OCRed data provided
for searching only. september 1865
79. Joseph C. Richardson (WHH interview)1
[Sept. 14?, 1865]
My father Came to Spencer Co Indiana in 1828. Lincoln was tall and raw boned at 18. When 16 years of age he was 6 feet high Ühe was somewhat bony & raw
Üdark Skinned: he was quick and moved with Energy: he never idled away his time. When out of regular work, he would help & assist the neighbors: he was Exceedingly Studious. I Knew him well Ühe wrote me a copy in my writing Copy book which runs thus
Good boys who to their books apply
Will make great men by & by.
This Copy was written in 1829. The Weems Washington Üthe book Story took place in 1829. Üone year before Abe went to Ills. Crawford2 was a close penurious man Üprobably did not treat Lincoln generously, but Lincoln did not object to what Crawford required. The book Story is correct.
Onc Lincoln & Squire Hall raised some water melons ÜSome of us boys lit into the melon patch accidentally. We got the melons Üwent through the Corn to the fence Ügot over ÜAll at onc to our Surprise and morti‚cation Lincoln Came among us Üon us Ügood naturedly said boys ¿now I've got you Üsat down with us Ü cracked jokes, told stories & helped to eat the melons.
One day Abe's grand Mother wanted him to read some chapters in the Bible for her. L. did-not want to do it. At last he took up the Bible and read & rattled away so fast that his poor old grand Mother Could not understand it. She good naturedly ran him out of the house with the broom Stick Üwho being out, the thing he wanted he Kept shy that day Ü all done in sport & fun.
Lincoln did Keep ferry for Jas Taylor for about 9 mo Üat the mouth of Anderson River on the ohio, between Troy & Maxville. The Lincoln & Grigsby family had a Kind of quarrel and hence for some time did not like Each other. Aaron Grigsby had some years before this married Miss Sarah Lincoln Üthe good & Kind Sister of Abe ÜTwo other Grigsby boys Ümen rather Ügot married on the same night at the Same house Üthough they did-not marry Sisters Üthey had an infair at old man Grigsbys3 and all the neighbors, Excepting the Lincoln family were invited ÜJosiah Crawford the book man helped to get up the infair: he had a long huge blue nose. Abe Lincoln undoubtedly felt miffed Üinsulted, pride wounded. &c. Lincoln I Know felt wronged about the book transaction. After the infair was Ended the two women were put to bed. The Candles were blown out Üup Stairs ÜThe gentlemen Üthe 2 husbands were invited & shown to bed. Chas Grigsby got into bed with, by accident as it were, with Reuben Grigsbys wife
1. Two marginal notes: School House Pigeon 11Ö4 m SE of Lincolns and First School H1Ö4 E of the Pigeon meeting H.
2.
Josiah Crawford.
3.
Reuben Grigsby, Sr.
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