LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY MEMORIAL the Class of 1901 founded by HARLAN HOYT HORNER and HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER ABRAHAM LINCOLN A NORTH CAROLINIAN WITH PROOF Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/abrahamlincolnnoOOcogg ABRAHAM LINCOLN A NORTH CAROLINIAN WITH PROOF By J. C. COGGINS, Ph. D., LL. D. Author of 'A New Philosophy of Life," "Christ's Place in the Old Testament," "The Star-Crowned Woman." Second Edition; Revised (Copyrighted by the Author 1927) CAROLINA PRINTING CO., GASTONIA, N. C DEDICATION To every red-blooded American citizen, who loves the same old flag that Lincoln loved; Who loves and supports the Constitution as cheerfully and as loyally as Lincoln did; Who stands four-square for the great funda- mental principles of Democracy and who de- sires to know the real truth as to the birth- place and ancestry of this great American; whether rich or poor, high or low, old or young, this book is affectionately Inscribed J. C. COGGINS. - TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. Nancy Hanks a Rutherford County Girl; Solution of great mystery. Chapter II. Some of Nancy's associates in Rutherford county. Chapter III. This story corroborated in old Records. Chapter IV. Nancy's banishment and trip back to Rutherford county. Chapter V. Nancy and "Little Abe" sent to Kentucky. Chapter VI. Nancy's marriage to Thomas Lincoln. Chapter VII. The political condition in Rutherford county tends to sup- press facts. Chapter VIII. Discussion of ancestry — Stories and newspaper articles con- taining proof of North Carolina ancestry and birth-place Chapter IX. Identification of the North Carolina Nancy as wife of Thomas Lincoln. Chapter X. The argument of consistency; was this tradition invented? Chapter XI. The Lincoln-Hanks status in Kentucky; dirt-floored shanty, bed of leaves and skins; Lincoln himself tells secret. TABLE OF CONTENTS, Continued Chapter XII. The Lincoln "skeleton" and "cancer"; family resemblance lacking. Chapter XIII. Six counties, Gaston, Rutherford, Buncombe, Haywood, Jack' son and Swain all contribute to this story. Chapter XIV. Kentucky's best evidence rejected by Prof. Warren to force birth-place of Lincoln within bounds of that state. Chapter XV. Lincoln on Social and Political Equality of the Races and other speeches — His Angels. ILLUSTRATIONS 1. The birth-place of Abraham Lincoln in Rutherford County, North Carolina. 2. Camping at night among wild animals. 3. The oxwagon caravan leaving Rutherford County, tak- ing Nancy Hanks to the mountains with the Enloe family. 4. Meeting the wild Indians. 5. The terrible fight between Abraham Enloe, father of the child, and Tom Lincoln. 6. The old Rutherford County Jail. 7. Going down steep places. 8. Tom Lincoln whips little "Abe;" Nancy interferes and Tom whips Nancy. 9. The old Deed. 10. The Gaston County monument to Nancy Hanks. INTRODUCTION No character in all the rich catalogue of Ameri- can Statesmen has grown with such compelling in- terest, such charm and splendor as the years pass on as does that of our first martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. His first biographer plainly stated that Lincoln had his "skeleton" and an "inside cancer" and that "his origin was in that unknown and sunless bog in which history never made a foot-print." (Herndon & Weik, Vol. 1, page 7.) But this man was not without an ancestry and a birth-place, though he has become a kind of human riddle, an enigma, a Sphinx, a Melchizedek. As to who his father was and where he was born are questions upon which people are yet disagreed. Not long ago I listened to two very prominent city doctors, in August, Ga., discussing the ances- try of Abraham Lincoln. One claimed that he was the son of Jeff Davis, while the other said he was the son of Calhoun of South Carolina. I said, "gentlemen, you are both wrong, and I proceeded to give them what I believe to be the real truth in regard to the matter. This story furnishes a sane and logical solution of the many old traditions, running like the roots of a great tree, back over a century to the original facts as they took shape in the life of the girl, Nancy Hanks, when she was well known in Ruther- ford county, North Carolina, and her embarrassing situation in the home of Abraham Enloe could no longer be held a secret. This author feels a kind of justifiable pride in offering to the public this second edition of, "Ab- raham Lincoln a North Carolinian ;" especially on account of the very interesting stories, supported by old documentary evidence discovered in Ruther- ford county which tends to prove beyond a reason- able doubt the following very pertinent facts as to the "origin" of the great emancipator. 1. That Nancy Hanks, the mother of Abraham Lincoln, was reared to womanhood in Rutherford County, North Carolina. 2. That she was raised in the well-to-do family of a man by the name of Abraham Enloe, on Puzzle Creek, a short distance north of Forest City and about two miles from Highway No. 20. 3. That President Lincoln was really born at this place. 4. That Nancy and her child were afterwards taken to Kentucky before she was married to Thomas Lincoln and cared for in the home of a married daughter of Enloe. Aside from significant hints, the majority of writers steer clear of these North Carolina stories, disregarding altogether the fact that Nancy Hanks, Lincoln's mother, spent nearly all of her life in Rutherford county, prior to her marriage to Tom Lincoln in 1806. This author claims that herein lies the secret to the whole matter; and it is our purpose to so clarify the situation that people will no longer be in darkness or doubt as to his pater- nity and birth-place. And this is due the public, if one has in his possession the real facts upon which to predicate such a claim. J. C. Coggins. CERTIFICATE FROM PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN OF RUTHERFORDTON, NORTH CAROLINA. December 15, 1926. This certifies that for many years we, the under- signed have heard the older people relate the cur- rent story that Nancy Hanks, the mother of Presi- dent Lincoln, was reared in Rutherford County and also that Lincoln was born here. (Signed) M. L. Edwards Attorney-at-Law R. S. Eaves Attorney-at-Law (Judge) D. F. Morrow Author, "Then and Now" R. E. Price Editor "The News" C. L. Miller Banker, Commercial Bank J. Y. Yelton Clerk Superior Court J. F. Flack City Clerk, Rutherfordton 0. T. Waldrop Hardware merchant W. A. Thompson, M. D Physician Jno. P. Bean Recorder W. C. Hardin___ „ Sheriff W. 0. Geer „ Register of Deeds J. L. Taylor Vice-Pres. Citizen Bank & Trust Co. C. F. Gold, M. D Physician F. W. H. Logan, M. D Physician J. C COGGINS, Ph. D., L L. D. Author Abraham Lincoln A North Carolinian Rutherfordton, N. C. As a Member of the General Assembly of North Carolina 1917-18 CHAPTER I. Nancy Hanks A Rutherford County Girl — SOLUTION OF A GREAT MYSTERY. Recognizing the difficulty of our task, we are asking that the reader follow us with an open mind as free from bias or prejudice as a juryman who has taken his oath to listen to the testimony and render his verdict according to the evidence. The writer has spent much time during the past year investigating old stories in Rutherford Coun- ty, N. C. as to the actual birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, and the evidence found among the old peo- ple has completely changed our former views of this matter. At first the many stories were passed by with little concern. But finally we were forced to yield to the overwhelming testimony offered. Those who have read a copy of the first issue of my book on Lincoln will remember that I pointed out no definite location as the birthplace of Presi- dent Lincoln. The reason for this omission was that I yet lacked the sufficient data to clearly establish this very important fact. I had forgotten what Berry H. Melton said about the birthplace till my ABRAHAM LINCOLN— memory was refreshed by hearing these stories — then I well remembered Puzzle Creek as the place. I had some little evidence that he was born on Johnathan's Creek near Waynesville, N. C, but after visiting this place and finding two very old men who had never heard of such a tradition, and did not believe this story, I gave this up. I also visited Ocona Lufta and found old people who said that Nancy was sent off somewhere from the Enloe home, in Swain County, and that he was not born there. Having learned from reliable sources that Nancy Hanks, the mother of Lincoln, went from Ruther- ford to Swain County as a member of the Abraham Enloe family, and that she and her child were transported to Kentucky before she became ac- quainted with Thomas Lincoln, I went to work to solve the mystery as to where Abraham Lincoln was really born. And I have been very fortunate, I think, for I have found the place beyond any reason- able doubt. Now please follow this story and see how the testimony all fits into one great chain of evidence. 