The Polish Exile from whom Mr. Lincoln feared Assault RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. CHAPTER I. EARLY ACQUAINTANCE. WHEN Mr. Lincoln was nominated for the Presi dency in 1860, a campaign book-maker asked him to give the prominent features of his life. He replied in the language of Gray's "Elegy," that his life presented nothing but "The short and simple annals of the poor." He had, however, a few months previously, written for his friend Jesse W. Fell the following: I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Harden County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks, some of whom now reside in Adams, some others in Macon counties, Illinois My paternal grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockingham County, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or 2, where, a year not in battle, but by or two later, he was killed by indians, stealth, when he was laboring to open a farm in the forest His ancestors, who were quakers, went to Virginia from Berks County, Pennsylvania - An effort to identify them with the New England family of the same name ended in nothing more definite, than a similarity of Christian names in both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mordecai, Solomon, Abraham, and the like years of He re My father, at the death of his father, was but six age; and he grew up, literally without education moved from Kentucky to what is now Spencer county, Indiana, in my eighth year; We reached our new home about the time the State came into the Union — It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods There I grew up - There were some schools, so called; but no qualification was ever required of a teacher, beyond "readin, writin, and cipherin" to the Rule of Three If a straggler supposed to understand latin happened to sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizzard – There was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course when I came of age I did not know much - Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three; but that was all I have not been to school since - The little advance I now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time under the pressure of necessity I was raised to farm work, which I continued till I was twenty two- At twenty one I came to Illinois, and passed the first year in Macon county - Then I got to New-Salem at that time in Sangamon, now in Menard county, where I remained a year as a sort of Clerk in a Then came the Black Hawk war; and I was elected a Captain of Volunteers - a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since - I went the campaign, was elected, ran for the Legislature the same year store in Harden bounty, Kentucky Vingeria of undestins new in I was boom Feb. 12. 1809. year, was of. some of whom now renew in my the name of tanks, Macon Counties, Illinois My potense grandes father, Abraham Lincoln, emigration from Rock. inglane County, Virginia, to Kantucky, about 1781 or year or two hater he 2. when a Kellewly insham, not in baith, but by planese, when t way laboring to open fam a. the fourin Hai's anceston, who wew quakers, went to to Vingima from Berks County, Pennsylvanian Ameffort to of name istentify them with the New Toy for its end simulany nothing more defencty than of Christian names in both families, such as Enoch Levi Morican Solomon, Alradun, aver the liko My father at the death of his facker, was bout six years of age; grew up, летоко is now Spencer County, from Kentucky to what is now and in my sighth gear_ a with wild animal, site in the wood up. There were some schools, so called, but no oh woomen There I grew to to understanov lating offered If a straggler, happene straggler, thappen underte sojoring in the neighborhoow, he was looked upon as w. wizzard_ There was absolutit nothing to excite anilation for exuication. Of course when I came of agoon o did not know much. Stile somehow I could read, write, aver cipher to the Rule that was all I have not been to pchool sives of tion, I have bam picked up from time to time under the pressure of inecenit_ I was paisia to farm work, which I continua th till I was twentytwo_ At Livenyone I came to Illinois, and passen farst year her time Macon County - Then I got New Folam (th in Songamon, now in Menard County, when I sim any I have haver since I went the campaign, was elation, now for the Legislation the year (1832) and was beatown the have been beaten by the perpilon This next, I ever and threw onesiesing brennial election, I was alecia |