Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1914 — The BOYHOOD of ABRAHAM LINCOLN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The BOYHOOD of ABRAHAM LINCOLN

ON February 12 of every year the’mind of every American loyal citizen is momentarily turned to the thought that upon that day, just so many years ago, Abraham Lincoln, one of the world’s greatest men, was born. The approaching birthday of the great martyred president awakens VW the American people to the realiza- ▼ tlon that this is the one. hundred and fifth anniversary of London’s birthT day. Some merely give the celebration a though, but those who have made the life of Abraham Lincoln a study look upon the birthday anniversary as something more than the mere passing of a milestone. Historians say that Lincoln was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, in fact, he was born in La Rue county, which, however, is a subdivision of Hardin county. Chroniclers continue with their biographies and say that he, together with his father, mother and a sister, w’ent to Indiana and entered a claim to a piece of land in Spencer county. As a matter of fact, he entered a claim to a piece of land in Warrick county, but which has since been set aside and named Spencer county. The Lincolns went to Indiana in 1816, the same year that Indiana was admitted to the Union as a state. He entered a quarter section of land, built a log cabin and lived there until 1830. . It was known that Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham Lincoln, was in poor circumstances. To say that Abraham Lincoln was the son of a poor carpenter and farmer gives an insight to the hard conditions that little Abe had to face when he was a youngster. When he went to Indiana he was just seven, and, remaining in Indiana until 1830, he spent 14 years of his life in Indiana, or until he was twenty-one years of age. It is useless to relate the idle tales of his boyhood; but when he verged into manhood and imbibed into his character those qualities and those traits that led up to his greatness, this part of his life is interesting. It is well understood that if Lincoln had done as other boys of his day he would have achieved only small things. But he did not do as the young men and boys of his day, and the ways of his early manhood are still interesting to young America who strive for success and do things. Lincoln saw hardships, had meager clothing, coarse food and no advantages of securing an education, All who knew him agreed that he was unlike other boys. He w'as not fully understood, doubtless holding his real character or disposition in reserve for his Intimate friends only. He was not fond of work, but whether from sheer laziness or because he was fonder ol mental exercise in reading or otherwise is not clear. He enjoyed books and is known to have borrowed much of the reading matter of his neighborhood. After 1820 Spencer county had, at Rockport, its county seat, a public library of several hundred volumns of the standard works of that day. 7'homas Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln were at Rockport at least two times during the year, but the name of Abraham Lincoln does not appear as a borrower of books at the library. The field from which Abraham Lincoln could glean knowledge in that neighborhood was very limited, though be borrowed every book that he could get. The list is a short on\ and the following includes most of them: "Robinson Crusoe,” “Aesop's Fables," Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” “Life of Washington” and a history of the United States. During Abraham Lincoln’s 16 years of life in Indiana he had read and reread this list of literary and historical books over and over again. His good nature among Lincoln City people was not unnoticed; all agreed to his honesty and good nature. Questions of dispute and petty differences were at first submitted to him in a joking way, and later in a sincere way, until he was compli-

