FOOTPRINTS
OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
PRESENTING
Many Interesting Facts, Reminiscences
and Illustrations Never Before
Published
BY
J. T. HOBSON, D.D., LL.B.,
Author of "The Lincoln Year Book."
Nineteen Hundred and Nine
The Otterbein Press
Dayton, Ohio
Copyright, 1909, by J. T. Hobson
To all my Kindred, Friends, and Acquaintances among
whom are Fellow Ministers, Teachers, Students,
Pupils, Parishioners, though Widely
Scattered, and to All Who Cherish
the Memory of
Abraham Lincoln
The Apostle of Human Liberty, Who Bound the Nation
and Unbound the Slave, This Little Volume
is Respectfully Dedicated by
THE AUTHOR
Everything pertaining to the life of Abraham Lincoln isof undying interest to the public.
It may at first appear unnecessary, if not presumptuous,to add another volume to the already large number ofbooks in Lincoln literature. Hitherto efforts have beenmade by the biographer, the historian, and the relic-hunterto gather everything possible connected with the life ofLincoln.
If an apology is needed in presenting this volume to thepublic, it may be said that it has fallen as a rare opportunityto the author, during the passing years, to gathersome well-authenticated facts, reminiscences, and illustrationswhich have never before appeared in connection withthe history of this great man.
Like many others, I have always taken great interest inthe life and work of Abraham Lincoln. There are somespecial reasons for this, upon my part, aside from myinterest in the lives of great men, and the magnetic charmwhich surrounds the name and fame of the most eminentAmerican and emancipator of a race.
The name, "Abraham Lincoln," is connected with myfamily history, and with one of my first achievements withpen and ink. Because of an affliction in early life, I was,for two or three years, unable to attend the public schools.At home I learned to make figures and letters with slateand pencil, as other writing material was not so commonthen as now. The first line I ever wrote with pen and inkwas at home, at the age of ten, under a copy on foolscappaper, written by my sainted mother, "Abraham Lincoln,President, 1861."
After the birth of John the Baptist