Abraham Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was not my favorite president, a family opinion that reaches back three generations in Georgia where the family heartily supported Confederate President Andrew Johnson.

Yet it seems entirely fitting to honor a president who agonized over the Civil War, but bravely saw it through.

We received from a volunteer who lives in Burlington Iowa, a story about Abraham Lincoln that was written in this century by one of his living relatives.

BIOGRAPHY: "I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families--second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks.... My father ... removed from Kentucky to ... Indiana, in my eighth year.... It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up.... Of course when I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher ... but that was all."

Lincoln attained knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for years. His law partner said of him, "His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest."

He married Mary Todd, and they had four boys, only one of whom lived to maturity. In 1858 he ran against Stephen A. Douglas for Senator. He lost the election, but in debating with Douglas he gained national reputation which won nomination by the Republican party for President in 1860.

As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, by rallying most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause.

On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves.

His last speech included, "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... "

On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington.

What do you want to know about President Lincoln?

More about Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln's mother, Mary Hanks.

Lincoln's Parents and other information

About Abraham Lincoln by his cousin.

"Cousin of Martyred Lincoln Visiting Here, Tells New Story on Abe" (Printed in Cedar Rapids paper June 25, 1923), submitted by Mrs. L. R. Kelly of 1040 Fifth Avenue, and reproduced here with permission of the author secured by Barb Chandler

Mrs. Lucetta Chandler of Danville, Iowa 87 years old and a cousin of the martyred President Abraham Lincoln, is a guest in Cedar Rapids. Lucretta Chandler is the mother of Everett Chandler and mother-in-law of Mary Jensen Chandler.

Mrs. Chandler is one of that little band, growing smaller each year, who can boast relationship to, or even an intimate personal knowledge of Lincoln. She is the mother of Everett Chandler, 824 South Twenty-first Street, and is visiting in their homes.

Mrs. Chandler's mother, Mrs. Miller, was a cousin of Abraham Lincoln's mother, and both bore the immortal name "Nancy Hanks," which history has taught all admirers of Lincoln to reverence.

It was with Mrs. Chandler's parents that Lincoln made his home in Kentucky for a time.

The local visitor never met Lincoln, for she was born after the family came north. She was the youngest of a family of twelve children, and is the last one alive.

But of "Abe" as a lad she has often heard her mother and brothers speak. "I remember mother saying he was "lazy," she says. "Probably he wasn't lazy, but like all boys, he loved to follow his own pursuits. She used to tell of how he would sit on the fence and read, when there was work to be done. He wasn't lazy when it came to studying.

She tells of one incident recounted by her brother, Charles, which has perhaps never been told to any Lincoln biography, and which is of value as it shows something of his character.

"Brother Charlie went to school with Abe Lincoln, and he used to tell how the children decided one day, to play a joke on their teacher and locked him out of the schoolroom."

But Lincoln wouldn't let a group of rascals like that get ahead of him. He crawled down the chimney. They had planned to use this method of cajolery to get a treat from him-quite a popular trick in country schools in those days.

When he got in through the chimney, they expected an outburst of anger, but they were mistaken. Lincoln merely laughed, and furnished them the treat, just the same."

The qualities then shown by Lincoln the country school teacher of gentleness combined with the stubborn determination, Mrs. Chandler believes were later demonstrated by him as President.

Lincoln's rank as one of the greatest figures of American history has been exalted with the passage of years Mrs. Chandler believes. For she says; "We didn't think much about it when I was a girl."

But this remarkable woman's relationship to the great President is not her only claim to distinction. She was the first white child to be born in Pleasant Grove township, Des Moines County. The youngest of twelve she in turn gave the world eleven children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Chandler and Mrs. Kelly of this city are the youngest.

And she is now a great grandmother, having twenty grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

NOTE: Finally, I have some more information for you about the Lincoln connection. Nancy Hanks Miller, another cousin of Lincoln, and her husband William lived in Pleasant Grove.

Here is a letter from William Miller to Lincoln. Spelling is as written.

William Miller to Abraham Lincoln, Wednesday, May 11, 1864 (Promotion for Elisha Wright)
From William Miller to Abraham Lincoln [With Endorsement by Lincoln]1, May 11, 1864

New London

Henry County Iowa

11th May, 1864

My dear Sir

You may not reccollect an old man now tottering on the verge of the grave -- then living in Macon County Illinois who wore the name of William Miller and married your Cousin Nancy Hanks

With the keenest remembrances of old times I will never forget Your visits to my humble home which you will reccollect although plain was free as the air to yourself. Providence has far exceeded your expectations and mine in placing you in the great White House. Whilst age has made me feeble When in Illinois, I was so well acquainted with you that I could venture to talk to you about everything and I hope your elevation to place has not changed your native kindness

You will perhaps reccollect Aunt Nancy's Sister, Celia Hanks, she You will reccollect married John. D. Wright who afterwards came to Des Moisnes Iowa-- John was our County Surveyor was a member of the Legislature and of the State Convention which formed Our Constitution and was withal a very honest clever man

Poor Celia died about twenty years ago when her twin Children, Elisha and Electa were one month old-- I took them children and raised them. Elisha had a very good Education and clerked in a Store until the war broke out and then he volunteered to go to the war to help Cousin Abe (as we all call you) preserve the Country Elisha is a good sensible honest trust worthy boy, and has been in many hard fights. And is a good Soldier I want him to get promotion after so much fighting and suffering He is worthy of a place in the Regular Army as Lieutenant and will in such position never disgrace his Kinsman who can easily give him the appointment he so richly deserves He is a private in Company K. 19th Iowa Infantry

I need not add more which will tire You, I am now upwards of seventy and have to get a friend to write for me as I dictate as I am feeble.

I feel anxious before I die to do something for my dear relative Elisha and feel sure that you will do this for me.

Aunt Nancy is feeble like myself. She joins in my love

to you that God will bless you

in this great time of

trouble

I am your Cousin

Affectionatily

William Miller

[ Endorsed by Lincoln:]

William Miller -- Bill Miller

[Note 1 Miller was married to Nancy Hanks, a daughter of Lincoln's great uncle William Hanks. Her brother was Lincoln's cousin and Indiana companion, John Hanks. Elisha Wright, in whose behalf Miller writes, did not receive a commission in the U. S. Army, but he was considered for the position as secretary for the Montana Territory. See Lincoln, Memorandum on Montana Patronage, [June 1864].]

From http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mal:@field(DOCID+@lit(d3298900))

Barb Chandler barbc@mailaka.net Traveling Through the Generations: Family Tree and Photo Album at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~barbc46/