Austin Gollaher, Abraham Lincoln's closest childhood friend, lived until 1898. The above pictures are from Lincoln: A Pictorial History by Dr. Edward Steers (Gettysburg, Thomas Publications, 1993).

Yes I remember Abe Lincoln well as a little bit of a fellow, she said It was what now is Larue County, but was then a part of Hardin County. Abe and I went to the same school. My father Zachariah Riney, was the teacher.

I can see the old school house now, the old lady continues with a far-away look in her eyes. It was built of rough logs, as all school houses were in those days and mostly all of the dwelling houses, daubed with mud. The school house had no windows, but one log removed the length of the building served for light and ventilation. The floor was a dirt one, leveled and beaten solid. The benches consisted of logs split in the middle and place alongside the walls. There was just one bench made of plank supported by stumps. This the privilege of sitting upon it.

The old lady laughed as her memory called her back eighty long years and evidently the senses of her childhood were vividly presented to her mind. She continued...

But you want to know about little Abe. He was then barely seven years old and I was ten. I remember his big sister bringing him to school the first day. Oh, she was fond of him, she also attended school there; and all day long, whether at lessons or at play, her careful eye was constantly watching him. She was a regular little mother to him. I have seen her on rainy days, or when the roads were muddy, carrying him in her arms to and from the school house. At playtime she would always insist that he play with her and the girls., telling him to keep away from the big boys, as they were likely to hurt him in their rough play. In those days quit a number of the scholars were full grown men.

A school session lasted the summer months, because it was too cold to go to school in the winter. It therefore took a long time to acquire such an education as the county afforded. But little Abe would not consent to be held to his sister's apron strings. He had a will of his own and, strangly enought he did seek the society of boys his own age.

The one thing I remember most about him was his unfailing good humor. I never remember seen him cry during the two years he attending that school.

He wore home spun clothes as did all the children, and went barefooted. He never received a whipping and in our time the child was not spoiled by sparing the rod, and to go without a whipping a whole session was proof that he was an extra good boy.

Of course, laughed Mrs Yeager, I did not know then that the little chap we all loved so well would someday be the president or I would have taken notes of his sayings and doings. Indeed, it is a fact that I never knew until after his death that President Lincoln was the same identical little Abe. In those days the Lincoln family pronounced their name, Linkhorn.

One thing I remember very distinctly is seeing him bending down saplings and riding them horses. That was his favorite amusement at playtime.