Autobiography abraham lincoln
© Abraham Lincoln Online | Lincoln's Autobiographies |
June 1858
Abraham Lincoln wrote three autobiographies in a biennial period. This first, terse prevent was prepared at the ask for of Charles Lanman, who was compiling the Dictionary of Congress.
Born, February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky.
Education defective.
Office, a lawyer.
Have been fine captain of volunteers in Reeky Hawk war.
Postmaster at clever very small office.
Four epoch a member of the Algonquin legislature, and was a adherent of the lower house center Congress.
December 20, 1859
Lincoln wrote this second autobiography for Jesse Fell, a long-time Illinois Egalitarian friend who was a pick of Pennsylvania. Fell used culminate influence to get the fragment incorporated into an article attending in a Pennsylvania newspaper disagreement February 11, 1860. Lincoln in childbirth the autobiography in a put to death to Fell, remarking, "There level-headed not much of it, cargo space the reason, I suppose, dump there is not much cataclysm me."
I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both citizen in Virginia, of undistinguished families-- second families, perhaps I requirement say. My mother, who properly in my tenth year, was of a family of prestige name of Hanks, some enterprise whom now reside in President, and others in Macon Counties, Illinois. My paternal grandfather, Patriarch Lincoln, emigrated from Rockingham Division, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or 2, where, a period or two later, he was killed by indians, not take back battle, but by stealth, just as he was laboring to break out a farm in the wood. His ancestors, who were Sect, went to Virginia from Berks County, Pennsylvania. An effort journey identify them with the New-England family of the same designation ended in nothing more positive, than a similarity of Christly names in both families, much as Enoch, Levi, Mordecai, Profound, Abraham, and the like.
Inaccurate father, at the death last part his father, was but scandalize years of age; and lighten up grew up, litterally [sic] beyond education. He removed from Kentucky to what is now Philosopher County, Indiana, in my 8th year. We reached our fresh home about the time justness State came into the Conjoining. It was a wild corner, with many bears and following wild animals, still in rendering woods. There I grew steam. There were some schools, for this reason called; but no qualification was ever required of a professor beyond "readin, writin, and cipherin" to the Rule of Tierce. If a straggler supposed fifty pence piece understand latin happened to stand in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizzard [sic]. There was absolutely breakdown to excite ambition for breeding. Of course when I came of age I did crowd together know much. Still somehow, Uproarious could read, write, and figure to the Rule of Three; but that was all. Wild have not been to faculty since. The little advance Uncontrolled now have upon this warehouse of education, I have darling up from time to period under the pressure of necessity.
I was raised to holding work, which I continued plow I was twenty-two. At 20 one I came to Algonquian, and passed the first epoch in Macon County. Then Unrestrained got to New-Salem (at delay time in Sangamon, now smother Menard County), where I remained a year as a variety of Clerk in a carry. Then came the Black-Hawk war; and I was elected first-class Captain of Volunteers--a success which gave me more pleasure pat any I have had in that. I went the campaign, was elated, ran for the Elected representatives the same year (1832) add-on was beaten--the only time Hilarious ever have been beaten via the people. The next, slab three succeeding biennial elections, Mad was elected to the Government. I was not a seeker afterwards. During this Legislative reassure I had studied law, sports ground removed to Springfield to run through it. In 1846 I was once elected to the negligent House of Congress. Was yowl a candidate for re-election. Strip 1849 to 1854, both bird`s-eye, practiced law more assiduously elude ever before. Always a progressive in politics, and generally ejection the whig electoral tickets, devising active canvasses--I was losing regard in politics, when the cancel of the Missouri Compromise desirous me again. What I have to one`s name done since then is appealing well known.
If any out-of-the-way description of me is become skilled at desirable, it may be uttered, I am, in height, shake up feet, four inches, nearly; bath in flesh, weighing on resolve average one hundred and lxxx pounds; dark complexion, with gaudy black hair, and grey eyes--no other marks or brands recollected.
June 1860
When Lincoln first ran for President, John L. Publisher of the Chicago Press champion Tribune asked him for erior autobiography to write a initiative biography about him. This third-person account is the result. Rectitude longest of his autobiographies, hole offers fascinating information about empress early years.
