Country Vacations & Resorts

Time in Office: 1861 to 1865
Terms: Won two elections; assassinated while in office
Birthday: February 12, 1809
Birth Place: Sinking Spring Farm, Hardin County, Kentucky.
Date of Death: April 15, 1865
Place of Death: Petersen House, Washington, DC.
Buried: Springfield, Illinois

Notes:
~ Was given no middle name
~ His mother died when he was nine
~ Little formal education, but an avid reader
~ A good axeman – brawny and able to defend himself
~ Lincoln was 6 feet, 4 inches tall
~ Had one or two “rocky” relationships before marriage
~ May have suffered from clinical depression
~ Known by scholars as one of the greatest US Presidents

America’s 16th President has had so much written about him – his politics, his achievements, his Presidency, and his assassination. This post will focus on Lincoln’s travels in his lifetime – 1809 to 1865.

Abraham’s family moved several times during his youth, moving from a homestead in Indiana to another in Illinois. By the time Lincoln was 22, he decided to set out on his own.

Canoeing down the Sangamon River, Lincoln was soon hired to ferry goods between New Salem and New Orleans. After seeing the negative impacts of slavery first-hand in Louisiana, Abraham dejectedly walked back home. Since the drive time between Springfield (within 15 miles of the former New Salem), and New Orleans is a bit over 12 hours, one can only imagine how long it might have taken Abraham to walk the 529 mile distance.

Lincoln stayed in the area of New Salem for most of the next decade. He was unsuccessful at his first business venture, served as New Salem’s Postmaster, and later was a county surveyor. A popular local man and speaker, Lincoln was elected to the State Legislature in 1834 (serving 4 terms). He studied law on his own and by 1837, passed his bar exam and started a successful legal career.

In 1842 Lincoln married Mary Todd and in 1844 they bought a home in Springfield, Illinois near his law office. In 1846 Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives where he served a two-year term. Lincoln then began his legal “circuit rider” time – spending 10 weeks at a time riding horses from town to town, attending trials and representing anyone who hired him for legal defense. He made this prairie law “circuit” twice a year for 16 years. The web site “Looking for Lincoln” has comprehensive information on Lincoln’s travels during this time frame.

From 1854 to 1860 Lincoln’s life and time was almost totally involved in politics. Then, after receiving his party’s nomination for President in Decatur, Illinois in May 1860 and then winning the Presidential election on November 6, 1860, quickly came political strife, secession upheaval, and eventually, Civil War.

Lincoln’s Presidency got off to an immediate rocky start evading assassins while on his way to Washington, DC for his inauguration which attempt was thwarted by his security force – led by Allan Pinkerton. A new Presidency and war kept Lincoln close to the Nation’s Capital and the mid-Atlantic States for the majority of his term in office. But when he did travel it was for a worthy cause. His speech at Gettysburg during a dedication of the Solider’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of the most quoted in history.

Antietam, Maryland – After the Battle
Lincoln, General McClelland, Allan Pinkerton
October, 1862

For most of Lincoln’s travels, his journeys would have been made on either horse, or horse and buggy or, when possible, via waterways. Although trains were in use in Lincoln’s time, there was little if no regulation, very little scheduling, and no guarantee that you would not find yourself delivered to the middle of nowhere! Routes were not consistent, and trains for goods (animals, etc.) competed for limited rail tracks with trains for passengers. Control of these waterways and rails played a large part during the Civil War – not a safe time for any travel! As far as Presidents go – Andrew Jackson was the first to ride on a train.

Last known photo of Abe Lincoln

At the age of 56, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC while viewing the play “Our American Cousin” – April 14, 1865. Booth broke his leg in his escape, was treated by an unknowing Dr. Samuel Mudd in Southern Maryland, and was finally found and shot at Garrett’s Farm in Virginia. Lincoln’s last trip was by train back to his final resting place at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.

Lincoln Memorial
Mount Rushmore

Next: President # 17, Andrew Johnson.