Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Johnston, Thomas L. D. 'Thomas L. D. Johnston (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=herndon531.html

Lincoln by her first husband — My father is the brother of Mrs More, ^[2] who was the wife of Squire Hall. Mrs Moores 1st husband was Esqr Hall — her second husband was Reuben Moore — Both died in Coles Co. Hall married Miss Johnson — or Mrs Moore in Indiana. Moore married in Coles. My father and mother are both dead ^[3] — buried in the grave yard — one mile south west — of Farmington on the right hand side of the road, leading from Charleston Coles Co to Praire City Cumberland Co Ills. All the parties mentioned herein, including Thomas Lincoln are buried in this grave yard — Called Gordons grave yard — 9 miles from Charleston — South, bearing a little west of Charleston. Dennis Hanks married a Johnson ^[4] — who was the Child of old Mrs Lincoln by her first husband — Danl Johnson. My father died in 1852 — mother in 1849 — leaving 6 children. Hall died in 1851 — Mrs Hall is living: her name is Mrs Moore. She had 10 children by her 1st husband — one by her 2d husband. Dennis Hanks wife died in 1854 — had 6 children. My father in Coles Co in 1835. Hall was married in Indiana — Dennis Hanks was married in Indiana — Dennis Hanks — his wife & children — Hall his wife and Children — John D. Johnston, Thomas Lincoln — Sarah his wife and Abm all came to gether from Indiana to Ills in March 1831. ^[5]

Dennis Hanks is fast failing in body & mind — has quit his liquor — is more foolish than Grand Mother Lincoln. Grand Mother Lincoln is a little childish — yet she is much smarter than usually thought: she needs rousing: thats' all. and when roused she talks well for she remembers well. Dennis Hanks so his own children say is Crazy — nearly so — is decidedly foolish — has to my mind been so for 3 or 4 years.

I hand you Mr Lincolns old copy book to use in your history of Mr Lincoln It was a copy book as I and family Know it made up of Mr Lincoln's labor when he was — & was not going to school: he worked out his sums & problems at various times — & places. The latter years of the book is gone: It took 5 or 6 years to make the book as we understand it — Know it: I give you some of Mr Lincolns private letters to my father. One was printed in the Charleston Courier in the year 1865 ^[6] — The one that has the poetry in is the Charleston paper — the Courier — The Decatur Gazette & Chronicle of Octr 17th 1866 publish the Poetry — swift as an arrow &c — The Poetry &c published as above in the Courier was "I'll be a good boy — God Knows when &c." ^[7]

Mr Lincoln took a fancy to one of my bros — Abraham — wanted him to come to Spfdgd — stay at L house — go to school — L saw his wife about it — refused furiously — caused hard feelings — L wrote to my bro that what he had proposed could not be filled on his part on account of domestic difficulty, but to go on and he L would give him money — books — pay schooling &c — &c my

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