1. I know of no fact more substantially attested by people in all the walks of life than the fact that Nancy Hanks was reared in Rutherford County, North Carolina. A NORTH CAROLINIAN 3 One can find literally hundreds of people here, who say that Nancy Hanks was raised in this coun- ty. Of course they are not old enough to know this fact of their own personal knowledge, but they be- lieve what their fathers and grand-fathers have told them. In fact I am persuaded that the testimony is just as strong that this girl spent her early life in Rutherford County as it is that she is the mother of her illustrious son. One can deny that Nancy Hanks was ever in Kentucky and prove it just as easily as one can disprove the accumulated evidence that this homeless mother was raised in North Carolina ! 2. When Mr. Lincoln was nominated for the Presidency, I am informed, some of these Ruther- ford county people were anxious to find out whether he was the son of the Nancy that was raised here and they wrote to parties in Kentucky to learn the facts; and these people received a letter from Ken- tucky, saying that he was the son of the same Nancy Hanks that had lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina. (J. B. Martin, Ex-Sheriff.) 3. Nancy was first known, in the community about Rutherfordton as a little girl going about over the country with her mother, Lucy Hanks, who carried a little spinning wheel under her arm and spun flax for a living. They stayed a while at ABRAHAM LINCOLN— "Grannie" Hollifield's and also at a Mr. Weber's. They were very poor, Dick Hanks, the uncle of Nancy, was supposed to provide a living for them ; but he was a drunkard and a shiftless sort of a fellow; and Lucy Hanks and her little girls, Nancy and Manda, were thrown upon the mercy of the community. The people were very kind to them and not only gave them the customary price for work, but were glad to supplement this with little gifts and dona- tions which were likely to add to their comfort and happiness. Going into a community, they would make their home with one family until they had finished their work in that community. 4. In the latter part of the 18th century, Abra- ham, Ezekiel and Anthony Enloe moved to Ruther- ford County from York, South Carolina, where this old Scotch family of school teachers had settled soon after coming to America. Abraham, has been described as a leader in his community. He was tall, over six feet, of large frame, weighing over two hundred pounds, dark skinned, dark hair and possessed a fund of anec- dotes and was a very superior man intellectually. He became a large land-owner, in this county as the records in the office of the Register of Deeds show. He owned as many as nine farms or tracts of land A NORTH CAROLINIAN in Rutherford County comprising several hundred acres of land. His were influential friends and his girls were well dressed — "wore silks and were 'stuck- up's' " these old folks say. If Geologists are able to read the correct history of the globe by means of the fossil remains en- tombed within its bosom, may we not reasonably insist that there is a great strata of truth lying embedded in this well established story of the Rutherford County Nancy Hanks and her child of Puzzle Creek. ABRAHAM LINCOLN- CHAPTER II. NANCY'S PLAYMATES TELL THE STORY One of the playmates of Nancy, Berry H. Melton, furnished this author with the information that Lucy Hanks, mother of Nancy, had her children "bound out," on account of extreme poverty. A man by the name of Pratt took Manda and Abraham Enloe took Nancy. Nancy was about eight or ten years old when she was placed by her mother in the well-to-do home of Mr. Abraham Enloe, on Puzzle Creek. Here she remained, more as a member of the Enloe family than a hired girl as some would represent the situation. She was an attractive lit- tle girl, people say. She was bright and quick to catch-on-to the ways of doing things. When she grew older she participated in the quiltings and dances that were given at Mr. Enloe's and also went out to reputable homes to dances with Nancy Hollifield and Polly Price and Dick Martin, the grand-father of the Ex-Sheriff Martin of Rutherford County. These dances were usually after a corn shucking and quilting in a community. 5. The old home-site where Nancy Hanks lived A NORTH CAROLINIAN and worked as a member of the Enloe household has recently been pointed out to me and the evidence is of such character, when backed up by the docu- mentary evidence found in the office of the Register CAMPING AT NIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS of Deeds for Rutherford County, that there is no question as to the truth of this story. Here young Nancy sang, and played and worked with the other children of this family and with Nancy Hollineld and Polly Price, neighbors. There was a daughter in this family by the name of Nancy, who was just 8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— about the same age of this adopted daughter, and they were company for each other. These girls would go in wading and swimming to- gether down under the hill, below where the old mill now stands ; and they engaged in games of their day. Nancy was blue eyed, dark haired and slender. There were no public schools then for children to attend. The educational advantages were just about nil. All the "book learning" that was accessible was in the private homes, at such times as the parents were not busy looking after other matters which were usually considered of much more importance. The nearest church to which Nancy lived was the Baptist Church, called Concord. It is on the road to Bostic. Some of the old people claim that Nancy was a member of the church there and that they saw her there with her child just a short while before she was sent to Kentucky. It is interesting to note that among the people Who claimed to have seen the girl Nancy Hanks with her child, at different times, was "Grannie" (Nancy) Hollifield, who was born in 1794 and died in 1900; being younger than Nancy Hanks; and Polly Price who was born in 1790, dying in 1890, being also younger than Nancy Hanks. These old people and others were raised up with Nancy Hanks and knew her as well as they knew their own folks. A NORTH CAROLINIAN and they tell a story that will stand the most crucial test. Many good citizens, some of the best the country affords have been thrilled with the stories of these and other old people about Nancy and her boy. After Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States, these old ladies would often speak of having held this President upon their knees when he was a baby. And their story strange as it is, is very strongly supported by good evidence. These people would not have told this story had it not been true. For it certainly was anything but pop- ular in this part of the country. In fact to have told such stories they must be founded deeply in real facts. To have manufactured such would have been dangerous. 6. The old stone wall of the basement of the house where Abraham Enloe lived and where Nancy Hanks was raised may yet be seen on the crest of a beautiful hill out on "Puzzle Creek," a mile north of Bostic Station. Some staunch Republicans, Rev. Drew Rollins and others, living in this community forty years ago begged for some of the rocks in this old basement to use in places about their homes, because they said their fathers told them that Lincoln was born here. And the father of Mr. Preston Bostic, the present 10 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— owner of the place, has recently refused to let peo- ple carry away these foundation rocks. "Lincoln Hill" the Birthplace. 7. The location where this old rock basement is seen, goes by the name of "Lincoln Hill," and it has borne this name so far back that the very old people can not remember when this place was thus christened. As Blackstone says, it was so far back that the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. The name of this hill is very significant, especially in view of the tradition that President Lincoln was born at this place. The people have thus unconsciously erected a lasting monument here in Rutherford county to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. A NORTH CAROLINIAN 11 CHAPTER III. Story Corroborated By Old Records Recently Dis- covered in the Court House at Rutherfordton. As a dernier resort, historians are beginning to take the position that the North Carolina tradition can not possibly be true because, they say, Abraham Enloe was not old enough to be the father of a child when Abraham Lincoln was born. 1. Aside from, and in addition to the very strong evidence in support of these North Carolina stories, furnished in another part of this book, I have made a personal investigation of the old records in the Court House in Rutherford County, North Carolina and have found documentary evidence which cor- roborates our claims! There is positive proof that this Enloe referred to as not being old enough to have been the father of Lincoln was not the Enloe of North Carolina. Our Enloe was one of the big land-owners of this County, when Nancy Hanks was a little girl! In Book M-Q there appears a record where Abra- ham Enloe of North Carolina bought land in 1790. This is found on page 305, and the amount of land 12 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— is 300 acres. Again he bought another tract in 1790 as seen in Book M-Q, page 304. Also a tract from Congressman, Felix Walker on Second Broad River in 1797. (Book 12-13-13, page 304). We have a record of his land sales as follows: 1. To Wm. Wallace in 1798, Book 10-11, page 96. 