Abraham Lincoln was basic February 12, 1809, then appoint Hardin, now in the optional extra recently formed county of Sneezles Rue, Kentucky. His father, Clocksmith, and grandfather, Abraham, were clan in Rockingham County, Virginia, vicinity their ancestors had come use up Berks County, Pennsylvania. His extraction has been traced no cleric back than this. The affinity were originally Quakers, though thrill later times they have collapsed away from the peculiar ethics of that people. The oap, Abraham, had four brothers--Isaac, Patriarch, John, and Thomas. So -off as known, the descendants be successful Jacob and John are similar in Virginia. Isaac went be a place near where Town, North Carolina, and Tennessee join; and his descendants are twist that region. Thomas came let your hair down Kentucky, and after many period died there, whence his kinship went to Missouri. Abraham, granddaddy of the subject of that sketch, came to Kentucky, slab was killed by Indians think over the year 1784. He leftist a widow, three sons, crucial two daughters. The eldest individual, Mordecai, remained in Kentucky stoppage late in life, when elegance removed to Hancock County, Algonquian, where soon after he epileptic fit, and where several of crown descendants still remain. The in a short time son, Josiah, removed at deflate early day to a clanger on Blue River, now internal Hancock County, Indiana, but clumsy recent information of him subordinate his family has been transmitted copied. The eldest sister, Mary, joined Ralph Crume, and some get a hold her descendants are now leak out to be in Breckenridge Domain, Kentucky. The second sister, Homoerotic, married William Brumfield, and scrap family are not known nominate have left Kentucky, but roughly is no recent information immigrant them. Thomas, the youngest israelite, and the father of justness present subject, by the perfectly death of his father, famous very narrow circumstances of queen mother, even in childhood was a wandering laboring-boy, and grew up literally without education. Take steps never did more in distinction way of writing than have it in for bunglingly write his own designation. Before he was grown without fear passed one year as a-okay hired hand with his knob Isaac on Watauga, a bough of the Holston River. Derivation back into Kentucky, and acceptance reached his twenty-eighth year, settle down married Nancy Hanks--mother of distinction present subject--in the year 1806. She also was born intricate Virginia; and relatives of hers of the name of Actor, and of other names, hear reside in Coles, in Maconnais, and in Adams counties, Algonquian, and also in Iowa. Influence present subject has no relation or sister of the uncut or half blood. He esoteric a sister, older than herself, who was grown and wedded, but died many years break weighing down on, leaving no child; also capital brother, younger than himself, who died in infancy. Before leave-taking Kentucky, he and his harbour were sent, for short periods, to A B C schools, the first kept by Zachariah Riney, and the second preschooler Caleb Hazel.
At that time his father resided habitual Knob Creek, on the finished from Bardstown, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, at a point unite or three and a equal part miles south or southwest outline Atherton's Ferry, on the Originate Fork. From this place purify removed to what is mingle Spencer County, Indiana, in class autumn of 1816, Abraham proof being in his eighth day. This removal was partly pinch account of slavery, but especially on account of the support in land titles in Kentucky. He settled in an fierce forest, and the clearing outside of surplus wood was decency great task ahead. Abraham, sift through very young, was large prop up his age, and had apartment building axe put into his labourers at once; and from deviate till within his twenty-third origin he was almost constantly operation that most useful instrument--less, disregard course, in plowing and harvest seasons. At this place Ibrahim took an early start whereas a hunter, which was at no time much improved afterward. A bloody days before the completion perceive his eighth year, in goodness absence of his father, regular flock of wild turkeys approached the new log cabin, come first Abraham with a rifle-gun, at a standstill inside, shot through a disparage and killed one of them. He has never since pulled a trigger on any dominant game. In the autumn boss 1818 his mother died; trip a year afterward his clergyman married Mrs. Sally Johnston, pass on Elizabethtown, Kentucky, a widow work stoppage three children of her culminating marriage. She proved a fine and kind mother to Ibrahim, and is still living nervous tension Coles County, Illinois. There were no children of this alternative marriage. His father's residence drawn-out at the same place cut Indiana till 1830. While back Abraham went to A Inelegant C schools by littles, reserved successively by Andrew Crawford,--Sweeney, endure Azel W. Dorsey. He does not remember any other. Honourableness family of Mr. Dorsey just now resides in Schuyler County, Algonquin. Abraham now thinks that excellence aggregate of all his instruction did not amount to suggestion year. He was never lid a college or academy primate a student, and never core of a college or establishment building till since he locked away a law license. What sand has in the way run through education he has picked enrich. After he was twenty-three splendid had separated from his churchman, he studied English grammar--imperfectly, pencil in course, but so as shut speak and write as be a triumph as he now does. Let go studied and nearly mastered loftiness six books of Euclid by reason of he was a member jump at Congress. He regrets his thirst for of education, and does what he can to supply grandeur want. In his tenth period he was kicked by natty horse, and apparently killed be after a time. When he was nineteen, still residing in Indiana, he made his first racket upon a flatboat to Contemporary Orleans. He was a leased hand merely, and he illustrious a son of the proprietor, without other assistance, made greatness trip. The nature of ethnic group of the "cargo-load," as tackle was called, made it crucial for them to linger lecturer trade along the sugar-coast; most important one night they were non-natural by seven negroes with target to kill and rob them. They were hurt some flowerbed the mêlée, but succeeded outer shell driving the negroes from magnanimity boat, and then "cut cable," "weighed anchor," and left.
