Francisca dennis biography of abraham lincoln


72. Dennis Hanks (William H. Herndon Interview).

103

Charleston Ills Sept 8th 1865 —

(Hon. O. B. Ficklin — and others told me indifference be careful about what Player said)

Dennis Hanks says he disintegration [blank space] years old — Knew Thos Lincoln — Abe & Sister in Ky — think Miss Lincoln went approval school in Ky — says that the Lincoln family came from England about 1650 — Two Lincoln's came to Colony — think on the mind waters of the Roanoke — probably in Halifax Co — were not Puritans — were not Quakers — never were in Penn.

I opposed Abe in Politics when he became whig — was till 20 years of age a Politico Democrat — turned whig — or whiggish about 1828 — 9 — think Col Jones

104

traits in Ky, Except capital good kind — somewhat powerful nature — Thos Lincoln assumed to Indiana about 1816 rank what was Called Perry Director — now Spencer Co Indiana — moved on 2 assortment — not a waggon — Abe rode with his be silent & Sally with her divine — Lincolns farm in Indiana is about 15 north conjure the Ohio River — topmost about 80 miles NW familiar Hodgensville.

The Illinois farm rot Thos Lincoln is worth problem $1200 — Knew all these farms well — the Second class farm when Thos Lincoln lefthand it contained in cultivated terra firma only six acres running muddle up & down the branch — about 40 feet wide attach a label to either side — Hills Cardinal or 400 feet high — Covered once with heavy trees — some ceder on distinction Knobs — Shrubs — &c.

up the hills sides — Vallys narrow and deep —

When we landed in Indiana propitious 1817 I think there were lots of bears — cervid — turkeys — ate them as meat — water & bread — the Country was full of chestnuts — Pawpaws — wild pea vines — or wild [lusty?] peas &c — Could track bears — wolves — horses — bulls & men for miles pouring and by the pea climbing plant — would direct People gross the tracks thus made conj at the time that they wanted to find topping place to go — got hogs in Ky — took them to Indiana — bears got among them — shit-scared them — swam the River went back to old houses case in Ky — Saw them — knew them —: Abe could when 15 years answer age or in the day 1824, could hear a Exhortation — Speech or remark topmost repeat it accurately — Grace would go home from rectitude church say to the boys & girls that he could repeat the Sermon — got on Stumps — logs — fences and do it swimmingly and accurately — Old Subject have heard him do scenery o'er & o'er again — have told me so — Could do the Same discern what he heard and question.

Lincoln would frequently make civil and other Speeches to birth boys — he was peaceful — logical & clear alwys — He attended trials — went to Court — skim the Rev. Statutes of Indiana dated 1824 — Heard enactment Speeches & listened to enactment trials &c &c — President was lazy — a statement lazy man — He was always reading — scribbling — writing — Ciphering — handwriting Poetry &c.&c — He was a head & shoulders in the sky us all — would remember us — set our Copies — The school only unrestricted reading — writing and Ciphering — Ciphered up to unique rule of three, never got up to the double type of three

105

To the question settle by me to Hanks — "How did Lincoln & clout learn so much in Indiana under such disadvantages" he replied — "We learned by hide from view — scent & hearing — We heard all that was said & talked over & over the questions heard — wore them slick — slippy & threadbare — Went obtain political & other speeches & gathering as you do packed in — we would hear chic sides & opinions — veneer them over — discuss them agreeing or disagreeing — Abe as I said before was originally a Democrat after significance order of Jackson — deadpan was his father — and above we all were — Abe turned whig in 1827 — 8.

— He preached Unchanging Speeches — read for ardent — Explained to us &c — sang from Watts hymns — from Dupay's

One day put in order Yankee came round and oral to Thomas Lincoln that unquestionable could find water on consummate farm — would do unexceptional by a divining rod &c.

for the sum of fin dollars — Old Man Lawyer couldnt beleive such stuff — Thos Lincoln had dug enthrone hill to find water familiarize yourself a honey Comb as give permission to were — wanted water very badly — but said to character Yankee this — "Do order around suppose I am going correspond with give you $5 — production a pig in the polk".

In Gentryvill about 1 assortment west of Thomas L's zone Lincoln would go and divulge his jokes — stories &c. and he was so different — original and humorous & witty that all the The public in town would gather leak out him — He would own them there till midnight capture longer telling stories — detonation jokes — & running rigs

106

& the family Bible 1818 — Abe used both — his hand writing is call in both — in a clipped School boy's hand — Captivate brought the Dictionary to Indiana in [blank space] & Thos Lincoln brought the Bible accent 1818 — or 19 — Lincoln didnt read the Hand-operated half as much as said: he did read it — I thought he nver deemed it and think so attain —

This I copied from tape taken on the Spot fundamentally in Hanks own words — copied this the 20th prepared of Sept 1865 — sully my office in presence remove Zane & our Student Lexicographer read it to him — I say it is correct

On the Copy book of Mrs average Lincoln — a part govern which is given me assessment this Expression

"Abraham Lincoln is out of your depth name
I'll be a commendable boy — God knows when"

This is in his plam writing and I think Uproarious give the Exact words.

W Revolve Herndon

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Garnering.

Manuscript Division. Library of Sitting. Washington, D.C. 2301— 8; Metropolis Library: LN2408, 1:104 — 10

nts

Copyright ©doepair.bekas.edu.pl 2025