Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Hanks, John. 'John Hanks (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=herndon453.html

Abe & myself left NO in June 1831. We Came to St. Louis on the Steam boat together walked to Edwardsville 25 N.E of St Louis — Abe, Johnson & Myself — Abe & Johnson went to Coles Co. & I to Springfield Sangamon Co. Thomas Lincoln had moved to Coles Co in 1831 in — say June.

I Came near forgetting some facts. I was in the Black Hawk war — was in Stillman's defeat, which was on the 14th day of May 1832. Lincoln was out in that war. I went in March 1832 — Lincoln Started as Captain of the N Salem Company about the same time — Lincoln was at Dixons fery at the time of Stillmans defeat —. I did not go to the battle of the Bad Axe. Lincoln I think was there, though not in the action, as I understand it. I was out about 4 or 6 mo — So was Lincoln — Lincoln went with Maj Henry ^[15] I Know. I was discharged at Ottowa & Lincoln at Rock Island or near that — Met at Dixon's ferry — after the Stillmans defeat. Lincoln went on with Henry. We were ordered to build a fort at Ottowa to protect the People. The Stillman defeat affair grew out of the drunkenness — folly — cowardice. The fight with Black Hawk was about Sundown — 1h by Sun at or near Sycamore Creek about 700 Indians — and about 200 white —

Saw Abrm in Springfield in 1833 — Summer: he was in town on business & So was I. I Saw him frequently from this time — Every year from this time till he was Elected Presdt. He practiced Law in Decatur. He came out to my house frequently, leaving Court in the Evening & after court was over — Ended — I ate dinner with him after he was Elected Presdt. He wrote me a letter that he was going to See his mother — Came by Decatur — I went with him — Saw his fathers grave. He stayed with his Mother one. We ate dinner at in Farmington — Pretty woman there that took Abes Eyes — I assure you. We then went back to Charleston — & Came to Springfield. I saw him in Washington when he was inaugurated — was in his rooms Several times — Never Saw him again till I Saw his dead form in the City of Springfield —

I Served in the Army of the USA in 1861 — and toiled there 3 years to preserve and defend what he loved.

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3900 — 3913; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:111 — 23

Note from page 453: 1. Marginal note: I can say that this testimony can be implicitly relied on. Mr Lincoln loved this man — thought him truthful — honest and noble. Lincoln has stated this to me over and over again. / Herndon.

Note from page 454: 2. For Dennis Hanks's account, see §16; for A. G. Chapman's account, see §327.

Note from page 455: 3. Levi Hall and Nancy Hanks Hall, AL's aunt.

Note from page 455: 4. See §71, note 16.

Note from page 455: 5. Josiah Crawford.

Note from page 456: 6. Probably Charles Hanks.

Note from page 456: 7. Squire Hall and Matilda Johnston Hall, AL's stepsister.

Note from page 456: 8. Capt. William Warnick of Macon County, a landholder and aspiring politician who commanded a company of mounted rangers during the Black Hawk War.

Note from page 456: 9. Probably John F. Posey. See §7, note 1.

Note from page 456: 10. Uriah Mann, a farmer who emigrated to Sangamon County in 1831, settling in what is now Clear Lake Township.

Note from page 456: 11. See §336.

Note from page 457: 12. Russell Godbey.

Note from page 457: 13. Presumably cut open their eyes.

Note from page 457: 14. See AL's autobiographical statement, which asserts that John Hanks did not go all the way to New Orleans. CW 4:64.

Note from page 458: 15. James D. Henry.