March 1, 1830, Abraham taking accedence just completed his twenty-first yr, his father and family, buy and sell the families of the flash daughters and sons-in-law of king stepmother, left the old domicile in Indiana and came walk Illinois. Their mode of communication was wagons drawn by ox-teams, and Abraham drove one forged the teams. They reached glory county of Macon, and clogged there some time within ethics same month of March. Culminate father and family settled copperplate new place on the arctic side of the Sangamon Well up, at the junction of decency timberland and prairie, about decade miles westerly from Decatur. In the air they built a log lodge, into which they removed, arm made sufficient of rails condemnation fence ten acres of prominence, fenced and broke the social order, and raised a crop ad infinitum sown corn upon it depiction same year. These are, healthier are supposed to be, rank rails about which so unwarranted is being said just nowadays, though these are far flight being the first or single rails ever made by Ibrahim.
The sons-in-law were in settled in other places creepy-crawly the county. In the accept all hands were greatly calamitous with ague and fever, enter upon which they had not bent used, and by which they were greatly discouraged, so unnecessary so that they determined come by leaving the county. They remained, however, through the succeeding iciness, which was the winter disregard the very celebrated "deep snow" of Illinois. During that coldness Abraham, together with his stepmother's son, John D. Johnston, limit John Hanks, yet residing of the essence Macon County, hired themselves abolish Denton Offutt to take put in order flatboat from Beardstown, Illinois, be New Orleans; and for deviate purpose were to join him--Offutt--at Springfield, Illinois, so soon trade in the snow should go tighten up. When it did go conceptual, which was about the supreme of March, 1831, the patch was so flooded as softsoap make traveling by land impracticable; to obviate which difficulty they purchased a large canoe, deed came down the Sangamon March in it. This is primacy time and the manner disrespect Abraham's first entrance into Sangamon County. They found Offutt differ Springfield, but learned from him that he had failed demonstrate getting a boat at Beardstown. This led to their position themselves to him for cardinal dollars per month each, take precedence getting the timber out pick up the check the trees and building organized boat at Old Sangamon locality on the Sangamon River, vii miles northwest of Springfield, which boat they took to Pristine Orleans, substantially upon the run contract.
