Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) - Born 12 Feb 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Sixteenth President of the United States from 4 Mar 1861 to 15 Apr 1865. Assassinated on 15 Apr 1865, in Washington DC. Buried in Lincoln's Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
Early Years
Abraham Lincoln was born on 12 Feb 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. Nancy died when Abraham was nine and his father remarried 1819 and he became close to his stepmother Sarah. Lincoln struck out on his own at age 22.
Black Hawk War
At the outset of the Black Hawk War Lincoln joined a volunteer Illinois milita company and was elected captain. The war was not expected to last long and enlistments were for short terms, some as short as 20 days so Lincoln's service was a bit disjointed:
| Dates | Rank | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 1832 - 27 May 1832 | Captain | 31st Regiment of Militia of Sangamon County, 1st Division 4th Regiment of Mounted Volunteers |
Marched to Fort Dixon Mustered out Fort Johnson (7) |
| 28 May 1832 - 16 Jun 1832 | Private | Captain Elijah Iles company | Mustered in Fort Johnson (7) Mustered out Fort Wilbourn |
| 17 Jun 1832 - 10 Jul 1832 | Private | Captain Jacob Early's independent company | Mustered in Fort Wilbourn |
Following his return, Lincoln continued his campaign for the August 6 election for the Illinois General Assembly.
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1860 Presidential Election and Secession
The election of Abraham Lincoln as the sixteenth president of the United States was the trigger that began the secession of the southern states from the Union. The election was on 6 Nov 1860 and secessionist were determined to have their states leave the Union before he was inaugurated on 4 Mar 1861. Eleven of the fifteen slave states seceded the four that did not seceded, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri and Delaware were hotbeds of secessionist activity. Of the three territories in the south, Arizona Territory and the Indian Territory proclaimed allegiance to the Confederacy.
| Order | State | Seceded | Back | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 20 Dec 1860 | 9 Jul 1868 | |
| 2 | Mississippi | 9 Jan 1861 | 23 Feb 1870 | |
| 3 | Florida | 10 Jan 1861 | 25 Jun 1868 | |
| 4 | Alabama | 11 Jan 1861 | 13 Jul 1868 | |
| 5 | Georgia | 19 Jan 1861 | 21 Jul 1868 15 Jul 1870 |
|
| 6 | Louisiana | 26 Jan 1861 | 9 Jul 1868 | |
| 7 | Texas | 1 Feb 1861 | 30 Mar 1870 | |
| Fort Sumter fired upon 12 Apr 1861 | ||||
| 8 | Virginia | 17 Apr 1861 | 26 Jan 1870 | |
| 9 | Arkansas | 6 May 1861 | 22 Jun 1868 | |
| 10 | Tennessee | 8 Jun 1861 | 24 Jul 1866 | |
| 11 | North Carolina | 20 May 1861 | 4 Jul 1868 | |
| 12 | Missouri | 31 Oct 1861 | Not Considered in Rebellion | |
| 13 | Kentucky | 20 Nov 1861 | Not Considered in Rebellion | |
| 14 | Arizona Territory | 16 Mar 1861 | Not a State | |
| 15 | Indian Territory | 12 Jul 1861 | Not a State | |
U.S. Civil War
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Assassination
President Lincoln was assassinated on 14 Apr 1865 while attending a play at Ford's Theater, in Washington DC. The assassin was John Wilkes Booth, a noted actor of the day, who entered the presidential box and fired a single shot at the back of Lincoln's head. The bullet mortally wounded Lincoln and he was carried from the theater to a nearby home here he died at 7:22 am on 15 Apr 1865. Booth escaped from the theater after jumping onto the stage from the presidential booth. He was caught and killed 12 days later in a Virginia barn. Booth's eight co-conspirators were rounded up and tried at what was then the Washington Arsenal, four of the eight were hanged there including the only woman, Mary Surratt. The other four were given prison terms.
After lying in state at both the White House and the Capitol Rotunda, Lincoln's body was transported back to Springfield, Illinois in a funeral train draped in black. The train took a round-about route stopping in several places for services. On arrival in Springfield the body was placed in Oak Ridge Cemetery later moved to Lincoln's Tomb in that cemetery.
Father: Thomas Lincoln (1778-1851)
Mother: Nancy Hanks Lincoln (1784-1818)
Marriage:
- Mary Todd (1818-1882) married 13 Dec 1818, born 13 Dec 1818, died 16 Jul 1882
Children:
- Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926) born 1 Aug 1843, died 26 Jul 1926
- Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie) (1846–1850) born 10 Mar 1846, died 1 Feb 1850
- William Wallace Lincoln (Willie) (1850–1862) born 21 Dec 1850, died 20 Feb 1862
- Thomas Lincoln (Tad) (1853–1871) born 4 Apr 1853, died 15 Jul 1871
Personal Description:
- Height: 6' 4"
- Build: Tall and Thin
- Hair Color: .....
- Eye Color: .....
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