2. To Joseph Carpenter in 1799, Book 10-11, page 447. 3. To Solomon Groce in 1801, Book 15-17, page 131. 4. To Abner Yomack, in 1807, Book 24-26, page 90. 5. To Gloud Loung, in 1809, Book 24-26, page 323. 6. To Robet. Smith, in 1812, Book 24-26, page 653. 7. To John Porter, in 1814, Book 27-28, page 114. 8. To Mark Bird, in 1807, Book 29-31, page 115. We have just found records where Abraham En- loe purchased twelve different tracts of land in Rutherford County. This record completely dis- A NORTH CAROLINIAN 13 proves the recent unsupported statement that "this man Enloe was only a small boy when Abraham Lincoln was born." (Barton and Warren). Moreover this record corroborates the other stories that Enloe lived on Puzzle Creek, for here is a record of his sale to Mark Bird in 1807 of a tract of land at this place, naming this creek in the deed in Book 29-31, at page 115. According to the records, Enloe sold the home- place on Puzzle Creek in 1807. This is some time after he had moved to the mountains, which occur- red about 1803-1805, and a year after Nancy Hanks was married to Thomas Lincoln in Kentucky. For he went to Swain County between 1803 and 1805, taking Nancy Hanks along as a member of his large family. He had a grown daughter named Nancy, who ran off and married a man from Kentucky by the name of Thompson. Now since this running off and marrying took place not a very great while from the time that Lincoln was born; and since Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were married June the 12th, 1806, this Enloe was evidently a man of mature years, instead of "only a small boy!" There were nine sons and six daughters in Abraham Enloe's family 14 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— and there may have been several children who were older than the girl that ran off and got married to the Kentuckian. Enloe was old enough to have been Nancy Hank's father. 2. The family record, found in the old Lincoln Bible, is also offered as proof to offset these North Carolina claims. But the record as it appears is not above criticism. And the notations thus made in Bibles are not always correct, because those who write them are not immune to mistakes. 3. If this record was written by Abraham Lin- coln, it was done in his mature years. This record strangely furnishes a very complete account of the genealogy of Lincoln's step-mother who was first a Bush, then a Johnston and then Lincoln. It is so full of Johnstons and so little of the Hankses that one is forced to the conclusion that some real valuable information was hidden, or greatly obscured by the presence and influence of the old lady, Mrs. Lincoln, Thomas Lincoln's widow. This old lady, however, had this record fixed up for her benefit. There was no thought of any in- vestigation of the matter. She stood by and doubt- less dictated the whole thing just as she wished it to appear for her folks and her friends to see. Thomas Lincoln and his former wife, Nancy, had died. A wonderful change had taken place in the A NORTH CAROLINIAN 15 life of Abraham Lincoln, who on account of cruel treatment had fled from Thomas Lincoln's dirt- floored shanty at the age of nine years. He has probably been in Congress as well as in the State Legislature. Now, she will be glad to have the record include him as a son of Thomas Lincoln. This woman could have told more when the first biographers of Lincoln called to see her when they were trying to get up all the data they could about Lincoln. She was very free to talk about her people, but when it came to telling about Nancy Hanks, her husband's first wife, "she became pain- fully reticent and mum." She probably was some- what embarrassed, thinking that she would be asked if Abraham Lincoln was born before her hus- band was married to Nancy Hanks, and if his real father was not Abraham Enloe of North Carolina! Anyway, she balked and refused to talk. 4. If this record was written by Abraham Lin- coln, he probably made his step-mother a present of this Bible about the time he became President, and in view of the circumstances, he could not be expected to say in this record, that he was born a little too early to be the illustrious son of her la- mented husband, which he evidently did not believe he was. And he would doubtless put down her daughter, Sarah's name, without saying that she 16 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— was his half sister. In fact he would hardly be so impolitic as to tell the public his secret story of grief on the page of his step-mother's family Bible. It was just like his great heart to draw the veil of charity and hide the family "skeleton" and "in- side cancer" with the screen of this family record. For this same reason, he confided to Mr. Scripps, a Chicago publisher, the secret of his true ancestry, and requested that it be kept as confidential matter. (Herndon & Weik's Lincoln, page 2). How would any sane man interpret such procedure in the light of the persistent rumors and stjories connecting Lincoln with a North Carolina ancestry, where Nancy was raised and from where she was sent to Kentucky with a baby in her arms? 5. It is nothing less than a reasonable supposi- tion, that Enloe had a reason for moving across the mountains to live in a wilderness, other than simply the lure of the wild. It is entirely out of the ordi- nary that a man as well fixed as he was, a real Landlord, the owner of nine farms in a good country, should pull up and move to a wilderness. 6. The people who joined in this caravan of primitive ox-wagons from Puzzle Creek settlement, attest the fact that Nancy Hanks was along in the Enloe party when they went to carve out a new destiny in an unbroken wilderness, walled in by big A NORTH CAROLINIAN 17 mountains. They were all friends and neighbors, four companies, going away together from their homes and people in Rutherford County. They carried with them enough provisions to last at least one year; and the woods were full of game of all kinds, while the crystal waters abounded with fish. Nancy Hanks is with the Enloes, followed by other fam- ilies in the ox-wagon caravan passing up through the Chim- ney Rock (N. C.) Gorge, following an old Indian trail. These were the first wagons that ever crossed "Hickory Nut Gap." 18 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— If they had enemies, they left them; if they had faults, they perhaps tried to leave that undesirable part of themselves far behind, and under clearer skies and brighter stars they planned to start life anew. 7. "There is a time for everything under the sun," says Solomon, the Philosopher, as he looked upon the fields of ripening grain, the budding of the trees and the bleating of young lambs. And there came a request that the girl, Nancy Hanks, who had been with the Enloes for years, be sent away. No particular place was designated at the time by Mrs. Enloe. But the head of the house- hold was blamed for the unfortunate circumstances which caused such a demand. Enloe "procured Hon. Felix Walker to take her away" to a place un- known to the neighbors at that time. (H. J. Beck, Cathey, page 57). Volcanic feelings romped and played havoc in the mind of Mrs. Enloe, who didn't fail to let the neighbors know how she felt about the affair. In her darkest hours, when the kindness of friends was worth far more to Nancy than silver or gold she did not look in vain to Abraham, who saw that this girl was taken immediately beyond the reach of an abusive tongue that frequently brought the tears from the eyes of this fair young Hagar. A NORTH CAROLINIAN 19 For we can imagine, and not miss it, that many- sharp and cutting things were said to poor Nancy; and often-times during these last days at the Enloe home, when she arose in the morning for her work, she lifted her handsome girlish face from a tear- soaked pillow where she had spent the whole night in her Gethesmane of sorrow. The gossips began and faithfully performed their duties. The winds blew the news all over the coun- try. People knew about the trouble in the home of Mr. Enloe, from the mountains to the sea. 20 ABRAHAM LINCOLN- CHAPTER IV. THE JOURNEY BACK TO RUTHERFORDTON In a very short time Nancy was ready for her journey to some place she knew not where; but Hagar-like she must go and find a place where she could rest in seclusion for she was weary of soul. Nancy is taken by Mr. Walker across a big moun- tain and down a beautiful valley frilled with rhodo- dendron, kalmia and honeysuckles from the Enloe home on Ocona Lufta to the home of the first Con- gressman of Western North Carolina, the Hon. Felix Walker, of Jonothan's Creek, now in Haywood County. Walker was the "Congressman from Bun- combe." This furnished a foundation for a tra- dition that Nancy's child was born there. I have found the old home site of the Hon. Felix Walker on Johnathan's Creek and have seen the old deed to the land he owned, about six miles from Weynes- ville. Because Nancy Hanks stopped here for a while some people thought this was the birthplace o*f Lincoln. 