FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION 9

Thomas Lincoln Reconsidered

By Richard E. Hart He paid for the limited education of his chil- Past President and current Board Member, dren and step-children on every available oc- The Abraham Lincoln Association casion. He was not materialistic and was gen- erous almost to a fault in assisting those in Thomas Lincoln has been the subject of de- need. By the standards of the burghers of any scription and judgment since at least 1860 small community, Thomas was a respected when a political biography of his son Abra- member of his community. ham was written. Since then, thousands of books have been written about Abraham with Thomas left no letters or diaries, but he did most having brief descriptions of Thomas. leave a body of work as significant as any Those written shortly after Abraham’s death writer or artist. His work is in the cabinets were assembled quickly to meet the demand and cupboards that he created and left for us for a record of Abraham’s life and accom- to see and enjoy. The revisionists generously plishments. Some elevated Abraham to Bibli- shared photographs of these pieces and infor- cal heights. Indeed, he became Father Lin- mation about Thomas’s abilities as a cabinet coln. As Abraham rose to the heavens, Tho- maker. And not just a rough cabinet maker, mas was pushed into a hellish abyss. From but a master, whose pieces are treasured by that post-mortem period to present, most pub- private collectors, museums, and universities. lished critical judgments of Thomas conclude The State of Illinois owns two magnificent that he was a miserable failure both as a man pieces that unfortunately are in storage rather and as a father. That is today’s conventional than on display. wisdom among Lincoln historians. It is time to take a fresh look at Thomas and reconsider Thomas Lincoln As I learned more about Thomas’s beautiful those judgments and that wisdom. Courtesy of the Lincoln Memorial University, cabinets, I came to agree with the revisionists. Harrogate, Tennessee. Thomas was truly a master craftsman with There have been a few historians who differed judged Thomas a worthless failure. After all, superior artistic and mathematical skills. This with the conventional wisdom. In 1942, became even more remarkable when I learned Louis A. Warren wrote a critique clearly de- these were the judgments made by several of my closest friends and preeminent Lincoln that Thomas was blind in one eye at least scribing what he thought was the unfair de- since he first moved to Indiana and that his monization of Thomas Lincoln. biographers. I was unaware of the small band of Indiana and Kentucky dissenters, the War- eyesight continued to decline. By the time of his death, he was most likely blind in the other Thomas Lincoln has been the scapegoat ren school, and I had no basis for accepting their judgments and rejecting those of my eye. In modern parlance, he was physically for all who would make Lincoln a disabled and would have been eligible for saint… As one writer put it: “Not a friends and Lincoln biographers. public assistance. All of this important infor- single one of Mr. Lincoln’s deifiers has mation was new to me as well it might now be had the audacity to claim anything Then I discovered a whole new Thomas Lin- coln. He was revealed to me by Indiana and to those biographers who have judged Thomas superior for Tom Lincoln.” Folklore harshly. and tradition have made him one of the Kentucky friends of the Warren school who are part of a growing, somewhat silent, unor- most despised characters in American As I examined other aspects of Thomas’s life history, and as long as he is portrayed ganized, subculture of Thomas Lincoln revi- sionists. Their voices are quiet and unpreten- and character, I continued to discover a man as a vagabond, an idler, a tramp, a unlike the one I knew from Lincoln biogra- rover, and as poor white trash, lacking tious, but what they say resounded in my ears like a loud clap of summer thunder rolling phers. He and his famous son were very dif- in energy, void of ambition, wanting in ferent in their views of the world and their respectability, and a general failure in across the Illinois prairie. hoped-for positions in the future of that world. life, it will be impossible to trace any Thomas’s view was simple. It was a matter of tendencies which the President may The revisionists strongly disagree with the conventional descriptions of Thomas Lincoln fact, unconscious acceptance of a hard and have inherited from his father. unjust life consumed by a day to day survival found in many contemporary biographies. To support their position, they point to Thomas’s on the edge of the American frontier and spiri- Warren was not alone in his sympathetic view tually dependent on a literal and judgmental of Thomas. Some teachers, historians, writ- role in religious and civil affairs of the com- munities where he lived. He was quite active Lord. To the contrary, Abraham’s world view ers, historical societies, and Lincoln aficiona- was cerebral. He consciously and expansively dos who lived in Indiana and Kentucky agreed in his Baptist church, where he served as a well-respected counselor and contributor to examined life and its possibilities beyond the with Warren’s assessment of Thomas. Schol- day to day grueling fight for survival. Abra- ars distant from the Indiana-Kentucky scene the building of a new church meeting place. Before every meal he asked a simple blessing. ham’s world view was a luxury made possible ignored and brushed the locals aside as pro- by the preceding survival mentality of Tho- vincial defenders of their own and Thomas’s Fit and prepare us for humble service. We beg for Christ’s sake, Amen. mas and the early pioneers. Their struggles home turf. The conventional wisdom that made possible the fresh world view of the Thomas was a deplorable man and father sur- He also served in many civil positions in Har- next generation. vived and remains alive and well today. din County, Kentucky. He was a juror on many occasions, a jail guard, a member of the Despite their fundamental differences in Until a few years ago, I accepted the conven- world views, they remained respectful and tional wisdom and was among those who militia, a road commissioner and a tax payer.

