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
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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
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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
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i
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