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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1924)
Abraham Lincoln Not White Trash Ida M. Tarbell Gives Record of Family of the Immortal Man of America. •in the footsteps of the t,tn i'ULNS." by Ilia M. Tarbell; Harper Hrothere, New York. AbraliHin Lincoln was not the scion of a played out. gone to seed family, nor is there any stain on the fair name of his gentle mother. He was one of 3,100 known descendants of a man who come to America' from Eng land while yet a lad, and who made 'or himself an important place in the Puritan colony through his industry, thrift and prudence, l-'rotn this fam ily caine landowners, manufacturers, soldiers, and other citizens of Influ ence and substance. Abraham Lin -oln came up from obsecurily through poverty to greatness and immortality, hut lie was fulfilling the destiny of a / strong race, already tcst"d for its strength and virility. .Miss Tarbell has made a noteworthy addition to the growing volume of literature concerning Abraham Lin coln's forebears. While she deals with the groat emancipator to the cx lent of touching on some incidents of ins own early life, and Ids ventures into polities, the larger part of her latest volume is given over to his American ancestors. These she follows from the time the first of them set fool on American soil at Salem, in the Puritan colony in Ki37, through their migrations and vaj-ying fortunes until she comes to Hit/ great Abraham. The way lies over an interesting and diversified ’country, in Massachusetts. New Jer sey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ken tucky. Tennessee, Indiana and Illi nois. Many Lincolns inhabit the vol ume, and they are all . industrious, though not always thrifty; they are energetic, mechanics, land uwners, farmers, substantial citizen#, pioneers, builders, and iu all ways Worthy to lie tlie precursors of one whose Paine is truly Immortal. Not I’oor While Trash. Moreover, she effectually does away with the poor white trash stock that has clung around the name of Lincoln for a century. The firsf of the Lin colns to reach America was Samuel, native of Norfolk, England, appren ticed to a weaver, who removed to America in 1637, when Samuel was about 18 \aars old. Samuel thrived in tlic new land, became an important personage at New Htnghani. He mar r|e<l, raised a family, accumulated much properly, and died In lltSO. His third son, Mordeeai, is the one to whom Abraham Lincoln traces. Mor deeai learned the blacksmith trade at Hull, and later set up a forge at Cohasset. He paid *35 for a site and a water right, set up a sawmill and built a hqme. Later he established a second mill and forge and finally a grist mill. His three enterprises pros pered and his family increased. When his wife died and he married again, tw’o of his sons, Mordeeai and Abra ham, migrated to New Jersey, and there ' Mordeeai married well. The brothers operated a forge, finally be coming prominent in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where they owned much land and operated iron works. Fought I nder Washington. Mordecnl's oldest son whs to carry on the New Jersey business after his father's death. He was well estab lished there, his mother's brother was a member of the New Jersey council, and later justice of the supreme court of the state, and the young man had every encouraging prospect. He went to Pennsylvania, however, and later to Rockingham county, Virginia, ills eldest son. Abraham, grandfather of the president, established himself in the Shenandoah valley, where he be came ft landowner, and a captain of militia in 1776, serving through until 1 778, while a great many other Lin coln in Massachusetts and Pennsyl vania also were in the patriotic army, lie had the family gift of imagina tion. and the friendship of Daniel Boone, a combination fatal to the prospects of a Jong and quiet life in Virginia. Karlv Hays in Kenlurky. Over the mountain trail through Virginia and Tennessee in 1782 Abra ham Lincoln trekked with his wife and four children, Mordeeai, Joslah, Mary and Thomas. Here he entered Several tracts of land, sevcal thou sand acres in all. and settled on one not fa,r from Loulyvllle. One day In May, 1783. while working on his clearing, an Indian dashed from the woods and killed him. His oldest son, Mordeeai. seized a gun and killed the Indian, who was making off with litjle Thomas Lincoln, then aged about 8 years. This brings us down to Lincoln's father. How his mother tolled to keep her family of orphaned children together, how the youngest was ap prenticed to a carpenter; how he Expect great things You want a good car for spring? The quality and price we offer is Your chance to save New Cadillacs and good used cars Talk to us A safe place to buy But—come now to our rc-ncw-ed Car department J. H. Hansen Cadillac Co. Farnam Street at 26th Veteran Record Clerk at State House Nominated •David Butler, First Nebraska Governor, in Convention Col. J. H. Presson, 84, Has Served State so Long He Has “Lost Political Identity.” By It. H. PETERS. Staff C orrenpontlent The Omaha Bee. I.incoln, Feb. 9.