When Lincoln lived in Illinois (New Salem) he wore trousers made of flax
and tow cut tight at the ankles and out at both knees. Though a very poor
young man he was universally welcomed in every house of the neighborhood.
Money was so scarce in those days that it is known that Lincoln once
split 400 rails for every yard of brown jeans, dyed with white walnut
bark, that would be necessary to make him a pair of trousers.