Extra Credit Questions

[David Lockmiller]

Excellent, David! Yes, it was his sister, Sarah. I was a little surprised when I read this as I often think of a young Abraham Lincoln who is shy around the girls.

Details of the story here by Roger Norton. See about half-way down the page.

With a new mother in the home Sarah and Abraham were able to attend school for brief periods. During the winter of 1820 they attended a school taught by Andrew Crawford. In 1822 Sarah and Abraham walked four miles to attend a school taught by James Swaney. In 1824 the Lincoln children attended a school taught by Azel Dorsey. Sarah continued to look after her younger brother. Elizabeth Crawford, who had hired Sarah to work in her home in 1825, told the following story to William Herndon:

Abe Lincoln was one day bothering the girls — his sister & others playing yonder and his Sister Scolded him — Saying Abe you ought to be ashamed of yourself — what do you Expect will become of you? "Be Presdt of the U.S," promptly responded Abe.