I was born on February 12, 1809, on the Kentucky frontier. The log cabin that I was born in was 16 feet wide by 18 feet long. It had one low door and one small window. The floor was nothing but packed dirt. There was a rough bed without a proper mattress and we used animal skins instead of sheets and blankets... Since then I have come a long way, I am now the resident of the White House.
My fathers name is Thomas Lincoln. He was a carpenter by trade, but a farmer by heart. When he was 28 years old, he married my mother, who was 22 years old at the time. My mother´s name was Nancy Hanks. I have a sister, Sarah, who was born almost exactly two years before me.
At the time of my birth, President Thomas Jefferson was just nearing the end of his second term. There were only 17 states.
In 1811, w moved to Knob Creek Farm between Louisville and Nashville, but due to flooding and land disputes, we were forced to move again only 5 years later. This time we moved to Indiana to a place called Little Pigeon Creek. My aunt, uncle, and cousin made the journey with us and lived there also.
In 1818, my mother, aunt, and uncle all died of "milk-sickness". My sister Sarah was only 12 and she assumed the cooking and cleaning responsibilities. The following December, Papa remarried and Sarah Bush became my loving mother. With her, I inherited 2 stepsisters and a stepbrother, Elizabeth, Matilda, and John. I adored my mother and would love to believe that I was her favorite. "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
When I was 10, I was kicked by a horse and remained unconscious for 24 hours. I have recovered since then, but still suffer spontaneous mood swings every now and then.
At the age of 19, I began working at the general store in Gentryville. I would travel down the Mississippi to trade with New Orleans.When I returned, I moved to Illinois. I lived on the Sangamon River ten minutes from Decatur.
Denton Offut offered me a job at the sawmill in New Salem when I was 22. I could read, write, and do a little arithmetic, but have never been to school or college.
Eventually I decided to offer myself as candidate for the election to the Legislature of the State of Illinois. The elections were interrupted by the activities of Black Hawk, the Indian cheif. I was called to war and I captained my men for 3 months. When I returned, the election continued and I was not elected. I also lost my job with Mr. Offut.
I opened a store with my buddy Berry, but our high hopes were dashed and it failed, leaving us in serious debt. I became a postmaster and earned a dollar a week. I was approached and asked to be a surveyor. I knew nothing of the profession and immediately read up on it. Once I was learned in the subject, I offered my survices.
In 1834, I was finally elected as a Whig. I began learning to be a lawyer. In 1836, I was reelected and became the "leader" of the Long Nine.
My first love was Ann Rutledge, but she died at the age of 23 and we were not meant to be. A year later, I proposed to Mary Owens, but after being turned down twice, I swore that I´d never marry.
I was 28 when I went to Springfield. I completed a third term in the legislature in 1838 and was reelected in 1840. That year I was a presidential elector in the first Whig State Convention. We named General William Henry Harrison as our nominee, but he did not win.
In 1839, I met Mary Todd and changed my mind about marriage. She was amazing and still is. She is bright, attractive, comes from a wealthy family, has good education, speaks french fluently, knows literature and music, has a great sense of humor, and has a profound love of life. We had our ups and downs, but after a year of deep depression without seeing her, we were married. Together we had four boys-- Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas.
In 1845, I got myself nominated to be a congressman and I beat my opponent Peter Cartwright. I helped Zachory Taylor secure the presidency, but after I was not chose to be in his Cabinet, I left feeling bitter and a failure.
I refrained from politics from 1849-1853. In ´54 I was aroused by Douglas´statements and spoke out against him. In 1855, the antislavery Democrats and the Whigs joined to form the Republican party. In 1856, I joined that party. I went through a series of debates against Douglas. I lost, but succeeded in making a politcal name for myself.
In ´59, I was nominated for President. In the 1960 election, I won against Breckinridge, Bell, and Douglas.
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