary proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, fixing the coming Jan. 1 as the date of freeing the slaves in the southern states, in the event that the seceded states would not yield, and accordingly the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. His famous eulogy was issued on the battlefield of Gettvsburg in 1863.

The republican national convention at Baltimore unanimously renominated Lincoln for the presidency on June 8, 1864, and at the election that followed in November he received 212 electoral votes to twenty-one cast for General McClellan, the seceded states not taking part in the election.. He visited Richmond after its fall, and entered upon a studious investigation of the questions relating to reconstruction. While at a theater in Washington, he was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, from the effects of which he died the following day. The remains were taken for burial at Oak Ridge, near Springfield, Illinois, amid the most profound sorrow of the nation. The unexpected death of President Lincoln is rightfully regarded the saddest event of American history. Many of his sayings have become proverbial. His sincere devotion to country and his uprightness in every act have rarely been equaled.

The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. III. (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 1020-1022.