Lincoln’s Birthday :: Essays Papers

Lincoln’s Birthday This book is a compilation of letters written to and by the revered president, Abraham Lincoln. This makes it so that the same stories are told from different perspectives. All together this book is filled with historically accurate information. The opening passage is Lincoln’s own Autobiography. I wish I could insert the entire passage. I think the closing paragraph is a wonderful description of the man, both in appearance and in demeanor. â€Å"If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said I am in height six feet four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing, on an average, one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair and gray eyes – no other marks or brands recollected. â€Å"Yours very truly, A. Lincoln.† On the stormy morning of Sunday, February 12, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, wife of Thomas, gave birth to a boy. He was born on a bed of poles covered with cornhusks. The baby was named Abraham after his grandfather. In 1811 the Lincolns moved to a farm on Knob Creek, what 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 learned reading, writing, and cipherin’ to the rule of three, 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 Gentry Ville. A cabin was constructed near Little Pigeon Creek. It measured 16 X 18 feet, and it had only 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. In 1824 Abraham also 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, but not before spending a year to build his parents a house. 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. During the Black hawk War Lincoln was elected captain of the volunteer militia.