Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Grigsby, Nathaniel. 'Nathaniel Grigsby (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon111.html

not whipt — My brother was unhurt seriously so — Johnson & my bro were brave Strong men.

A. Lincoln came here in 1844 and made a speech for Clay: He was a Clay Elector in Ills for the race between Polk & Clay. Lincoln Spoke here — once — once at Rockport — and onc Carlin township about 3/4 of a mile from the home farm. Lincoln in Early years — say from 1820 to 25 was tending towards Democracy — He afterwards Changed — Parties at this time ran Jackson — Adams and others. What changed Lincoln I dont remember — we were all Jackson boys & men at this time in Indiana —

Lincoln did go to New Orleans: he went to NO about 1828 with a man by the name of Allen Gentry who took — as well as owned the supercargo to New Orleans — The good were sold down on the river — Abe went as a bow hand — working the foremost oars — getting $8.00 per month — from the time of starting to his returning home. Gentry paid his way back on a boat. This I Know. He made rails for Crawford ^[7] — take jobs of work sometimes — would go to the river — the Ohio — 13 or 16 miles distant and there work. It is 60 miles to the Wabash — he did work on the Wabash ^[8] — but on the Ohio — Lincoln did not work on the Louisvill Can, but he may have done it nevertheless —

Lincoln did write what is called "The book of Chronicles" ^[9] — a Satire on the Grigsby's & Josiah Crawford — not the School Master, but the man who loaned Lincoln the Life of Washington — . The Satire was good — sharp cutting and showed the Genius of the boy: it hurt us then, but its all over now. There is now no family in the broad land who after this loved Lincoln so well and who now look upon him as so great a man. We all voted for him — all that could — children and grand children — I was for Lincoln & Hamlin, first, last, & always — 2d Election I was at Decatur Alabama in the service of the US —

We had political discussions from 1825 to 1830 the year Lincoln left for Ills. We attended them — heard questions discussed — talked Evry thing over & over and in fact wore it out — We learned much in this way.

I said heretofore that Abe made his mark of manhood Even while in Indiana. His mind & the Ambition of the man soared above us. He naturally assumed the leadership of the boys — He read & thoroughly read his books whilst we played — . Hence he was above us and became our guide and leader & in this position he never failed to be the leader. He was Kind — jocular — witty — wise — honest — just — human full of integrity — Energy — & acting. When he appeared in Company the boys would gather & cluster around him to hear him talk. He made fun & cracked his jokes making all happy, but the jokes & fun were at no mans Expense — He wounded no mans feelings

Mr Lincoln was figurative in his Speeches — talks & conversations. He argued much from Analogy and Explained things hard for us to understand by stories —

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