Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

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ABRAHAMlrAI LINVCOLN.T

So~ — ABRAHAM ---- L1NOOLN. --- ——, c~ — ----
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ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon
his return they placed a store and mill under his care.
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23
years of age, wa. a candidate for the Legislature, but
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem,
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he
received he carried there ready to deliver to those
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon
made this his business. In I834 he again became a
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr.
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and
began his legal studies. When the Legislature assembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In
I836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he removed to Springfield and began the practice of law.
His success with the jury was so great that he was
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit.
- In I854 the great discussion began between Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question.
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois,
in I856, he took an active part, and at once became
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the contest in I858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most
notable part of his history. The issue was on the;lavery question, and he took the broad ground of:he Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this contest, but won a far higher prize.
The great Republican Convention met at Chicago
on the i6th of June, i86o. The delegates and
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twentyfive thousand. An immense building called "The
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Convention. There were eleven candidates for whom votes
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most
orominent. It was generally supposed he would be
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him:
and aslittle did he dream that he was to render services
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of
the whole civilized world, and which would give him
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second
only, if second, to that of Washington.
Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received i80
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore,
constitutionally elected President of the United States.
The tirade of abuse that wvas poured upon this good

and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this
high position. In February, i86 t, Mr. Lincoln started
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his
way making speeches. The whole journey was frought
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had
already seceded, and several atteml)ts at assassination
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Baltimore had arranged, upon his arrival to" get up a row,"
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled
the plot. A secret and special train was provided tc,
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at a!
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at
half-past ten; and to prevent anly possible communication on the part ot the Secessionists with their Confederate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train hac;
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated,
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people,
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other
prominent opponents before the convention he gave
important positions.
During no other administration have the duties
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell too
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his
trials, both personal and national. Contrary to his
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the
most courageous of mien. He went directly into the
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving,
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he
had left Springfield, in i86i, however, plans had been
made for his assassination,and he at last fell a victim
to one of them. April 14, I865, he, with Gen. Grant,
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It
was announced that they would Le present. Gen.
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feeling, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them,
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth
entered the box where the President and family were
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the
next morning at seven o'clock.
Never before, in the history of the world was a nation
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler.
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a
model. His name as the savior of his country will
live with that of Washington's, its father; his cc.ntrymcen being unable to decide which is the greater.