8. Felix Walker was a good man, a close per- sonal friend and neighbor of Abraham Enloe. They A NORTH CAROLINIAN 21 had both gone from the same community in Ruthr- ford County, where Enloe had bought a tract of land from Walker in 1796. Nancy had been placed in Walker's care and confided to his keeping. Mr. Walker was soon ready for a journey over the Blue Ridge, toward the rising sun. Felix rises long be- fore daylight, feeds his horse, loads his pistols, gets down his sword and makes thorough preparation for a trip not altogether free from hazard. For, there are very treacherous wild animals at this time along the trail over Hickory Nut Gap and down through the deep Chimney Rock Gorge. Soon as breakfast is over he is off like the wind to fulfill a trust that is as sacred to him as life itself. His good friend, Abraham Enloe, was instrumental in electing him to Congress, and he has not forgotten it. Mr. Walker is a big man back in his home County, Rutherford, and he has lots of friends around Puzzle Creek where Nancy Hanks was raised. He was will- ing to do anything he could for Nancy. He was moved when he listened to her story. Nancy had never known what it meant to have a father's love and advice ; and only a few short years had this girl been with a mother. Poverty and Hardship were her brothers. She was destitute of any relatives who cared anything about her. Felix Walker thought, how different it might have 22 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— been with this poor girl if she had been fortunate enough to have a father and mother and a home of lier own; and he thought as he wiped large tears from his honest eyes, how Jesus would feel if He were here and she were to tell Him her sad story. Jesus would help her. In His fold He would have a place where Nancy could rest, thought Mr. Walker. He saw in her honest face and honest eyes that she had never meant to do anything wrong in her life, though every rustle of a leaf and every whisper of the winds were confronting her, it seemed, with an an unbearable accusation. Would it be really worthwhile to live through it all, Nancy wondered, as she saw Mr. Walker plow the sides of his steed with steel spurs as he hastily rode away to look up a place for Nancy. After being chased by three large panthers and five hungry wolves on his way over the big moun- tains, Mr. Walker reached Rutherfordton, a very insignificant little village, the county seat. After resting his horse he proceeded on to Puzzle Creek about eight miles further where he expected to spend the night with old friends. Abraham Enloe still owned the old home-place where Nancy Hanks had lived from the time her mother placed her in the Enloe home until they all moved across the mountains in about 1804; and A NORTH CAROLINIAN 23 when Felix Walker rode his horse up the hill and stopped at the gate he was received with a welcome that made his heart glad. People had rented the old Enloe place, and Mr. Walker brought them news from the Enloe family. Indeed it was news, and they listened to the story in behalf of Nancy; they knew her well and loved her from a little girl. They gladly offered to do any- thing they could for her. It was agreed that Nancy should be brought back there to stay with them. After spending some time attending to some important matter Felix Walker departed for his home near the Balsams, in Hay- wood. (C. O. Ridings, Attorney, says there was more than one trip to Rutherfordton in the interest of Nancy). Upon his arrival at his home he found Nancy in very deep distress of mind. She had been praying to die. She said she felt forsaken by all her friends ; and there was nothing to live for any more. But, said Mr. Walker, "I have had a very strange dream. Last night as I was sleeping, in the very house where you lived, in Rutherford county, where you gathered wild flowers in the woodland by the beau- tiful brook, and where you waded in the creek when a little girl and gathered muscadines down near the 24 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— spring — Yes, Nancy, I saw you there again and in one hand you held a large bouquet of beautiful flowers and in the other you held a large bunch of grapes; the whole hill was covered with people and in their midst was an altar. In my dream I saw you walk up to this altar and place upon it your flowers and grapes in the midst of the people; and I heard thunderings and voices; and I awoke. Nancy, it may be that you are to lay upon the altar of your country an offering far more precious than flowers and grapes; and you may wade into strange waters in order that the people may have this offering. This may be your only crown of joy. Nancy, take heart and live, I am to take you back to Puzzle Creek. The folks are all anxious to see you down there. We will leave tomorrow morning." So Nancy was taken back to the very place where she had grown to womanhood in Rutherford County. Here she remained on Puzzle Creek until the stern hand of destiny pointed toward the western horizon. Peace had not yet been restored in the home of Abraham Enloe of Ocona Lufta. And he made ar- rangements to have Nancy taken to Kentucky, to his daughter, Nancy, now Mrs. Thompson, just over the Tennessee line. 1. Michael Tanner, a Rutherford County horse- trader and farmer, took Nancy away on his horse A NORTH CAROLINIAN 25 behind him, the child in his arms. 2. Nancy's mother, Lucy Hanks, had gone to Ken- tucky a few years before and had married a man by the name of Henry Sparrow. Her aunt Nancy had also gone to Kentucky and had married Richard Berry. Her aunts and her mother all lived in Ken- tucky, at this time, but had formerly lived in North Carolina. 26 ABRAHAM LINCOLN^ CHAPTER V. NANCY AND "LITTLE ABE" LEAVE RUTHER- FORD COUNTY FOR KENTUCKY. Tradition has at least three different parties con- nected with the taking of Nancy Hanks from the Enloe home at Ocona Lufta, in Swain County, to Kentucky. At first thought, one would consider this an irreconcilable contradiction. But such is not the case, by any means. The Rutherford County story furnishes the key to this problem. It was written up about fifty years ago, by Columbus Tanner. Mr. Tanner said that "Michael Tanner, a horse-trader, took Nancy and the child to Kentucky from the old Enloe place on Puzzle Creek, in Ruth- erford County." The article published in the Charlotte Observer of September 17, 1893, contains a reference to a tradition that a "mule-drover" took Nancy to Ken- tucky, and another story that "Felix Walker, the Congressional Representative — the author of the famous expression 'speaking for Buncombe' — in or- der to do his constituent "Abram" a good turn, car- Tied Hagar and Ishmael to Hardin County, Ken- A NORTH CAROLINIAN 27 tucky." And the family tradition is that the daugh- ter that had run away and married came home and took Nancy and the child back with her. Mr. H. J. Beck, a neighbor of the Enloes, testi- fies that it was Felix Walker who took Nancy away from the Enloe home at Ocona Lufta, in Swain County. (Cathey, page 58). Mr. Cathey gives another witness, Phillis Wells, a very old man who knew the Enloes and Nancy Hanks. He says Nancy was sent to Jonathan's Creek by Enloe who hired a family there to care for her, and that later she and her child were sent to some place between Kentucky and Tennessee and cared for there by relatives of Enloe. 