Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/307

 ABRAHAM LINCOLN ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth president of the United States, born in Hardin County, Ky., Feb ruary 12, 1809; died in Washington, D. C., April 15, 1865. His earliest ancestor in America seems to have been Samuel Lincoln, of Norwich, Eng land, who settled in Hingham, Mass., where he died, leaving a son, Mordecai, whose son of the same name removed to Monmouth, N. J., and thence to Berks County, Pa., dying there in 1735. He was a man of some property, which at his death was divided among his sons and daughters, one of whom, John Lincoln, having disposed of his land in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, established him self in Rockingham County, Va. The records of that county show that he was possessed of a valu able estate, which was divided among five sons, one of whom, named Abraham, emigrated to Kentucky about 1780. At this time Daniel Boone was en gaged in those labors and exploits in the new coun try of Kentucky that have rendered his name illus trious ; and there is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln was induced by his friendship for Boone to give up what seems to have been an assured social position 247