10 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE

Continued from page 9 to him that if we could meet now, it is Sarah in this manner. Acts of intentional, doubtful whether it would not be more harmful judgment were not something that loving of one another. Their differences did painful than pleasant; but that if it be his were a part of Lincoln’s character. It would not create hatred or disgust. In fact, their lot to go now, he will soon have a joyous be presumptuous to think that Abraham left “differences” were nothing more than the age [meeting] with many loved ones gone be- us little clues of his hatred of his father, clues -old father-son rivalry and tension common to fore; and where [the rest] of us, through the that future historians might examine like tea man since the beginning of time. help of God, hope ere-long [to join] them. leaves and discern the truth of that relation- ship. Write me again when you receive this. In analyzing and describing the relationship Common sense is often the best method to between father and son, some historians have Affectionately determine the meaning of human activity or interpreted letters and events to show Abra- A. LINCOLN inactivity. In 1851, communication and ham’s disrespect for his father. These inter- travel were slow. Burials were not. By the pretations need to be reexamined. Abraham’s letter is beautifully poignant in its time Abraham learned of his father’s death, One such interpretation is of letter that Abra- gentle words to be given to his father in his arranged for the care of his Springfield fam- ham wrote to his stepbrother, John D. Johns- final illness. It is the Lincoln of our better ily, and undertook a 100-mile journey across ton, regarding Thomas Lincoln as he lay sick angels. However, some have interpreted the the January Illinois prairie to Coles County, and dying. The letter is dated January 12, letter as acceptable evidence of the low re- the funeral would have been long over. gard with which Abraham considered his 1851, five days before Thomas died, and 22 And if one accepts the premise that important days after Willie Lincoln’s birth, and was in father. deductions can be made about one’s feelings response to a letter from John requesting that That interpretation, I believe, lies largely in for another by failure to attend a funeral, then Abraham come visit his father. Abraham Abraham’s use of the word “painful” as a why no similar analysis and judgment about response letter said he could not come be- description of the sorrow he would feel if he Mary and her father, Robert Todd? Neither cause Mary had just had a baby and was sick- were to see his father on his deathbed. But Mary nor Abraham Lincoln attended his fu- abed. Some historians have offered certain the pain that he would experience and that he neral after his death at age 58, on July 17, parts of Abraham’s as evidence of Abraham’s intended to convey was not a loathing or dis- 1849, in Lexington, Kentucky. disdain of his father. Here is Abraham’s let- dainful pain, but rather a sorrowful pain. ter. The loathing pain interpretation would be One cannot conclude that Abraham did not totally contrary to Abraham’s nature, a nature attend his father’s funeral because he disliked that found it hard to harm an ant, turtle, tur- him or had extreme, unresolved issues with Dear Brother [John D. Johnston]: him. I believe that it was the living, Mary Springfield, Jany. 12. 1851-- key or small animal, much less his father on his deathbed. and the new baby boy Willie, and their needs On the day before yesterday I received a that Abraham chose to care for rather than his letter from Harriett, written at Greenup. If the “loathing pain” interpretation were true, father’s final illness and death. To read more She says she has just returned from your it would be Abraham and not Thomas who into Abraham’s failure to attend his father’s house; and that Father [is very] low, and would and should suffer in repute. What son funeral defies common sense and is a real will hardly recover. She also s[ays] you would write such a cruel letter to his 73-year- stretch. old father in his final moments of life? A have written me two letters; and that I conclude that Thomas Lincoln was a man [although] you do not expect me to come dastardly, mean-spirited and cruel son. Abra- ham had none of those characteristics. well suited for his place and time — on the now, yo[u wonder] that I do not write. I th edge of the 19 century American western received both your [letters, and] although I When the letter was received, Thomas was on frontier with thousands of other like men. He have not answered them, it is no[t because] his deathbed. He was partially if not totally moved into places where there was little or no I have forgotten them, or been uninterested blind and very weak. He was probably be- semblance of western civilization and about them---but because it appeared to me yond the point of being capable of reading brought the rough, foundational elements of I could write nothing which could do any Abraham’s letter, let alone being able to un- that civilization to those new places. He did good. You already know I desire that nei- derstand what it said. His wife Sarah, how- so by establishing a home, raising a family, ther Father or Mother shall be in want of ever, was not. It would have been Sarah, not providing for them through subsistence farm- any comfort either in health or sickness Thomas, who would have been the recipient ing and masterful cabinet making, participat- while they live; and I feel sure you have not of Abraham’s cruel judgment of Thomas. ing in the churches, the militia, and public failed to use my name, if necessary, to pro- Surely, Abraham would have realized this as institutions of the communities where he cure a doctor, or any thing else for Father in he wrote the letter and he would not have hurt lived and fending off the last resistances of his present sickness. My business is such his beloved stepmother in this way. the American Indians. He rightfully and that I could hardly leave home now, if it thankfully demanded that his son assist in were not, as it is, that my own wife is sick- To support the “loathing pain” interpretation, these tasks as he grew. Without the vanguard abed. (It is a case of baby-sickness, and I some point out that Abraham did not attend of Thomas and his ilk, the subsequent flow of suppose is not dangerous.) I sincerely his father’s funeral that was held only a short American settlers could not have occurred. hope Father may yet recover his health; but time after the January letter. Some suggest There would have been no Abraham Lincoln. at all events tell him to remember to call and some with great certitude assert that

upon, and confide in, our great, and good, Abraham’s absence is clear evidence of his I respectfully urge Lincoln historians to take and merciful Maker; who will not turn disdain for his father. a fresh look at Thomas Lincoln and recon- away from him in any extremity. He notes But, one must ask, who would suffer the sider their judgments. To do so will be a the fall of a sparrow, and numbers the hairs shame of Abraham’s slight? Not Thomas. of our heads; and He will not forget the pursuit not only of truth, but will also answer He was dead. It would have been Sarah, and the call of the better angels within us. dying man, who puts his trust in Him. Say Abraham would not have punished poor