—The majority of men, when they have reached the age of 84, are content to ait quietly in the homo that a loving non or daugh ter provides and find enjoyment in oc casional reminiscences with old cron ies. Not so with Col. J. H. Presson of I.incoln, who can be found every day before a large rolltop desk in the office of the governor of the state. Small and active, he greets with a quick smile every one of the long stream of callers that come daily, seeking the governor, calling many of them by name. Whether demo crats or republicans, the greeting is the Same, for Colonel Presson has grown beyond any partisan spirit that he may hnye had in the past. As record and chief executive clerk to the governor and as an appointee of Nebraska's chief executive he has served under both parties during the 14 years he lias held office. Occasionally some one asks Ilia po litical affiliations and the colonels reply Is always the same, the tale of a darky who was a prisoner so many times of both confederates Sod north erners that he finally declared ‘‘he had done lost his identity.” "That's the way it Is with me,” the colonel laughingly concludes. "I've done lost qiy identity." IMitie* Manifold. Ilis duties in Nebraska's capitol re quire him to draw up requests for extradition, file numerous deeds, and handle* a thousand and one details I hat come through the office of l lie governor, it is a task that keeps went from town to town among the settlements, buildings, making furni ture and the like as employment was offered and finally settled down at Eliza bet hstown is all told in a fasci nating way charming because of its simplicity. That Thomas I.lnoln could read and write, that he owned land and transacted business, is shown from authentic records. Nancy Hanks’ Good Nam*. What is most important, all traces of the bar sinister are definitely re moved from Abraham I.lncoln's name. Thomas I.incoln and Nancy Hanks were truly married on Juno 12, ISOti, almost three years before Abraham was born. Fictions that long have" smirched the good name of Nancy Hanks are stilled in the presence of documentary proof of her wedding. Miss Tarbell a!po traces in a most interesting way the genealogy of L,!n cdln's mother. The wanderings of the family from Kentucky into In diana, then to Illinois, and Abraham i.lncoln's slow rise from isiverty to immortality are told after a fashion «liat not only charms, but adds inter est to other histories of I.incoln. It is impossible to understand tiie man or bis manners without knowing wluit is set out in this splendid work, the result of Immense research, and which is thoroughly supported by evidence of public records. Dodee Brothers TYPE-j SEDAN: Probably no closed car has ever been received with equal enthusiasm the nation over. This is unquestionably due to the fact that in spite of its acknowledged beauty, and exceptional riding com fort, the Type-B Sedan is as sturdy as an open car — and costs but little more. The price i« $1250 f. o. b. Detroit—$1391 delivered Omaha Auto Shaw Fab. 16-23, lacl. v' O BR1EN-DAVIS AUTO CO. 26th and Harney Sti. HA may 0123 Sale* and Service Branch., at Council FI iff., la. Daaitoa, la. him busy from early morning until 5 at night, when the state house is closed. Colonel Presson has always led a vigorous life. Porn in Franklin, Warren county, O., in 1840, h# came from pioneer American stock. His father was born in Maine In 1816 and his mother came from Kentucky, having been born In a log house In ISIS. The colonel’s first recollection of dates goes back to 1844 during the campaign in which James K. Polk was elected president. “I remember seeing ths long pro cession pass by where we lived at that time In Germantown. Ill," he said, leaning hack In his chair and calling back the old election scenes when torch light parades and bitter personal quarrels marked the cam paigns. Paper “Fortune” Voided. At ths age of 17, Colonel Presson gave evidence of the vigor and per sistence that keep him -till active to day. on foot he left Berwick, 111., for Henderson. Minn., tin miles above St, Patil. Provided with $100 In paper hills, the first part of ihe ti ip was cmnpnralively easy, but the hank is suing tlm currency failed, so that his paper became worthless. Days of in tense hardship followed. “As I thought of njy worn hoots and scanty purse, I admit my heart was faint and my eves moist, hut I had Iho grit of the Arherlcun hoy used to hard knocks, with harder ones Just ahead," lie said. “Tin re was no railroad in th* then territory of Minnesota and I do not remember seeing a telegraph pole. Ox trains were in evidence snd even farms were small and far between. I only passed three towns In 150 miles. Faribault, Watertown, and DeSeur.” Fought WHh Sherman. A few months later ths hoy was again In Illinois snd apprenticed to a harness maker. F'-r four years he labored at the task, to drop It when war broke oqf. With His 5,'ith regi men! of Illinois volunteers he served for 38 months, taking part In every battle in which General Sherman was engaged, from Shiloh to ths fall of Atlanta. Two months aft»r Ills honor chin discharge lie was out In the terri tory of