I was born Feb. 12. 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both boow in Ninguna of undistin second famitin jonhapes & phone quishen familiin my mother, who drew in my year, was of a family of the name of Vanks, some of whom now resio i Adams, grew others in Macow counties, Illinoism My petence granas father, Abraham Lincolo, eniguation from Rocks inglane County, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or 2, whew, a year or two later, he was killed by indians, not en baith, five by stentle, when he wing haboring to opers a farm in the fourWhois anceston; who wew quakers, event to blingine from Berks County, Pennsylvanica_ An effort to istentify them with the New England fanis era an in nothing. snow definety thaw a similons of Christian mann in both families, purerin Enoch, Lavi, Momecas, Solomon, Alrachan, over the like of the namo My father, at the death of his father, was, but pise years of age; and he grew up, litteraly without education. You remova from Kentucky to what is now Spinew county, Inorin and, in my eighth year. We reachior our new home about the time the State camo into the dunión alte with been a wild region, arla quemal, stile in the wooks There I grew ap. Thew were some school, so. Callion, but no called, qualification was over requines of or teacher, begonas Reading writer, and if heying reading waiting Thithities to the Rule of Sheds If a straggle these ending to to sojound in County, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or '82, where, a year or two later, he was killed by Indians, not in battle, but by 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. My father, at the death of his father, was but six years of age; and he grew up literally without education. He removed 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 wizard. 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, The neighborhoon, he was looken apow as a There was absolutt nothing to excit ambition for coucation. Of com when I can of ago was not know much. Stite somehow, I coule едова reai prit, amar ciples to the Rule of Shrew; but that was ade. I have not bee to pahool sincoa The filth advance I now hav apow this slow of adver time, I have beams pickers up from time to terme unde the pressers of necesit I was passion to farm work, which I continua tile I was twentytwom At twentyone I came to Illinois, avo pass the funt years o Macow counts - Then I got the New Tate th in Sangamon, Dear of Relach us an stow Then came the Black Hawn any. дома for the Legislation the I hand have pins I went the campargn, was elatior, zaw pass gear (18321 snow was bestow on the one time I am have bear beaten by the peoplo The next, sam threw succeeding brennice elections, I was electe en to the Legislation - I was got afterumos. During this Legistatins perion I had studiown hair, and removes to Springfield to Ammeter practiced it a In 1846 I was ones alecten to with lower House of Congress War, Was not a canz didate for is clection_ From 1849 a 1854, to 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 store. 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 into the campaign, was elected; ran for the Legislature the same year (1832), and was beaten-the only time I ever have been beaten by the people. The next, and three succeeding biennial elections, I was elected to the Legislature. I was not a candidate afterwards. During this legislative period I had studied law, and removed to Springfield to practice it. In 1841 I was once elected to the Lower House of Congress-was not a candidate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive, practiced law more assiduously than ever before. Always a Whig in politics, and generally on the Whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses. I was losing interest in politics when inclusion, fractiona baw know soruchously flaw was before Always, or why in polities, and genualy pho why plestine teker, making actum CRNE I was loving interest an polities, when. repene of the "Mensown compromir aconsen mo again "What I have slow piner thew is pretty well known. If any personal descriptor of me thought desirable, it may be pain I am, in height, pix face, four justo, nears; hear in flost, weyhing, an on average, one handina aver over eight pounds; complexion, prith course black hairs and gray eyesa no other master of havas pecollection Washington, DC. March 20. 157/2 He the nodersigned heaby cutify that the foregoing statement is in the hands Conting of Abraham Lincoln. Baird Dairs Charles Summer |