16th president of the United State part-2

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Family and childhood

Nancy Lincoln, the mother of Lincoln, is widely believed to be Lucy Hanks' daughter. On June 12, 1806, Thomas and Nancy got married in Washington County and later relocated to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They had three children: Sarah, Abraham, and Thomas, who unfortunately passed away as an infant.

Initially, Thomas Lincoln acquired or rented farms in Kentucky but faced legal disputes over property titles, resulting in the loss of most of his land except for 200 acres. In 1816, the family moved to Indiana, where land surveys and titles were more reliable. They settled in an untouched forest in Hurricane Township, Perry County, Indiana. The decision to move to Indiana was partly influenced by the issue of slavery, but primarily due to difficulties with land titles, as stated by Lincoln in 1860.

During their time in Kentucky and Indiana, Thomas worked as a farmer, cabinetmaker, and carpenter. He owned farms, livestock, and town lots at different points, paid taxes, served on juries, appraised estates, and participated in county patrols. Both Thomas and Nancy were members of a Separate Baptists church, which strictly prohibited alcohol, dancing, and slavery.

In 1827, Thomas managed to overcome various financial obstacles and successfully acquired legal ownership of 80 acres (32 ha) of land in Indiana. This particular area later developed into the thriving community known as Little Pigeon Creek.

Mother's death

The passing of Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Lincoln, occurred on October 5, 1818. She succumbed to milk sickness, leaving behind her 11-year-old daughter Sarah, her 9-year-old son Abraham, and her 19-year-old orphan cousin Dennis Hanks. This unfortunate event placed young Sarah in the position of managing the household. Tragedy struck again ten years later on January 20, 1828, when Sarah passed away while giving birth to a stillborn son. This devastating loss deeply affected Lincoln.

Following Nancy's death, Abraham's father, Thomas, remarried on December 2, 1819. His new wife was Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who had three children of her own. Abraham developed a close bond with his stepmother and affectionately referred to her as "Mother". Despite this, Lincoln did not have a fondness for the physical labor associated with farm life. His family even described him as lazy due to his preference for activities such as reading, writing, and engaging in poetry. His stepmother acknowledged his aversion to physical labor but recognized his love for reading.

Marriage and children

There is ongoing speculation surrounding Lincoln's initial romantic interest, with some suggesting that it was Ann Rutledge, whom he encountered upon his arrival in New Salem. However, testimonies given many years later failed to provide any specific recollection of a romance between the two individuals. Tragically, Rutledge passed away on August 25, 1835, most likely due to typhoid fever. Lincoln, deeply affected by her death, experienced a severe bout of depression, leading to speculation that he had been in love with her.

During the early 1830s, Lincoln crossed paths with Mary Owens from Kentucky. In late 1836, he agreed to pursue a relationship with Owens if she returned to New Salem. Owens arrived in November of that year, and they courted each other for a period of time. However, doubts began to arise for both parties. On August 16, 1837, Lincoln composed a letter to Owens, expressing that he would not hold her responsible if she chose to end their relationship. Unfortunately, she never responded to his letter.

In 1839, Lincoln encountered Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois, and the subsequent year they became betrothed. Mary Todd was the offspring of Robert Smith Todd, a prosperous attorney and entrepreneur in Lexington, Kentucky. Initially, a wedding was scheduled for January 1, 1841, but Lincoln requested its cancellation. However, they eventually reconciled and tied the knot on November 4, 1842, at the Springfield mansion belonging to Mary's sister. As they anxiously prepared for the wedding, someone inquired about Lincoln's destination, to which he responded, "To hell, I suppose." In 1844, the couple purchased a residence in Springfield, conveniently located near Lincoln's law office. Mary managed the household with the assistance of a hired servant and a relative.

Lincoln, despite his demanding work, was a loving husband and father to his four sons. His eldest, Robert Todd Lincoln, was born in 1843 and was the only child to reach adulthood. Tragically, Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie), born in 1846, passed away on February 1, 1850, likely due to tuberculosis. Another heartbreaking loss came with the death of Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lincoln, who was born on December 21, 1850, and succumbed to a fever at the White House on February 20, 1862. The youngest son, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln, born on April 4, 1853, outlived his father but sadly died from heart failure at the age of 18 on July 16, 1871. Lincoln had a deep affection for children and the Lincoln family was known for their leniency towards their own. However, Lincoln's law partner, William H. Herndon, would become frustrated when Lincoln brought his children to the law office. It seemed that Lincoln was often too engrossed in his work to pay attention to his children's actions. Herndon once admitted, "There were times when I felt the urge to discipline them, but out of respect for Lincoln, I remained silent. He simply didn't take notice of what his children were up to.".

The passing of their sons, Eddie and Willie, had deep impacts on the parents. Lincoln experienced "melancholy," a condition that is now believed to be clinical depression. As time went on, Mary faced difficulties coping with the loss of her husband and sons, leading to her temporary commitment to an asylum in 1875.