Young Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His parents were Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. They were both very hard working frontiers people, however, they were both illiterate. While still in Kentucky Abraham began to attend a one teacher school. There he learned very basic reading and writing. After a while the family decided to move to the backwoods of southern Indiana. His mother passes away very shortly after the move to Indiana, and his father remarried to a widow. Lincoln grew up reading and writing speeches for fun whenever he got some free time. The Lincoln family continued living in Indiana until Abraham turned 21. The Lincoln family then moved once again to New Salem, Illinois. When the family arrived they very almost penniless and had very few skills. However, Abraham adapted rather quickly. He held many jobs while he was in Illinois. He began to study law by borrowing books from a local lawyer. In the meantime however, he worked as a mill manager, postmaster, and deputy surveyor.