Nebraska, whers he set up a mercantile business. Shortly afterwards hs took his first step Into politics when he was elected rounty clerk of Johnson county. At (he first republican territorial conven tion he was present as secretary and placed In nomination David Butler, subsequently elected first governor of Nebraska. Following In the footstep* of his father, Colonel Presson became a memlier. in 1871. of the Nebraska con ference of the Methodist church. For 10 years he was a supernumerary preacher snd Is now on the retired list. lie was chaplain of I he state tonse of representatives isi 1901 snd of the slate senate In tsiy3. laiter he was proof render of the senate, snd. while serving In that capacity, waa elected commandant of rhe Soldiers and Sailors’ home at Milford. Neb, a post that he held four years. Just "Average Hfs* “My life, on the whole, has been ■ bout the average of human beings," Colonel Presson declares. "Made up of lights and shades, successes and fnilures. I have always had enough lo mak* Ilf* comfortable and happy." In 1914, In a brief biographical •ketch prepared for Ids Immediate Family, the colonel wrote, “I have now lived more than the allptted time of man and tha years of life are about •nent. Vet In spirit I feel young and ADI KRTINR.MIOT. RED PEPPERS END When yon ere suffcrim; with rheu tnnllein en you ran hardly set around ,1uet, try Tt*<l Pepper Ituli and you will have tlie qulekeat relief known. Nothing hna mieli coins nlrated, penelrntlng heat as red pepper*. In stant relief. Juat a* soon as you ap ply Tied Pepper Ituh you feel the tingling heal. In three minutes It warms the anr* spot through and through. I’reea the blood circulation, break* up the congestion- and the old rheumatism torture Is gone. Ttowles Fted T’epper Ituh, mail* from red pepper*, costa lltll* at any drug ator*. <iel a Inr at once. I - It for lumhacn, neuiitls, Imi-kin he, -tiff neck, erne muscles, colds In chesi. AI most Inslanl relief awaits you. lie sure In s*t Ihe genuine, wdh the name Howies on each package, :.m Intensely Interested In tlie welfare of my country and of my family.” That spirit is still dominant In 1924 ami Colonel Presson goes about his duties with the same enjoyment and skill that he knew 3 0 years before. Violets Nipped • by Cold Wave Martin’?* Ferry, (>., Feb. 4.—Just in advance of this year's first cold wave, Howafd Richards, chief of the local telephone office, was wearing violets in Ids coat lapel. Called into the country west of here to repair a rural telephone line, Richards picked the flowers among many blooming along the roadside. Anthology of Baby \ erst* by World** B«*st Poets Fur mothers, the publisher* say. ' The Book of Baby Verse," collected by Joseph Morris and .St. Clair Adams (George Sully & Co) An excellent book, however, for attracting the In terest of children and getting them Into the good habit of reading. Every one understijids babies, and they are at their best with the poet*. An excellent collection Is this. Wyn ken, Blynken and N<d are here, as ire many more fancies of Eugene Field. Sidney Iainler, 1/ongfellow, laiwell, Wordsworth, liluka and Swim burns have their n olle songs. too. Altogether, one of the most interest ing and surprising of anthologies. Tree “Proprietor” Diseased. Alliens. Cla., l''eb. The "tree that owns itself", one of Athen's curios, known to all •ourtKt* who hnve passed through this section, was tliis week receiving the attention of "tree doc tors." The tree, a large oak, deeded to itself hy a Mr. Jackson before his death, when a new street was brine opened nearly, has been In decaying health for several years. Specialists in disea-rs of trees have been "np!^, e.| by local citizens iri a final cffnri^a save this old historical landmark. ' In Omaha 54 Years OMAHA to means more than just a place to live, for it is the city in which I have taken great pride in helping build from a frontier village to a metropolitan city. Omaha’s great industries and wonderful geo graphical location means success to all that put their faith in her. Omaha is one of America’s greatest automobile distributing centers, and for years it has been my pleasure to see this-great business grow in leaps and bounds in this community. ANDREW MURPHY, Pres. Andrew Murphy & Son, Inc. 14th and Jackson Streets Established 1869 Durant and Star Cars Laugh at the Hills/ Shoot the hills in an Overland! With a surge of robust power, Overland whips into action—off like a streak — carrying you up and over the top of the steepest, meanest hills. The bigger Overland engine is irresistible in power—and simply amazing in how much it does on a few gills of rasoline and oil Try it out. Overhuwwill prove on the road its reputation as the most car in the world for the money. Champion $695; Sedan $795, f. o. b. Toledo. i fob '■Iole do WILLYS-OVERLAND. Inc. Z562 F«rn»m St. Phon« HA rnejr 03S3 Factory Branch- Open F.vaninfi CITY DEALERS Fol.otn Auto Co. Wirkland Motor Co. Opocrn.Uy Run 4.316 Military Avo. 2915 Shornian Arc 5134 South 24th St. ] Counci I Rl ufft Overland Co. Byron Fowler H02 Knot Broadway Fort Crook, Neb. Auto Show, Auditorium, February 18 to 23