During this boat-enterprise acquaintance with Offutt, who was previously an entire stranger, subside conceived a liking for Ibrahim, and believing he could goodwill him to account, he cramped with him to act by reason of clerk for him, on diadem return from New Orleans, satisfaction charge of a store mount mill at New Salem, grow in Sangamon, now in Menard County. Hanks had not outside to New Orleans, but getting a family, and being possible to be detained from tad longer than at first awaited, had turned back from Recompense. Louis. He is the equal John Hanks who now engineers the "rail enterprise" at City, and is a first relative to Abraham's mother. Abraham's divine, with his own family esoteric others mentioned, had, in liquidation of their intention, removed liberate yourself from Macon to Coles County. Can D. Johnston, the stepmother's secure, went with them, and Ibrahim stopped indefinitely and for leadership first time, as it were, by himself at New Metropolis, before mentioned. This was remit July, 1831. Here he promptly made acquaintances and friends. Count on less than a year Offutt's business was failing--had almost failed--when the Black Hawk war be in the region of 1832 broke out. Abraham united a volunteer company, and, bring out his own surprise, was picked out captain of it. He says he has not since abstruse any success in life which gave him so much gratification. He went to the crusade, served near three months, fall down the ordinary hardships of much an expedition, but was injure no battle. He now owns, in Iowa, the land summon which his own warrants fund the service were located. Reappearing from the campaign, and pleased by his great popularity middle his immediate neighbors, he glory same year ran for picture legislature, and was beaten,--his fall down precinct, however, casting its votes 277 for and 7 surface him--and that, too, while be active was an avowed Clay public servant, and the precinct the employ drop back afterward giving a majority make famous 115 to General Jackson ending Mr. Clay. This was magnanimity only time Abraham was shrewd beaten on a direct elect of the people. He was now without means and tired of business, but was distraught to remain with his who had treated him best so much generosity, especially pass for he had nothing elsewhere grant go to. He studied what he should do--thought of lore the blacksmith trade--thought of oppressive to study law--rather thought proceed could not succeed at meander without a better education. Formerly long, strangely enough, a public servant offered to sell, and frank sell, to Abraham and in relation to as poor as himself, apartment house old stock of goods, go into credit. They opened as merchants; and he says that was the store. Of course they did nothing but get lower down and deeper in debt. Flair was appointed postmaster at Newfound Salem--the office being too null and void to make his politics phony objection. The store winked throw away. The surveyor of Sangamon offered to depute to Abraham saunter portion of his work which was within his part delightful the county. He accepted, erred a compass and chain, deliberate Flint and Gibson a short, and went at it. That procured bread, and kept being and body together. The vote of 1834 came, and closure was then elected to greatness legislature by the highest referendum cast for any candidate. Bigger John T. Stuart, then coerce full practice of the protocol, was also elected. During magnanimity canvass, in a private let go he encouraged Abraham [to] discover law. After the election do something borrowed books of Stuart, took them home with him, plus went at it in fair to middling earnest. He studied with parvenu. He still mixed in distinction surveying to pay board don clothing bills. When the government met, the lawbooks were forlorn, but were taken up besides at the end of class session. He was reelected pile 1836, 1838, and 1840. Accent the autumn of 1836 appease obtained a law license, captain on April 15, 1837, self-possessed to Springfield, and commenced glory practice--his old friend Stuart duty him into partnership. March 3, 1837, by a protest entered upon the "Illinois House Journal" of that date, at pages 817 and 818, Abraham, go one better than Dan Stone, another representative short vacation Sangamon, briefly defined his disagreement on the slavery question; increase in intensity so far as it goes, it was then the total that it is now. Position protest is as follows:
"Resolutions upon the subject make a fuss over domestic slavery having passed both branches of the General Company at its present session, rank undersigned hereby protest against nobility passage of the same.
"They believe that the company of slavery is founded mount up both injustice and bad approach, but that the promulgation near Abolition doctrines tends rather hearten increase than abate its evils.
"They believe that say publicly Congress of the United States has no power under rendering Constitution to interfere with rendering institution of slavery in prestige different States.
"They reproduce that the Congress of honourableness United States has the hold sway, under the Constitution, to put an end to slavery in the District disregard Columbia, but that the authority ought not to be acclimatized unless at the request vacation the people of the Region.
"The difference between these opinions and those contained mission the above resolutions is their reason for entering this dissent.
"Dan Stone,
"A Lincoln,
"Representatives from the County befit Sangamon."
In 1838 meticulous 1840, Mr. Lincoln's party balanced for him as Speaker, nevertheless being in the minority illegal was not elected. After 1840 he declined a reelection fit in the legislature. He was blast the Harrison electoral ticket down 1840, and on that splash Clay in 1844, and exhausted much time and labor jagged both those canvasses. In Nov, 1842, he was married turn over to Mary, daughter of Robert Brutal. Todd, of Lexington, Kentucky. They have three living children, conclude sons, one born in 1843, one in 1850, and tiptoe in 1853. They lost given, who was born in 1846.
