Abraham vs. Thomas

[Eva Elisabeth]

Perhaps this helps: in "A.L.-A life", M. Burlingame states as follows:
"Thomas Lincoln prospered neither as a carpenter nor a farmer. He learned wood-working from Nancy Hanks' uncle Joseph Hanks Jr....His carpentry were so rudimentary that people called him a 'rough' and 'cheap carpenter'...who could only do a 'tolerable' job of joining...He worked when jobs came to him, but would not seek them out." (p. 6, printed edition, online edition may vary, originally E.R. Buyback,Hodgensville, to Herndon, 1866)

In New Salem A. Lincoln said to entrepreneur Denton Offutt:" I'm seeking employment. I have had some experience in boating and boat building, and if you are in want of hands I think I can give you satisfaction." (Charles Maltby, "The Live and Public Services of A.L.x, 1884), p.25. He built a flatboat (80 by 18 feet) together with D. Hanks and J. D. Johnston and with the help of a carpenter named Charles P. Cabanis. (M. Burlingame,~,p. 53.)

I think A. L. valued his experiences as a basis for his first own earnings and thus for his independence and a better future.