What are the important questions surrounding Lincoln?

[RJNorton]

Rob, I will comment on the paternity question. I think an excellent source on that is William E. Barton's book entitled "The Paternity of Abraham Lincoln." It examines in great detail all of the various rumors - (1) that Lincoln was the son of Abraham Enlow, a farmer from Hardin County, Kentucky; (2) that Lincoln was the son of George Brownfield, another Hardin County farmer; (3) that Lincoln was the son of Abraham Inlow, a miller from Bourbon County, Kentucky; (4) that Lincoln was the son of an alleged foster son(named Andrew) of Chief Justice John Marshall; (5) that Lincoln was the son of Abraham Enloe of North Carolina; (6) that Lincoln was the son of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina; and (7) that Lincoln was the son of Martin D. Hardin of Kentucky.

After examining all the evidence on these 7 fathers, Barton concludes there is no question Thomas Lincoln was the true father of Abraham Lincoln.

Perhaps the Abraham Enloe of North Carolina story is the one that receives the most attention. According to David Herbert Donald, in his highly-rated "Lincoln," the popular but false North Carolina legend as well as all others have long ago been "exploded" by professional research. It is "utterly groundless" according to Donald.