distinguished and able men are already in high position to do service in the common cause. Your obedient servant, A. LINCOLN. *LETTER TO C. B. SMITH SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, May 26, 1860. My dear Sir: Yours of the 21st, was duly received; but I have found no time until now, to say a word in the way of answer. I am indeed, much indebted to Indiana; and, as my home friends tell me, much to you personally. Your saying you no longer consider Iowa a doubtful State is very gratifying. The thing starts well everywhere-too well, I almost fear, to last. But we are in, and stick or go through, must be the word. Let me hear from Indiana occasionally. A. LINCOLN. * LETTER TO SAMUEL HAYCRAFT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, May 28, 1860. Dear Sir: Your recent letter, without date, is received. Also the copy of your speech on the contemplated Daniel Boone Monument, which I have not yet had time to read. In the main you are right about my history. My father was Thomas Lincoln, and Mrs. Sally Johnston was his second wife. You are mistaken about my mother. Her maiden name was Nancy Hanks. I was not born at Elizabethtown, but my mother's first child, a daughter, two years older than myself, and now long since deceased, was. I was born February 12, 1809, near where Hogginsville (Hodgensville) now is, then in Hardin County. I do not think I ever saw you, though I very well know who you are-so well that I recognized your handwriting, on opening your letter, before I saw the signature. My recollection is that Ben Helm was first clerk, that you succeeded him, that Jack Thomas and William Farleigh graduated in the same office, and that your handwritings were all very similar. Am I right? My father has been dead near ten years; but my step-mother, (Mrs. Johnston,) is still living. I am really very glad of your letter, and shall be pleased to receive another at any time. Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN. FORM OF REPLY TO A NUMEROUS CLASS OF LETTERS IN THE CAMPAIGN OF 1860.[June?] 1860 Dear Sir: Your letter to Mr. Lincoln of and by which you seek to obtain his opinions on certain political points, has been received by him. He has received others of a similar character, but he also has a greater number of the exactly opposite character. The latter class beseech him to write nothing whatever upon any point of political doctrine. They say his positions were well known when he was nominated, and that he must not now embarrass the canvass by undertaking to shift or modify them. He regrets that he cannot oblige all, but you perceive it is impossible for him to do so. Yours, etc., JNO. G. NICOLAY. SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF A FRIEND TO USE IN PREPARING A POPULAR CAMPAIGN BIOGRAPHY IN THE ELECTION OF 1860-June [1?] 1860 A BRAHAM LINCOLN was born February 12, 1809, then in Hardin, now in the more recently formed county of La Rue, Kentucky. His father, Thomas, and grandfather, Abraham, were born in Rockingham County, Virginia, whither their ancestors had come from Berks County, Pennsylvania. His lineage has been traced no farther back than this. The family were originally Quakers, though in later times they have fallen away from the peculiar habits of that people. The grandfather, Abraham, had four brothersIsaac, Jacob, John, and Thomas. So far as known, the descendants of Jacob and John are still in Virginia. Isaac went to a place near where Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee join; and his descendants are in that region. Thomas came to Kentucky, and after many years died there, whence his descendants went to Missouri. Abraham, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Kentucky, and was killed by |