CHAPTER I.

Birth.--His father and mother.--History of Thomas Lincoln and his family a necessary part of Abraham Lincoln's biography.--Thomas Lincoln's ancestors.--Members of the family remaining in Virginia.--Birth of Thomas Lincoln.--Removal to Kentucky.--Life in the Wilderness.--Lincolns settle in Mercer County.--Thomas Lincoln's father shot by Indians.--Widow and family remove to Washington County.--Thomas poor.--Wanders into Breckinridge County.--Goes to Hardin County.--Works at the carpenter's trade.--Cannot read or write.--Personal appearance.--Called "Linckhom," or "Linckhera."--Thomas Lincoln as a carpenter.--Marries Nancy Hanks.--Previously courted Sally Bush.--Character of Sally Bush.--The person and character of Nancy Hanks.--Thomas and Nancy Lincoln go to live in a shed.--Birth of a daughter.--They remove to Nolin Creek.--Birth of Abraham.--Removal to Knob Creek.--Little Abe initiated into wild sports.--His sadness.--Goes to school.--Thomas Lincoln concludes to move.--Did not fly from the taint of slavery.--Abraham Lincoln always reticent about the history and character of his family.--Record in his Bible... 1