1. It was no great secret that Felix Walker took the girl away from Enloe's. And some knew she was taken to his home on Jonathan's Creek. But here was the secret that none of the neighbors found out, where Felix took Nancy from his home. It was carefully guarded, and they never knew that he took her back to Rutherford County. It was during this interim, when some had found that she was not at Walker's that they began to suspect that Enloe had made away with her. Some reported that she could not be found, and matters began to grow serious. Just then the news is received that Nancy is alive and has a child. Yet her whereabouts 28 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— is kept under cover. Felix is unquestionably the active agent of all these manouvers. He had Michael Tanner take her from Rutherford County by his house to Abraham Enloe's to satisfy the angry neighbors. Here she met with the runaway daugh- ter of Enloe who was back home, and this daughter took her to Kentucky with her. So there is no con- tradiction! Michael Tanner of Rutherford county was the "mule-drover," or, "horse-trader',, as he was called in his home county. This takes the tangle out and clarifies the situation. Nancy Hanks didn't wait until she went to Ken- tucky that she might learn about the grandfather of Tom Lincoln and name her boy for this "Abra- ham." But she named him immediately after he "discovered America," down on Puzzle Creek, in Rutherford county. Michael Tanner, as he took her and little Abra- ham away, may have told Nancy the secret, that he was her father, the "well-bred Virginian" that Abraham Lincoln referred to later in a talk with Herndon, his first and most reliable biographer in 1850. Somebody conveyed this information to Mr. Lincoln, and it was doubtless his own mother, who told this when she led him into the secret of his own origin. It was doubtless a lesson she did not A NORTH CAROLINIAN 29 want him to forget, for she had a devotion for the one for whom she named her first-born son! On the way to Kentucky they had to pass through long stretches of wilderness and over large moun- tains where a human voice was seldom heard. In these vast areas of desert, various wild animals roamed in abundance day and night, often springing a surprise or bringing terror to one happening to be alone. The wolves then went in "packs," and rendered the nights hideous by their yelping howls. They would hardly attack a person unless they were very hungry, but would come right into the settle- ments, even into people's yards and fight the dogs, and kill sheep, calves, or anything to satisfy their appetite. Bears and panthers were also very numerous at this time, the latter being considered the most dangerous of all the wild animals, especially on account of their great treachery and cunning. They would stealthily follow a person for miles seeking a good opportunity to get an advantage, always mak- ing the attack when the party was off-guard, or unaware of any danger; but most frequently a panther would run ahead and intercept his quarry and leap on it from ambush. The cry of this vicious animal was very much like the cry of a baby at 30 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— times; and again, like the scream of a woman at a distance. These beasts were often frightened away or held at bay by burning gunpowder, or sulphur. And one could carry a torch of blazing fire at night with the same results. As they were nearing the top of Hickory Nut Gap the baby became so tired from the monotony of be- ing carried in one position in Michael's arms that he began to cry. This was first answered by a large mountain owl over in a cove. Then came a low howl as from a great distance; then two, then from a thousand throats poured forth one mighty yelping chorus that made the hair stand on end as the couple listened to a pack of wolves down in the deep gorge through which these people had passed. In a lull of this pandemonium Nancy Hanks called Mr. Tan- ner's attention to a peculiar crying-growl just a little ways off toward a great ledge of cliffs. Look- ing in that direction Michael Tanner saw a large panther standing on a big rock with its nose pointed in their direction. He lost no time in getting ready his pistols and prepared to burn some powder. Leaving some burn- ing sulphur right on the top of the mountain they hurriedly crossed over, and safely made their way on to the home of Mr. Walker. After a day's rest A NORTH CAROLINIAN 31 Nancy and little Abe were taken over to Ocona Lufta and Nancy Enloe, now Mrs. Thompson, was back home from Kentucky, and the Thompson's took Nancy and the boy home with them. (Cathey, page 60) 32 ABRAHAM LINCOLN- CHAPTER VI. NANCY'S MARRIAGE. 3. In 1806, Nancy Hanks was married to Thomas Lincoln in Kentucky. She doubtless divided the time of her residence after reaching Kentucky with her aunts and Nancy Enloe Thompson, and was married at the home of her uncle Berry. There is a tradition that the Berry's, Shiplies and Lincolns lived on the Catawba River in North Carolina and went to Kentucky about 1780. 4. The supposition is, that Nancy had either seen or heard of these folks before she was sent to Kentucky. However, this is conjectural and with- out evidence. The stories by some who were supposed to have been present at the wedding, that Nancy had no child when she was married, are not sufficient in the face of insurmountable proof to the contrary. One knows that such a wedding could have taken place without the presence of "Little Abe," as is often the case. 5. We have been told that this baby was fre- quently hidden in the basement of the old Enloe A NORTH CAROLINIAN 33 home on Lincoln Hill in Rutherford county, when company would come, before she went to Kentucky. And the little fellow was probably hid many times before she married Lincoln. This position is very strongly corroborated by the writers who favor the Kentucky nativity. 6. In fact it is utterly impossible to harmonize the various Kentucky stories with each other. There are at least eleven different birthplaces pointed out for Abraham Lincoln in Kentucky! And no one of them is correct! Again, the veracity of an old min- ister has been called into question. The Rev. John Duncan, a "playmate of Abe," and preacher of prom- inence in Kentucky, who told a story about how he and Abraham Lincoln caught a groundhog. It ran into a crevice between two rocks, and Abe Lincoln ran off to get something with which to pull the hog out of his den. Lincoln went about a quarter of a mile to a blacksmith shop and brought back a pole with a hook fastened to the end of it with which they easily pulled the animal out of his hole. A late writer, Prof. Warren, thinks this untrue, because, says he, "According to the Records in Kentucky, Lincoln could have been only two years old when this happened," counting that Lincoln was born in Kentucky, according to popular belief, in 1809 ; but add to this the two or thre years, possibly, covered 34 ABRAHAM LINCO LN— — 7 from his birth in Rutherford County, North Caro- dina to the time his mother married Tom Lincoln, and then about three years more, and you will have a boy that is able to do just what the old preacher said he did. You see, they claim that he was born in the year 1809 and that his mother was married in 1806. So he would have been more than five years old if his mother's marriage had taken place immedi- ately after her arrival in Kentucky with the child! But we have reason to believe that she was not married immediately, but that it was a year or more afterward, making him six or seven years old when he helped to catch the groundhog. This au- thor, Mr. L. A. Warren, who offered this criticism, offers a number of others of similar character, all of which can easily be met in the same way, and all of which are in accord with the North Carolina theory ! The reason for the criticism that "the writers all picture Abraham Lincoln" as a youth rather than a little child," in all the stories written from the Kentucky viewpoint finds a solution in the tra- dition we herein offer; for that was his status at the point where they begin. They say he was a grown man at seventeen according to Kentucky A NORTH CAROLINIAN 35- chronology — for he was really twenty-one years old ! (H. & W., page 51). 7. This also furnishes a complete solution of the difficulty they find in the statement of Mr. Haycroft that "he was a little shirt-tail boy" in Elizabethton where Tom and Nancy lived two years after they married, for he was this age at this time, notwithstanding the attempted refutation of this story by Mr. Warren, who says "Abe" was not born when his parents lived in Elizabethton, Kentucky." But Haycroft says he saw him in Elizabethton a little "shirt-tail boy." And the same is true of the story about him go- ing to Hodgen's mill, with a bag of corn on his shoulders, seven miles, getting his "turn" ground and walking back home with it on his shoulder. Warren says, this can't possibly be true for, accord- ing to the Kentucky chronology, this boy was then only eight years old. But when you add from three to five years to this boy's age, he will be equal to this and any similar task. Warren also rejects Austin Gallaher's story he told; how he saved Lincoln from drowning as they were trying to "coon it" across Knob Creek on a log. These boys were in pursuit of birds, when Abe fell in and the boy, Gallaher, "fished him out with a sycamore branch." .36 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— The same critic discredits President Lincoln's story that he told about sitting on a nail keg and eating sugar. He told about Judge J. B. Helm feed- ing him sugar when he was a boy and this above mentioned author says this can't be true for he says he was not old enough. Yet from our standpoint it can be true ; and Lincoln tells the truth about this incident. The Abraham Enloe of Kentucky, who was only sixteen years old when Lincoln was born, accord- ing to Kentucky chronology, was a son of Esom Enloe. But the Abraham Enloe of the North Caro- lina tradition was not a son of Esom Enloe and was a man with a large family at that time, and living in North Carolina. And the notorious fight was not between the young Kentucky Enloe and Tom Lin- coln, but between the North Carolina Enloe and Lincoln, and the North Carolina Enloe was the one who had his nose bit off by Tom Lincoln in the fight. So tumbles Barton's Gibraltar argument. 