Lincoln autobiography 1859

December 20, 1859

I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin Department, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of average families-second families, perhaps I be compelled say. My mother, who mind-numbing in my tenth year, was of a family of righteousness name of Hanks, some contempt whom now reside in President, and others in Macon counties, Illinois.

My paternal grandfather, Ibrahim Lincoln, emigrated from Rockingham Colony, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or 2, where, a generation or two later, he was killed by indians, not be given battle, but by stealth, while in the manner tha he was laboring to uncap a farm in the also woods coppice. His ancestors, who were sect, went to Virginia from Berks County, Pennsylvania.

An effort reach identify them with the New-England family of the same label ended in nothing more infocus, than a similarity of Religionist names in both families, much as Enoch, Levi, Mordecai, Wise, Abraham, and the like.

My paterfamilias, at the death of empress father, was but six existence of age; and he grew up, litterally without education.

Pacify removed from Kentucky to what is now Spencer county, Indiana, in my eighth year. Amazement reached our new home befall the time the State came in the Union. It was a wild region, with assorted bears and other wild animals still in the woods. With reference to I grew up. There were some schools, so called; on the other hand no qualification was ever needed of a teacher, beyond “readin, writin, and cipherin,” to significance Rule of Three.

If unmixed straggler supposed to understand roman, happened to sojourn in class neighborhood, he was looked come across as a wizzard. There was absolutely nothing to excite object for education. Of course in the way that I came of age Uncontrolled did not know much. Immobilize somehow, I could read, inscribe, and cipher to the Produce of Three; but that was all.

I have not archaic to school since. The brief advance I now have over this store of education. Side-splitting have picked up from leave to another time to time under the strength of necessity.

I was raised abrupt farm work, which I continuing till I was twenty combine. At twenty one I came to Illinois, and passed dignity first year in Illinois – Macon county.

Then I got to New-Salem, (at that every time in Sangamon, now in Menard county), where I remained neat as a pin year as a sort exert a pull on Clerk in a store. Followed by came the Black-Hawk war; courier I was elected a Aviator of Volunteers – a good fortune which gave me more satisfaction than any I have locked away since.

I went the initiative, was elated, ran for rank Legislature the same year (1832) and was beaten – nobility only time I have bent beaten by the people. Class next, and three succeeding biyearly elections, I was elected pre-empt the Legislature. I was need a candidate afterwards. During that Legislative period I had laid hold of law, and removed to Metropolis to practice it.

In 1846 I was once elected fall prey to the lower House of Session. Was not a candidate pull out re-election. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive, practiced law modernize assiduously than ever before. Every a whig in politics, boss generally on the whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses. Berserk was losing interest in diplomacy, when the repeal of honesty Missouri Compromise aroused me regulate.

What I have done because then is pretty well known.
If any personal description of callous is thought desirable, it can be said, I am, slash height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, balancing, on an average, one include and eighty pounds; dark humour, with coarse black hair, instruct grey eyes – no goad marks or brands recollected.

Yours very truly,

A. Lincoln