The Real Lincoln by Jesse W. Weik

Regina Webb, Geshua and Gabriel visited the Lincoln Monument in Washington, DC in July, 2009 and they brought the book, "The Real Lincoln," as a gift for Glenna and I. Now when I read 280 pages of a 314 page book in three days, it has to be a well written, interesting book!

Progressively, I will be sharing excerpts from the book in this post. I hope that you find the comments as interesting as I found them!

Immediately following the death of Lincoln at Ford's Theater, in April, 1865, William Herndon set out for Kentucky and southern Indiana to begin an investigation of the origin of the life of Abraham Lincoln. Only four persons could be found who really knew and remembered Lincoln in Kentucky. Austin Gollaher recalled his rescue of the boy Lincoln from the waters of Knob Creek into which he had fallen while trying to "coon" across that stream on a log. John Duncan, a Baptist preacher, knew Lincoln at the time when pastoring Little Mount Church, where Thomas and Nancy Lincoln attended. John Duncan said, "Abe was very determined in pursuit of game." On one occasion the two of them ran a ground-hog into a hole in the rocks. John gave up, but not Abe. Lincoln ran to a blacksmith shop to have a hook made, and fastening it to a pole, he hooked the animal and pulled it out of the hole. Presley Haycraft described him as a little "shirt-tail boy" in Elizabethtown who could be seen about the court-house and stores clinging closely to his mother's skirt. John B. Helm, probably knew the Lincoln and Hanks families best, and described young Abe as "a small boy who would sometimes come with his mother to the store. He was a trifle shy, and sitting on a box or keg.

Abraham was born in a cabin on a farm owned in 1865 by R.A. Creal about three miles southeast of Hodgenville, which is about ten miles northeast of Elizabethtown. The cabin was situated on a knoll in a barley field. At the edge of the field were two old pear trees planted by Thomas Lincoln between which was located a gateway to the house.

Rowbotham also visited Lincoln's home in Spencer County in Indiana. The home was a little off the Gentryville road on rising ground. Here the family lived for thirteen years. Abraham's mother died here and is buried on the summit of a thickly wooded hill about a quarter of a mile from the house. To be continued.