8. It is agreed that there was a tradition in Kentucky that Abraham Lincoln was named, Ab- raham, after an Abraham Enloe. But it seems that they had lost sight of the North Carolina Enloe, and now they endeavor to weave the story around the boy of this name who was raised in the same community where the Hankses and Lincolns had A NORTH CAROLINIAN 37 r located. To look this story in the face, it has the appearance of an effort to evade the finding of the Enloe who had reared Nancy Hanks. The Hanks boys, Dennis and John, who were born in 1799 and 1802 and have furnished the greater part of the information about Nancy Hanks from the Kentucky standpoint, were too young and too far from Nancy to be in position to bear testimony of value in her case. The truth is, they knew noth- ing about Nancy, and had never seen her in their lives until after she had gone to Kentucky, a grown young woman, and they were small children at this time. The story about the names of Dennis Hanks' aunts we are in position to accept, because this cor- roborates the North Carolina tradition, which is an independent story. We have no right to reject testimony of President Lincoln, at least, when supported by the North Car- olina story and the Hanks story, that Lucy Hanks was the mother of Nancy Hanks. Lucy was well known in Rutherford County before Nancy was placed in the home of Enloe. After this she went to Kentucky and married. 9. The witnesses who give testimony as to the birth of Abraham Lincoln in Kentucky, doubtless are sincere in their belief that they were present at the birth of the President ; but I will say of this,, 38 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— as Warren says of some of the Kentucky witnesses whose testimony he could not explain, "It was a case of mistaken identity." The baby of whom they speak was not Abe but Thomas whose birth nor death were recorded in the family Bible with the other names. I will not say that this was omitted purposely to afford a space in the chronology for the name of Abraham to appear as a son of Thomas and Nancy, but in the light of all the accumulated testimony and circumstantial evidence it does seem to be a queer coincident indeed. The very fact that the Kentucky tradition has as many as eleven birthplaces designated as the very spots where Abraham Lincoln was born, four in one county, is sufficient to create very grave doubts as to there being any real fact to support the Kentucky claim at all, other than simply the fact of residence or of being seen at these places mentioned. A NORTH CAROLINIAN 39 CHAPTER VII. THE POLITICAL CONDITION RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPRESSION OF FACTS. The condtion in Rutherford County which pre- vailed during Lincoln's time is illustrated by the following incident: 1. At an election in Rutherford County when a man by the name of Benjamin Lovelace expressed his intention to vote for Abraham Lincoln for Pres- ident, the crowd grew angry and some said "kill him, ,, others said "hang him." And a man by the name of Amos Harrell said, "just let me to him." Whereupon the crowd parted for Harrell, and he ran up and kicked Lovelace out of the crowd; and Lovelace continued to run for his life until he was hidden in the nearby woods and out of sight. 2. Another man, Tim Haney. was hanged not far from the same place for a political offense. The old people who related to me this story, full- fledged Democrats, say it was really dangerous to show an interest in Abraham Lincoln, and that is the reason more than anything else for this tra- dition about his birth being held as a kind of secret 40 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— so long in Rutherford County. It was rather a community secret that people thought they could not afford to talk about with any real interest. We would cover these unsightly spots with a mantle of charity were it not for the fact that their rehearsal sheds a light upon the conditions at that time, revealing a dark background which forbade the freedom of speech so much prized today. We are now in much better position to pass upon the real value of a great man. We can now begin to see that this man, Abraham Lincoln, was not the South's bitter enemy; but in reality its best friend. We can now see that this great country could not stand divided, nor could it long endure with the greatest slave pen in the world within its borders. President Lincoln was an intellectual giant, a great political prophet who could see ahead the awful national disaster that was sure to come to this country if a few hot-headed slave-owning politicians were permitted to have their way. People are some- what like sheep. An old "bell-wether" can quickly demoralize a whole flock of innocent, docile sheep, and create a stampede, causing a lot of trouble. So it was with the south and north just a few old "bell- wethers" were the cause of all the trouble, North and South. Lincoln was the "Moses" that God raised up to A NORTH CAROLINIAN 41 do the work no other man could do. And while he led, he doubtless was following his pillar of fire that led him through the red sea, which seemed to be the way — the only way that was possible under the conditions of that time, to pass on to Liberty, democracy and national security. 42 ABRAHAM LINCOLN- CHAPTER VIII. DISCUSSION OF ANCESTRY. Mr. Herndon, Lincoln's first and most capable biographer, says that Abraham Lincoln told him about the year 1850, that his mother was the ille- gitimate daughter of Lucy Hanks and a well-bred but obscure Virginia farmer. (Herndon & Weik, Vol. 1, page 3). This corresponds to the North Carolina tradition ?both as to the name of Nancy's mother and also as to the fact that she had never been married, con- trary to the report of Nancy's cousin Dennis, of whom it was said, "he would lie a little." (Warren 29). This Dennis Hanks, was, according to his story, the illegitimate son of a Nancy Hanks, who had spent some time doubtless with the North Car- olina members of the Hanks family when they were located in Gaston county, at Belmont, N. C. Mr. Warren, a recent author, says he dug up an old court record in Kentucky where Lucy Hanks, the mother of the subject of our story, was indicted for fornication, in 1789. This was before she mar- ried Sparrow in 1791. Prof. Warren surmised that A NORTH CAROLINIAN 43 — — ■ 1 her daughter Nancy had gone to Kentucky with her and was there when this case was in court. Thus placing her in Kentucky at an earlier period, and disregarding all North Carolina traditions. But there were people in North Carolina who knew where this Nancy was at this time. She didn't go to Kentucky with her mother at all. It was during this time, 1799, this little girl was staying at Belmont with her Uncle "Dicky," where a monu- ment has been erected to her memory. When she was placed in the home of Abraham Enloe her mother soon left for Kentucky. And the little girl was left with no relatives near. Mr. Warren runs against another snag in the story about a son born to Tom Lincoln and Nancy at Elizabethton, which died and was buried there. This writer, says this is impossible, for Abraham, born after this time, was "older than this child," but according to the North Carolina tradition this is no difficulty, for Abraham was really older than the child that "died within two years after their marriage." Brackston Smart's Story. Mr. Brackston Smart lives on the highway be- tween Forest City and Ellenboro. He is a great- grandson of "Grannie" (Nancy) Hollifield, and owns 44 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— the same farm and lives in the house that was form- erly owned by this great-grand-mother, a place often visited by Nancy Hanks. He owns two hun- dred acres of land here worth $40,000.00. He is an intelligent farmer and his wife teaches school. My interview with him secured the following informa- tion, to- wit: That this old lady, popularly spoken of as "Gran- nie" Hollifield lived to be almost one hundred and seven years old (1794-1900). During her girlhood days she was intimately associated with a girl by the name of Nancy Hanks who lived at the home of Abraham Enloe on Puzzle Creek, in Rutherford County. She made the statement many times that she had seen Nancy and her child at the old Enloe home-place, and that it was the belief of all the old people that the child was born here, and later taken to some place in Kentucky. "My great grand-mother said that Enloe hired Tom Lincoln to marry this girl and was to give him fifty dollars and a team." At the conclusion of his rehearsal of this story, Mr. Smart gave as his reason for so definitely re- membering what this old woman said, that about two years before his great-grandmother died, a Methodist minister by the name of C. R. Lee, of Cliffside, N. C, came to see the old lady. Rev. Lee was writing up this Nancy Hanks and Lincoln story A NORTH CAROLINIAN 45 for some paper, and he stayed two or three weeks in this community getting information, and he, Mr. Smart, heard the story as told several times to Mr. Lee. At this time, Mr. Smart was about fifteen years old. