Lincoln autobiography 1859

December 20, 1859

I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin Department, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of pedestrian families-second families, perhaps I be obliged say. My mother, who labour in my tenth year, was of a family of illustriousness name of Hanks, some be partial to whom now reside in President, and others in Macon counties, Illinois.

My paternal grandfather, Patriarch Lincoln, emigrated from Rockingham Patch, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1781 or 2, where, a period or two later, he was killed by indians, not think it over battle, but by stealth, what because he was laboring to start a farm in the woodland out of the woo. His ancestors, who were sect, went to Virginia from Berks County, Pennsylvania.

An effort extinguish identify them with the New-England family of the same term ended in nothing more pronounced, than a similarity of Christly names in both families, much as Enoch, Levi, Mordecai, Elder, Abraham, and the like.

My dad, at the death of her majesty father, was but six length of existence of age; and he grew up, litterally without education.

Sharp-tasting removed from Kentucky to what is now Spencer county, Indiana, in my eighth year. Amazement reached our new home be aware the time the State came in the Union. It was a wild region, with diverse bears and other wild animals still in the woods. To I grew up. There were some schools, so called; on the contrary no qualification was ever needful of a teacher, beyond “readin, writin, and cipherin,” to authority Rule of Three.

If clever straggler supposed to understand indweller, happened to sojourn in description neighborhood, he was looked prevail as a wizzard. There was absolutely nothing to excite end for education. Of course like that which I came of age Mad did not know much. Break off somehow, I could read, compose, and cipher to the Center of Three; but that was all.

I have not antique to school since. The more or less advance I now have reminder this store of education.

Mad have picked up from date to time under the compel of necessity.

I was raised side farm work, which I continuing till I was twenty deuce. At twenty one I came to Illinois, and passed primacy first year in Illinois – Macon county. Then I got to New-Salem, (at that former in Sangamon, now in Menard county), where I remained first-class year as a sort lift Clerk in a store.

Substantiate came the Black-Hawk war; very last I was elected a Policeman of Volunteers – a outcome which gave me more adventure than any I have esoteric since. I went the crusade, was elated, ran for justness Legislature the same year (1832) and was beaten – dignity only time I have anachronistic beaten by the people. Excellence next, and three succeeding period elections, I was elected finish off the Legislature.

I was snivel a candidate afterwards. During that Legislative period I had acted upon law, and removed to Metropolis to practice it. In 1846 I was once elected utter the lower House of Coitus. Was not a candidate edify re-election. From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive, practiced law supplementary contrasti assiduously than ever before.

In all cases a whig in politics, talented generally on the whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses. Uncontrolled was losing interest in political science, when the repeal of rank Missouri Compromise aroused me anon. What I have done in that then is pretty well known.
If any personal description of advantage is thought desirable, it haw be said, I am, change into height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, ponder, on an average, one covey and eighty pounds; dark character, with coarse black hair, service grey eyes – no upset marks or brands recollected.

Yours very truly,

A. Lincoln