[Illustration: THE RAIL-SPLITTER]
FOOTPRINTS
OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
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
[Illustration: THE AUTHOR.]
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 Nation
and Unbound the Slave, This Little Volume
is Respectfully Dedicated by_
=THE AUTHOR=
INTRODUCTION
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 opportunity to the author,
during the passing years, to gather some well-authenticated facts,
reminiscences, and illustrations which have never before appeared in
connection with the history of this great man.
Like many others, I have always taken great interest in the life and
work of Abraham Lincoln. There are some special reasons for this, upon
my part, aside from my interest in the lives of great men, and the
magnetic charm which surrounds the name and fame of the most eminent
American and emancipator of a race.
The name, "Abraham Lincoln," is connected with my family history,
and with one of my first achievements with pen and ink. Because of
an affliction in early life, I was, for two or three years, unable
to attend the public schools. At home I learned to make figures and
letters with slate and pencil, as other writing material was not so
common then as now. The first line I ever wrote with pen and ink was at
home, at the age of ten, under a copy on foolscap paper, written by my
sainted mother, "Abraham Lincoln, President, 1861."
After the birth of John the Baptist, there was considerable controversy
among the kinsfolk as to what name he should bear. The father, old
Zacharias, was appealed to, and when writing material was brought him,
he settled the matter by writing, "John." On the 7th of May, 1863, when
a boy baby was horn in our old home, the other children and I were
very anxious to know what name would be given the little stranger.
We appealed to father. He did not say, but called for the old family
Bible, pen and ink. He turned to the "Family Record," between the Old
and the New Testaments. I stood by and saw him write, with pen and blue
ink, the name, "Abraham Lincoln Hobson."
I was born in due time to have the good fortune to become acquainted
with a number of persons who personally knew Mr. Lincoln in his early
life in Indiana, and heard them tell of their associations with him,
and their words were written down at the time. I am also familiar with
many places of historic interest where the feet of Abraham Lincoln
pressed the earth. I resided for a time near the old Lincoln farm in
Spencer County, Indiana, on which the town of Lincoln City now stands.
I have often visited the near-by grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the
"angel mother" of the martyred President; have stood by the grave of
Sally Grigsby, his only sister, at the Little Pigeon Cemetery, one
mile and a half south of the Lincoln farm; have been in the Lincoln
home at Springfield, Illinois; have seen Ford's Theater building, in
Washington, where he was shot; have stood in the little rear room, in
the first story of the house across the street, where he died; have
been in the East Room of the White House, where his body lay in state;
and have reverently stood at his tomb where his precious dust rests in
peace in Oak Ridge Cemetery, at Springfield, Illinois.
This volume can hardly claim the dignity of a biography, for many
important facts in the life of Mr. Lincoln are omitted, the object
being to set forth some unpublished facts, reminiscences, and
illustrations to supplement larger histories written by others.
However, it was necessary to refer to some well-known facts in order
to properly connect the new material never before in print. It was
necessary, in some instances, to correct some matters of Lincoln
history which later and more authentic information has revealed.
The illustrations were secured mainly for this publication, and none,
so far as I know, except the frontispiece, has ever appeared in any
other book on Lincoln. I am indebted to a number of persons who have
assisted me in securing information and photographs, most of whom are
mentioned in the body of the book.
This being the centennial year of Abraham Lincoln's birth, it is
with feelings of genuine pleasure and profound reverence that the
opportunity is here given me to exhibit some "footprints" from the
path of one whose life is imprinted in imperishable characters in the
history of the great American republic. The excellent principles and
noble conduct that characterized his life should be an inspiration to
all. As Longfellow says:
"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time."
J. T. HOBSON.
_Lake City, Iowa, February 19, 1909._
ILLUSTRATIONS
Abraham Lincoln.
The Author.
Jacob S. Brother, who when a boy lived in the Kentucky Lincoln
cabin.
United Brethren Church on Indiana Lincoln farm.
Rev. Allen Brooner, an associate of Lincoln in Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Captain Lamar, who knew Lincoln in Indiana.
Honorable James Gentry, of Indiana.
Elizabeth Grigsby, one of the double wedding brides in Indiana.
Ruth Jennings Huff, daughter of Josiah Crawford.
Rifle Gun owned jointly by Lincoln and Brooner in Indiana.
David Turnham, the Indiana Constable, and wife.
George W. Turnham, son of David Turnham.
William D. Armstrong, defended by Lincoln in 1858.
Hannah Armstrong, who boarded Lincoln; he later defended her son.
Walker and Lacey, associated with Lincoln in the Armstrong case.
Moses Martin, still living, signed Lincoln's temperance pledge in
1847.
Major J. B. Merwin, still living, campaigned Illinois with Lincoln
for prohibition in 1854-55.
Rev. R. L. McCord, who named Lincoln as his choice for President,
in 1854.
Site of the old still-house in Indiana, where Lincoln worked.
Triplets, yet living, named by Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln's mill.
CHRONOLOGY
Born in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky, February 12, 1809.
Moved to Spencer County, Indiana, in 1816.
His mother, Nancy, died October 5, 1818, aged 35 years.
His father married Sarah Bush Johnson, 1819.
Moved to Illinois, March, 1830.
Captain in Black Hawk War, in 1832.
Appointed postmaster at New Salem, Illinois, in 1833.
Elected to Illinois Legislature in 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840.
Admitted to the bar in 1837.
Presidential elector on Whig ticket, 1840, 1844.
Married to Miss Mary Todd, November 4, 1842.
Elected to Congress in 1846, 1848.
His father, Thomas, died January 17, 1851, aged 73 years.
Canvassed Illinois for State prohibition in 1855.
Debated with Stephen A. Douglas in 1858.
Nominated for President at Chicago, May 16, 1860.
Elected President, November 6, 1860.
Inaugurated President, March 4, 1861.
Issued call for 75,000 volunteers, April 15, 1861.
Issued Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863.
His address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863.
Renominated for President at Baltimore, June, 1864.
Reëlected President, November 8, 1864.
Reinaugurated President, March 4, 1865.
Shot by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865.
Died April 15, 1865.
Buried at Springfield, Illinois, May 3, 1865.
CONTENTS
Dedication 3
Introduction 4
Illustrations 7
Chronology of Abraham Lincoln 8
CHAPTER I.
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" 13