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RUTHERFORD. Personally appeared before me this the 8th day of December, 1926, B. B. Smart, who being first duly sworn, deposes and says : That he is the author of the foregoing story in the book entitled "Abra- ham Lincoln a North Carolinian," that he has read the foregoing story and that the matters therein stated are true of his own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on information and belief and as to those matters he believes it to be true. B. B. SMART Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 8th day of December, 1926. E. E. HARRILL, Notary Public My commission expires December 22nd, 1926. George DePriest's Story. Mr. George DePriest, of Shelby, N. C, an old gentleman seventy-two years of age, gave the writer the following story : That when he was living in the community of Duncan's Creek, Rutherford County, 46 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— he was well acquainted with an old lady by the name of Polly Price, popularly called "Aunt Polly," who lived to be a hundred years old. He says that he often saw "Aunt Polly" and heard her talk about the girl, Nancy Hanks. She said she was intimately associated with Nancy in her girlhood, and often went to quiltings and dances with her, and that Nancy came to her home and quilted and danced at her house. She said she often visited Nancy when she was living on Puzzle Creek, in the home of Abraham Enloe. She saw her after the child was born at the Enloe home and also at the old Concord Baptist Church where she took the baby from Nancy and held him in her arms. When Nancy got ready to leave for Kentucky, "Aunt Polly" said she was at the old Enloe place and saw her get on a horse behind a man who was a horse trader and ride away, the man taking the baby in his arms. Mr. DePriest says he was raised in that neighbor- hood, and that "beyond the shadow of a doubt Ab- raham Enloe was the father of Abraham Lincoln." STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF CLEVELAND. Personally appeared before me this the 8th day of December, 1926, G. W. DePriest, who being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is the author of A NORTH CAROLINIAN 47 the foregoing story in the book entitled "Abraham Lincoln a North Carolinian," that he has read the foregoing story and that the matters therein stated are true of his own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on information and belief and as to those matters he believes it to be true. G. W. DEPRIEST. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 8th day of December, 1926. A. M. HAMRICK, Clerk Superior Court. Attorney C. 0. Riding's Story. Mr. C. 0. Ridings of Forest City, a popular young attorney furnsihed the following interesting story: He says that he is the grandson of the late Hon. Columbus Tanner of this, Rutherford County, North Carolina, who for more than eighteen years was hon- ored with the position of Clerk and assistant Clerk of the Court of this County. He says his grand- father was born in the year 1839, and died in 1923, and knew all of the old people well who were con- versant with the facts in this case about Nancy Hanks. Mr. Tanner spent considerable time in getting up all the facts, says Mr. Ridings, and writing a brief history of the matter in which he hung Nancy Hanks on the Tanner family tree, claiming that 48 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— Michael Tanner was the father of Nancy, by Lucy Hanks. In his grandfather's write-up, says Mr. Ridings, it was stated that the girl, Nancy Hanks, stayed at Abraham Enloe's, on Puzzle Creek; and that the child that was later known as Abraham Lincoln, was born there. That a horse trader by the name of Michael Tanner, took Nancy on his horse behind him and carried her away with the baby in his arms. Abraham Enloe was believed to be the father of the child, said Mr. Tanner in this writing which was prepared about fifty years ago. Mr. Tanner's manuscript has recently been lost or misplaced, but the attorney says he read it as many as three times and knows its contents, besides this he says he heard his grandfather relate the same many times. Mr. Riding's mother, daughter of Columbus Tan- ner, said to this writer that she well remembered passing along the road between where Bostic and Forest City are located, when she was a little girl, in company with her grandfather, and at some point near where Bostic is located, her grandfather point- ed north and said, "right out there about a mile and a half is where Abraham Lincoln was born." A NORTH CAROLINIAN 49 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RUTHERFORD, Personally appeared before me this the 3rd day of December, C. O. Ridings, who being duly sworn deposes and says : That he is the author of the fore- going story in the book entitled "Ajbraham Lincoln a North Carolinian," that he has read the foregoing story and that the matters therein stated are true of his own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on information and belief and as to those matters he believes it to be true. C. 0. RIDINGS. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 3rd day of December, 1926. D. L. BROWN. Notary Public. My commission expires March 22, 1927. Story by J. N. Jones, Groceryman. Forest City, N. C. Mr. Jones is 62 years old and was raised in Rutherford county and is familiar with the story of Nancy Hanks and her child, as told by the old people who knew the facts. He says he lived near the old lady called "Grannie" (Nancy) Hollifield, and talked with her frequently. She lived to be over a hundred years old, he says, and he often heard her say that she had held Abraham Lincoln 50 ABRAHAM LINCOL N-— in her arms when he was a baby; that he was born at the old Abraham Enloe place on Puzzle Creek, in Rutherford County, North Carolina. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RUTHERFORD. Personally appeared before me this the 4th day of December, 1926, J. N. Jones, who being first duly sworn deposes and says: That he is the author of the foregoing story in the book entitled "Abra- ham Lincoln a North Carolinian," that he has read the foregoing story and that the matters therein stated are true of his own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on information and belief and as to those matters he believes it to be true. J. N. JONES. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 4th day of December, 1926. W. L. BROWN, Notary Public. My commission expires March 22, 1927. Prof. Tilman R. Ganes' Investigation. About thirty-three years ago this tradition was critically investigated and written up in a local newspaper at Shelby, called "The Shelby Aurora," by Tilman R. Ganes, a Baptist minister. This man, because of his broad culture and profound intellect A NORTH CAROLINIAN 51 made an indelible impression on the Shelby people and others with whom he came in contact. The present postmaster of Shelby, Mr. J. R. Quinn, At- torney, member of the law firm of Quinn, Hamrick and Harris, of both the city of Shelby and Ruther- fordton, says he well remembers Mr. Ganes, who preached for the Baptist Church there and pro- moted the building of a female college in that town and later became its president. Mr. Quinn says Mr. Ganes possessed the most wonderful intellect of any man he had ever seen. He says the articles written by Mr. Ganes are still remembered by him because they were so radically different from any- thing he had ever seen. Until that time, Mr. Quinn said, he had never heard or read anything contrary to the popular theory that Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky. But Prof. Ganes ran across the trail of the Nancy Hanks tradition and went into it with the persis- tence of a bloodhound. He carefully investigated these stories, following them to their various sour- ces. To make sure that he was correct in his diag- nosis, he went to Kentucky and made a careful survey of the most authentic sources of information to be found in that state. After sifting out the chaff from