Abraham Lincoln
...birth to a boy. He was born on a bed of poles covered
with corn husks. The baby was named Abraham after his
grandfather. In 1811 the Lincolns moved to a farm on
Knob Creek which was also near Hodgenville. In 1811 or
1812, Abraham's younger brother, Thomas, died in
infancy. Abraham spent a short amount of time in a log
schoolhouse. He began to learn his ABC's from a teacher
named Zachariah Riney. He attended school with his sister,
Sarah. Late in 1816 the Lincoln family moved to southern
Indiana and settled near present day Gentryville. A cabin
was constructed near Little Pigeon Creek. It measured 16
X 18 feet, and it had one window. Abraham's mother,
Nancy, passed away on October 5th, 1818, she died of
milk sickness. In 1819, Abraham would barrow books
from his neighbors to read. In 1821 Abraham attended
school taught by James Swaney for about 4 months. Also
in 1824 Abraham attended school taught by Azel Dorsey.
In 1827 Abraham's sister, Sarah died giving birth to her
son. In 1831, Lincoln decided to leave his family and go off
on his own. In July he moved to New Salem, Illinois, where
he boarded at Rutledge's tavern and became acquainted
with the owner's daughter, Ann. New Salem was a frontier
village consisting of one long street on a bluff over the
Sangamon River. On August 6th, 1832 Lincoln was
defeated while running for the Illinois State Legislature.
Lincoln began to operate a general store in New Salem
along with William F. Berry. Again, In 1834, Lincoln ran
for the Illinois State Legislature, but this time he was
elected. During the summer, John T. Stuart advised Lincoln
to study law. On December 1 he took his seat in state
government in Vandalia. In 1837 Lincoln, 28, was admitted
to the Illinois Bar on March 1, and he moved to Springfield
on April 15. He became a law partner of John Stuart and
lived with Joshua Speed....
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