A Backwoods Boy

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    Abraham Lincoln's Early Years

  • Abraham Lincoln born near Hodgenville, KY.

  • Lincoln's father moves the family to Indiana when Lincoln was seven years old.

  • Young Lincoln loses his second mother to when she died of "milk sickness."

  • At the age of 17, Abraham left home to work as a ferryman's helper on the Ohio River.

  • Young Lincoln helped his father and stepmother move to central Illinois.

  • Finding himself at loose ends, Lincoln decided to run for the Illinois state legislature.

  • Lincoln again decided to run for public office. He placed second in a field of thirteen candidates and was one of four men elected to the Illinoise House of Representatives.

  • After three years of studying, Lincoln padded his law exams and was admitted to practice law on this date in history.