the wheat he found that North Carolina had a very much stronger claim to the birthplace of 52 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— Abraham Lincoln than Kentucky. Mr. Ganes claimed that he had discovered evidence which proved be- yond a reasonable doubt that "Honest Abe" was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He looked up the old people who were in position to guide him to the spot, and they took him to "Lin- coln Hill" on Puzzle Creek. And they pointed to this old rock basement on the hill as the unmistak- able site of Lincoln's birthplace. This was the po- sition that he took in his newspaper articles, which are remembered yet by a goodly number of the people in this section of the country. I made a trip to Shelby to see if I could find a copy of the paper containing his article, but was informed that they had been destroyed by fire some years ago. How- ever, I am yet hoping to find a copy that has been kept by some one who was taking this paper at this time. EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT. By Mr. Jas. P. Cook. Mr. James P. Cook, Editor of "The Uplift," says in the issue of November 20, 1926 : "There is scarce- ly any doubt of the accuracy of the contention of the minister of Rutherford County, who is quoted by Editor R. E. Price of "The Rutherford County News." A NORTH CAROLINIAN 53 This is by no means a late discovery. Several years prior to the death of the late General Julian S. Carr, it was the privilege of "The Uplift" to carry a story of "Lincoln and His Mother," which was compiled from a book in the General's library. That story is in harmony with Editor Price's. Mr. Price, however, fails to tell of the visits of Nancy Hanks she was accustomed to make to friends in Gaston county." The above editorial endorsement came from Mr. Cook in answer to Mr. Price's article which recently appeared in the daily newspapers announcing that "Abraham Lincoln was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina," in which Editor Price gave a lengthy report of our meeting out at "Lincoln Hill." "NANCY HANKS, HER HOME IN NORTH CAROLINA." Article by Mrs. Puett and Mrs. Beard. We are here quoting an article which was fur- nished to the papers in 1910 by Mrs. Minnie Stowe Puett and Mrs. Adelaide Smith Beard. This is con- sistent with other stories which are found in Ruth- erford County. The apparent discrepancy is that Nancy was an orphan when she was brought from Virginia. But many a child has been called an .54 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— "orphan," for a while under similar circumstances. Mr. Warren digs up a Kentucky Court record show- ing that Nancy was not an orphan in 1789. And her mother was married to Henry Sparrow in Kentucky in 1791. So, according to documentary testimony, Nancy occupies the status which the North Caro- lina tradition claims she held at this time. "He is truly great who rises to greatness from profound obscurity. "There is no more wonderful truth in history than this statement, as the lives of many of the world's greatest men have borne witness. As Romulus and Remus came from the lair of the wolf to become the founders of immortal Rome ; as the great Napoleon arose from his humble Corsican cottage to be the ruler of Europe ; so Abraham Lincoln lifted himself from a pioneer cabin to a place of supreme great- ness, that is magnified as the years roll by. "His origin and rise to immortality embodies in itself as has the life of no other person, the true spirit of American democracy. This principle has been ignored by the majority of historians, who have seemingly deemed it necessary to manufacture from their own imaginations an origin worthy of his greatness. This fallacy is all too unnecessary, for the position that Lincoln now occupies in the hall of fame is secure beyond their ability to add to or A NORTH CAROLINIAN 55 to detract there from. "Little has ever been written concerning Nancy Hanks, Lincoln's mother ; and the fact that she spent most of her early life in North Carolina has been unknown or ignored by his biographers. In an ef- fort to preserve this truth to history, there has recently been erected near the town of Belmont, Gaston County, North Carolina, a monument on the site where stood her cabin home, near the banks of the Catawba. "The silver current of this river wends its way slowly through the verdant hills. From its moun- tan sources of ice-cold springs, winning tribute from a thousand rills, it reigns a queenly river, matchless in its beauty and wonderful in its power. Along its flower enameled borders the dark brown Indians roamed in the years gone by. Sapona, the great chief of the Catawbas, lighted his council fires on its banks. The Indians have gone forever, but their fame is kept immortal by the river which bears their name. "The beauty and fertility of the Catawba valley attracted many of the early settlers to this region, and their primitive homes were built on the hills overlooking the stream. In one of these little cabins lived a maiden whose name and life were destined to become of vital importance and enduring fame 56 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— throughout the nation. She is described as having dark hair, sallow complexion, and gray eyes, and of sad and thoughtful countenance. Little else is known of her personality, but all the world knows her as Nancy Hanks, the mother of Abraham Lincoln. "According to local tradition (Gaston County) Nancy Hanks was an orphan and came to North Carolina with her uncle Dicky Hanks, when he moved here from Virginia. The first member of the Hanks family about whom anything is known was Benjamin Hanks, who come to Massachusetts from England in 1699. One of his sons, William Hanks, moved to Virginia. He had a family of twelve children, his descendants forming a large settlement in Amelia county, some of his family migrated to Kentucky, while others came to North Carolina. "Three members of the Hanks family, two uncles and an aunt of Nancy Hanks, settled in Lincoln, now Gaston County, North Carolina, near the be- ginning of the nineteenth century. They were ac- companied from Virginia by the "orphan," Nancy, who spent most of her girlhood here with one of these uncles, "Dicky" Hanks. He was the ancestor of many of the present residents of Gaston and Lincoln Counties. He moved away from his home A NORTH CAROLINIAN 57 on the Catawba and lived in another part of the county where he was afterwards burned to death. Much stress is laid by some hstorians on the will of one, Joseph Hanks, of Virginia and Kentucky, claiming that the Lucy Hanks named in his will, was the mother of Nancy Hanks Lincoln. This could not have been true ,since it is positively known that Dicky Hanks was Nancy's uncle and there is no Dicky or Richard Hanks mentioned in Joseph's will. "Nancy left her uncle's home while he still re- sided on the Catawba, and went to live in the west- ern part of what was then Lincoln, now Rutherford County, North Carolina, near where the town of Rutherfordton stands today. Here she lived in the home of Abraham Enloe, going there for the pur- pose of assisting Mrs. Enloe with her household duties. She later went with his family to what is now Swain County, North Carolina. "Abraham Enloe is described as being of a fine physique, tall, angular with dark skin and course black hair. He was a leader in his community, be- ing a man of naturally keen intellect and having an education much superior to his associates. His father was a school teacher and came to this coun- try from Scotland and personally educated his son. While Nancy was an inmate of the Enloe home, circumstances arose which caused Mrs. Enloe to 58 ABRAHAM LINCOLN— insist that she be sent away, she was taken to Kentucky by a relative of the family, whose home was in that state. These facts have been always known in the communities where she lived, in Gaston, Rutherford and Swain counties, and many of the present members of the Enloe family ac- knowledge their truth. "The boulder pictured in this article was recently erected by the descendants of a former owner of the land on which it stands. He, personally re- membered the cabin and often pointed out this site f *as the home of Nancy and Dicky Hanks. That Nancy lived here and her subsequent life in North Carolina were both well known and undisputed in this community. On the face of this boulder, which is of massive granite, is a bronze tablet bearing a replica of a frontier cabin and the following inscrip- tion : "This stone marks the site of the log cabin home of Dicky Hanks, uncle of Nancy Hanks, mother af Abraham Lincoln. Nancy spent much of her girlhood here with her uncle." The founda- tion stones on which the boulder was placed were once part of the chimney of the original cabin. The logs of this cabin, rough hewn from virgin timber, have endured until today, and according to family tradition were rebuilt into another cabin still in use