mented for his honest and just viay in settling disputes and differences. He was told more times than once that some day he would turn out to be a lawyer. Having read all the literary books and what few there were of law in and around Rockport, Lineoln heard of the court at Boonville. He resolved to go down to that place. 20 milds distant, and learn what he could in the real court, which was in session there several times during the year. The court house in Boonville, then a small hamlet of less than 300 inhabitants—in strong contrast to the beautiful new structure that now adorns the beautiful little town —stood in the very sport where the new one now stands, in the center of a large court square. It was a frame building; the architecture was. to say the least, very novel. ‘A ditch two feet wide and two feet deep, was filled with smoothly hewn logs, on which was built a stone wall 18 inches high. This furnished the foundation upon which the building proper rested. The buiding itself was never entirely completed. It was weather boarded, but neither plastered nor lathed. It remained in this condition until 1836, which was after the Lincoln family had moved to Illinois. It was capable of holding only 100 people and could only be used in the summer. In the night the cattle which grazed about town would go there for shelter. Such was the structure where President Lincoln received his first impulse to become a lawyer. Here It was that he received his rudimentary practice in pleading cases that afterward aided in making him the lawyer of the reputation he had. It was to attend court in this rudely constructed building that the young man walked 20 miles from Lincoln City to Boonville, Ind. He was an ardent listener and the lessons that he painted upon his memory at this place are the ones that inspired the great man to become the lawyer he afterward became. And from this act the little town of Boonville claims the distinction of furnishing to him the material that aided in his after success. To claim so great a distinction if it could not be verified would be false and unfair; but from the history of young Lincoln while he was a visitor here attending court, and from the assurance that he received the knowledge he did, which inspired him to become the lawyer he did, it is another laurel for the little city in southerin Indiana. John A. Brackenridge, then the ablest lawyer in southern Indiana and a practitioner in the court at Boonville, noticed the eagerness and the earn-

esthess of this young man in the Boonville court room. He inquired into his purposes and from what part of the country he hailed. Young Lincoln, who stood then over six feet, by his awkward and convincing conversation, impressed the distinguished jurist with an admiration for the man. He found by conversing with him that he was a reader of good books, was interested in law and even had some “hankering” to study it some day. Accordingly, Mr. Brackenridge, being a hospitable man, invited the young man to his home to stay all night. He also told him that he had some books of interest to beginners and that he would be only too glad to lend them to him to , read. Brackenridge lived three miles west of Boonville on his farm and had a library there. His old homestead still stands, and, though a century old, has been used as a tenant’s home until very recently. His office, in which was stored his books, yet shows plainly the marks k of the place where was lo31 cated at that time the best m library in southern Indiana, jrfmk if not in the state. The room is but 8. by 10 feet, SjL and, being pressed for room, Mr. Brackenridge had his books placed upon shelves above two windows. When Lincoln caught his Sfera first glance of the librarj’ lie was astonished at so .great a collection of books. Mr. Brackenridge was the author of a book in the interest of the Presbyterian church and had several books for sale at that time.

The first night found Lincoln up until after the midnight hour reading by the glare of the burping logs in the fireplace. ; Many days after this found Lincoln attending court at Boonville regularly. More often was he found reading books in the private library of Mr. Brackenridge , The greater part of the Brackenridge library is still in existence, though some of the books are torn and time-worn and show that they have been made brown before the blazes of the open fireside. They are owned by different lawyers in Boonville and are valued highly because they are the books read by the great war president when he resolved to study law.

Upon one occasion Lincoln attended a murder trial at Boonville and heard the case from beginning to end. The trial seemed interesting to him, but the most exciting feature of the whole case was the argument before the jury. The most eloquent plea and argument was made by a Kentucky lawyer named Brackenridge, a kin to John A. Brackenridge of Indiana. After his argument before the jury all of the prominent men in the court room rose to congratulate him. Lincoln was in the court room at the time and he was anxious to shake hands w-’*b the eminent jurist in appreciation of his effort >n behalf of his client.

Lincoln pushed himself through the crowd up to the attorney and when be stretched out his hand to shake, Mr. Brackenridge pushed him aside and shook hands with those whom ire considered more prominent. Lincoln was smiften by this act and always remembered the niime of Brackenridge, the attorney from Kentucky.

Several years after, at the second inauguration of Lincoln, thousands of people greeted the great war president Hundreds of this number came from Kentucky, and among the number was this man Brackenridge. Recognizing him at once as the man who ignored him at Boonville several years previous, Lincoln grasped the man's hand with a hearty shake and said: “I am more than glad to see you than any man I know of. I have always wanted to congratulate you upon that speech you made at Boonville several years ago.” Lincoln did not have to tell Brackenridge upon that occasion he ignored him, when he was a poor, struggling man, for Brackenridge followed with a complete apology. |