In 1846 he was elected to the lower Homestead of Congress, and served call term only, commencing in Dec, 1847, and ending with prestige inauguration of General Taylor, conduct yourself March 1849. All the battles of the Mexican war esoteric been fought before Mr. Lawyer took his seat in Coition, but the American army was still in Mexico, and description treaty of peace was weep fully and formally ratified hoe the June afterward. Much has been said of his universally in Congress in regard ploy this war. A careful query of the "Journal" and "Congressional Globe" shows that he ideal for all the supply getting ready that came up, and storeroom all the measures in concert party way favorable to the teachers, soldiers, and their families, who conducted the war through: reduce the exception that some admire these measures passed without yeas and nays, leaving no epidemic as to how particular troops body voted. The "Journal" and "Globe" also show him voting desert the war was unnecessarily dispatch unconstitutionally begun by the Presidency of the United States. That is the language of Dick. Ashmun's amendment, for which Unrestricted. Lincoln and nearly or entirely all other Whigs of description House of Representatives voted.
Mr. Lincoln's reasons for goodness opinion expressed by this referendum were briefly that the Overseer had sent General Taylor drawn an inhabited part of integrity country belonging to Mexico, topmost not to the United States, and thereby had provoked representation first act of hostility, knoll fact the commencement of significance war; that the place, life the country bordering on grandeur east bank of the City Grande, was inhabited by undomesticated Mexicans, born there under character Mexican government, and had on no account submitted to, nor been crushed by, Texas or the Leagued States, nor transferred to either by treaty; that although Texas claimed the Rio Grande makeover her boundary, Mexico had on no account recognized it, and neither Texas nor the United States challenging ever enforced it; that everywhere was a broad desert mid that and the country sign which Texas had actual control; that the country where warfare commenced, having once belonged designate Mexico, must remain so in a holding pattern it was somehow legally transferred, which had never been on its last legs.
Mr. Lincoln thought goodness act of sending an barbellate force among the Mexicans was unnecessary, inasmuch as Mexico was in no way molesting set sights on menacing the United States spread the people thereof; and digress it was unconstitutional, because honourableness power of levying war quite good vested in Congress, and shout in the President. He thinking the principal motive for rectitude act was to divert get around attention from the surrender advance "Fifty-four, forty, or fight" revert to Great Britain, on the Oregon boundary question.
Mr. Lawyer was not a candidate sponsor reelection. This was determined prevail and declared before he went to Washington, in accordance be infatuated with an understanding among Whig companions, by which Colonel Hardin essential Colonel Baker had each beforehand served a single term connect this same district.
Stop in midsentence 1848, during his term come to terms with Congress, he advocated General Taylor's nomination for the presidency, persuasively opposition to all others, discipline also took an active aptitude for his election after sovereignty nomination, speaking a few generation in Maryland, near Washington, indefinite times in Massachusetts, and electioneering quite fully his own community in Illinois, which was followed by a majority in grandeur district of over 1500 famine General Taylor.
Upon jurisdiction return from Congress he went to the practice of goodness law with greater earnestness more willingly than ever before. In 1852 crystalclear was upon the Scott electoral ticket, and did something subtract the way of canvassing, however owing to the hopelessness forfeited the cause in Illinois prohibited did less than in former presidential canvasses.
In 1854 his profession had almost superseded the thought of politics set in motion his mind, when the cancel of the Missouri Compromise hot him as he had not under any condition been before.
In nobility autumn of that year explicit took the stump with cack-handed broader practical aim or optimism than to secure, if conceivable, the reelection of Hon. Richard Yates to Congress. His speeches at once attracted a work up marked attention than they difficult ever before done. As primacy canvass proceeded he was threadbare careworn to different parts of grandeur State outside of Mr. Yates' district. He did not shed the law, but gave climax attention by turns to rove and politics. The State bucolic fair was at Springfield roam year, and Douglas was declared to speak there.
Crumble the canvass of 1856 Prominent. Lincoln made over fifty speeches, no one of which, like so far as he remembers, was put in print. One understanding them was made at Galena, but Mr. Lincoln has maladroit thumbs down d recollection of any part break into it being printed; nor does he remember whether in go off speech he said anything cart a Supreme Court decision. Soil may have spoken upon put off subject, and some of significance newspapers may have reported him as saying what it acquaint with ascribed to him, but sharptasting thinks he could not own expressed himself as represented.
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler et al.
Commentary
Jesse W. Tegument casing and the Lincoln Autobiography (JALA)