PREFACE. IN writing this brief biography, I have been moved by a desire to give to the present generation, who will never know aught of Abraham Lincoln but what is traditional, a lifelike picture of the man as many men knew him. To do this, it has been necessary to draw material from various sources, to paint in a background of the history of the times in which he lived, and to place the illustrious subject in his true relation, as far as possible, to the events in which he was so large a participant. So far as I have been able, I have subordinated the events to the man. In the preparation of the work, I have been greatly helped by many authors; and I have been especially indebted to the writings of Colonel Ward H. Lamon, the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, Dr. J. G. Holland, John G. Nicolay, and Colonel John Hay. It was my good fortune to know Lincoln with some degree of intimacy, our acquaintance beginning with the Frémont campaign of 1856, when I was a resident of Illinois, and continuing through the Lincoln-Douglas canvass, two years later. That relation became more intimate and confidential when, in 1862, I met Lincoln in Washington, and saw him almost daily until his tragical death. This preliminary egotism may be pardoned by way of explanation of the fact that many things relating to his early life, herein set down, were derived from his own lips, often during hours of secluded companionship. If this little book shall give new and inspiring views of Lincoln to the English-speaking people, I shall be grateful that I have been permitted to write it. NOAH BROOKS. CONTENTS Condition of the People at the End of the War for Indepen- dence - Migrations of the Earlier Lincolns — A Tragedy in the Wilderness-Abraham Lincoln's Parents in Kentucky- Backwoods-Log Cabin Building—Abraham Lincoln's First Thomas Lincoln's Second Marriage-Improvements in the Back- woods Home More Books for the Boy - His Horizon Young Lincoln's Growing Passion for Knowledge · for the State Legislature-Captain in the Black Hawk War - A Gathering of Men Since Famous - Hardships of the Elected to the Legislature Stump Speaker and Political De- bater-Encounters on the Stump-The Lincoln-Stone Pro- test against Slavery-"The Long Nine"-Removal of the State Capital to Springfield-Compliments to the Sangamon Chief-Lincoln a Full-Fledged Lawyer-Riding the Illinois His First Love Affair-A Disappointment-Dark Days-The Lincoln-Shields "Duel"-Good Advice on the Subject of Lincoln's Admiration of Henry Clay - An Irresponsive Idol- Slavery and the Tariff-Lincoln Elected to Congress-The Mexican War-A Queer Nickname-Rise of the Free-Soil Stupor Before Excitement - A Dead Sea of Politics- Repeal of the Missouri Compromise—The Migration to Kansas- Lincoln and Douglas Meet Again-A Memorable Debate- Birth of the Republican Party-Nomination of Frémont-The Party Lines Drawn - A Virulent Campaign - Election of The Famous Contest for the Senatorship—A Battle of Giants -Douglas and Lincoln Compared-Two Self-made Men Lincoln's Autobiography-A Series of Famous Debates- |