CONTENTS

[Dedication]3
[Introduction]4
[Illustrations]7
[Chronology of Abraham Lincoln]8
[CHAPTER I.]
Lincoln's Birth and Early Life in Kentucky.
Unpromising Cradles—Site of the Log Cabin—Tangled History Untangled—Jacob S. Brother's Statement—Speaking with Authority-The Lincolns Move to Knob Creek—"The Lincoln Farm Association"13
[CHAPTER II.]
The Lincolns Move to Indiana.
Early Hardships—"Milk Sickness"—Death of Lincoln's Mother—Henry and Allen Brooner's Recollections—Second Marriage of Thomas Lincoln—Marriage of Sarah Lincoln—Redmond D. Grigsby's Recollections—Death of Sarah Grigsby—Mrs. Lamar's Recollections—Captain Lamar's Interesting Reminiscences—Honorable James Gentry Interviewed17
[CHAPTER III.]
Indiana Associates and Incidents.
The Double Wedding—One of the Brides Interviewed—"The Chronicles of Reuben"—Josiah Crawford's Daughter—The Lincoln-Brooner Rifle Gun—David Turnham, the Indiana Constable—The "Revised Statutes of Indiana"26
[CHAPTER IV.]
The Emigration to Illinois.
Preparations for Removal—Recollections of Old Acquaintances—The Old Indiana Home—Blocks from the Old House—The Cedar Tree—More Tangled History Untangled—Mr. Jones' Store—Various Experiences in Illinois—Recollections of an Old Friend32
[CHAPTER V.]
Lincoln Visits the Old Indiana Home.
Lincoln an Admirer of Henry Clay—A Whig Elector—Goes to Indiana—Makes Speeches—Old Friends and Old-Time Scenes—Writes a Poem36
[CHAPTER VI.]
Lincoln and the Armstrong Case.
Famous Law Cases—The Clary Grove Boys—The Wrestling Contest—Jack and Hannah Armstrong—Trial of Their Son for Murder—Lincoln's Tact, and the Acquittal—Letters from the Surviving Attorney in the Case—More Tangled History Untangled—Unpublished Facts Connected with Parties in the Case39
[CHAPTER VII.]
Lincoln's Temperance Principles.
Promise Made to His Mother—Writes a Temperance Article Before Leaving Indiana—Mr. Wood and Mr. Farmer—Did Lincoln Sell Whisky—His Great Temperance Address—Testimony of Associates—Moses Martin's Letter—The Internal Revenue Bill51
[CHAPTER VIII.]
Lincoln as a Prohibitionist.
Major J. B. Merwin and Abraham Lincoln—They Together Canvass Illinois for State Prohibition in 1854-55—Lincoln's Arguments Against the Saloon—Facts Omitted by Lincoln Biographers—President Lincoln, Generals Scott and Butler Recommend Merwin's Temperance Work in the Army—The President Sends Merwin on a Mission to New York the Day of the Assassination—Proposition for Freedmen to Dig the Panama Canal—Lincoln's Last Words to Merwin—Merwin's Characteristic Address at Lincoln's Tomb—"Lincoln the Christian Statesman"—Merwin Living at Middlefield, Connecticut57
[CHAPTER IX.]
Lincoln and the Slavery Question.
An Ancient Institution—The Evils of Slavery—Lincoln Always Opposed to Slavery—Relic of "Cruel Slavery Days"—Discussions, Laws, and Compromises—The Missouri Compromise—The Fugitive Slave Law—The Kansas-Nebraska Bill—Lincoln Aroused—He Answers Douglas—R. L. McCord Names Lincoln as His Candidate for President—A New Political Party—"Bleeding Kansas"—The Dred Scott Decision—"The Underground Railroad"—The John Brown Raid—The Approaching Crisis68
[CHAPTER X.]
The Lincoln and Douglas Debates.
Candidates for the United States Senate—Seven Joint Debates—The Paramount Issue—The "Divided House"—"Acts of a Drama"—Douglas Charged Lincoln with Selling Whisky—Lincoln's Denial—A Discovery—Site of the Old Still House in Indiana—Douglas Elected—Lincoln the Champion of Human Liberty77
[CHAPTER XI.]
Lincoln Nominated and Elected President.
Rival Candidates—Great Enthusiasm—Lincoln's Temperance Principles Exemplified—Other Nominations—A Great Campaign—Lincoln's Letter to David Turnham—Lincoln's Election—Secession—Lincoln Inaugurated—Douglas83
[CHAPTER XII.]
President Lincoln and the Civil War.
The Beginning—Personal Recollections—The War Spirit—Progress of the War—The Emancipation Proclamation—A Fight to Finish—Lincoln's Kindness—He Relieves a Young Soldier—He Names Triplets Who Are Yet Living—His Reëlection—The Fall of Richmond—Appomattox—Close of the Rebellion87
[CHAPTER XIII.]
Death of President Lincoln.
Personal Recollections—The Tragic Event—Mr. Stanton—A Nation in Sorrow—The Funeral—The Interment at Springfield, Illinois—The House in Which President Lincoln Died—Changed Conditions—The South Honors Lincoln—A United People—A Rich Inheritance93
[CHAPTER XIV.]
Unpublished Official Documents.
A Discovery—Documents of Historic Value—Lincoln Owned Land in Iowa—Copy of Letters Patent from United States, under James Buchanan, to Abraham Lincoln, in 1860—Copy of Deed Executed by Honorable Robert T. Lincoln and Wife, in 1892—Other Transfers—The Present Owner100
[CHAPTER XV.]
Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth.
Preparations—General Observance—President Roosevelt Lays Corner-stone of Lincoln Museum at Lincoln's Birthplace—Extracts from Addresses at Various Places—Closing Tribute105

Footprints of Abraham Lincoln


CHAPTER I.

Lincoln's Birth and Early Life in Kentucky

Unpromising Cradles—Site of the Log Cabin—Tangled History Untangled—Jacob S. Brother's Statement—Speaking with Authority—The Lincolns Move to Knob Creek—The Lincoln Farm Association.