Abraham Lincoln
in
Our Own County
A Thesis.
For the Degree of M.L. in
the College of
Literature and Science
Henry M. Beardsley 1880. Ill. Ind. Univ. June 9 ’80
Abraham LincolninOur Own County.
We visit scenes of historic interest, because we seemto feel that the presence of the heroes, whose fame theyhelp to keep, is there. Our fair West is yet new, and,save the legends of Indian battles and of the moundbuilders before them, has little of history. But fromour state, young as it is, great true men have goneforth; and one who stands above them all, is bestknown and best honored of them all, was once herein our midst. The plain streets and surroundingshave for us an additional interest, since we knowthat Abraham Lincoln has been here. There are menamong us now who have known him and greeted himas honest old Abe Lincoln, the rail-splitter.
It was nearly forty years ago that he firstcame to attend court here. He was oft times ad[Pg 2]visedto go to Chicago and build up for himself aprofitable business, which he was abundantly able todo. Inducements were offered him. But he preferred toride around the circuit with a crowd of friendlylawyers, telling stories and studying in his odd moments.Of his power in the former direction, we allknow. McCarthy, in his “History of Our Own Times”, indescribing Palmerston’s power for story-telling compareshim with Bismark in his early days, and withour own Lincoln.
Well as Lincoln loved his fun, he was a diligentstudent. When a boy, he had possessed but fewopportunities for getting an education; so that whatlittle he had was picked up at odd moments. He usedto carry with him, on the circuit, text-books such as areused in school. At one time when here, he had a geometry,over which he used to pore like an ambitious school boy.At another time, he had a copy of Euclid. The last time hewas here, not long before he was elected to the Presidency,he was studying German. He had a littlebook such as in popular phrase is known as an “easy[Pg 3]method.” The German sentence was written upon one line;and upon the line below it was the translation in English.As honest in this work as in every thing else, he hadprepared a little card with a hole through the centre,just wide enough and long enough to allow oneline to be seen at a time. He would lay the cardupon his book so that he could see the German sentence;then after puzzling over it, until he thought he hadmastered it, he would slip down the card, and if histranslation had been correct, would slap himself uponthe knee, evidently well pleased with his work. Undersuch difficulties as these, the great man drilled hismind. It was a rich heart back of all that made thesimple treasures of his mind gleam as they did.
Judge Cunningham has hanging uponthe walls at his home, a picture of Lincoln, whichshows him as he was known among us. Hisface was clean shaven, and his dark-brown hair throwncarelessly back from his high forehead. The upperpart of his face was handsome; and there was asort of wistful look about the eyes that would, even[Pg 4]in the picture, hold one’s attention. The leathery skinwas folded upon his face. About the mouth, therewas a firmness that gave additional meaning to everyfeature. Looking upon the face,