“The early life of Abraham Lincoln was marked by significant loss, most notably the death of his mother, Nancy Lincoln, in 1818. He was nine years old. Her death resulted from ‘milk sickness,’ a common and fatal ailment caused by consuming milk from cows that had ingested poisonous white snakeroot. This experience, including his involvement in constructing her coffin, had a profound effect on the young Lincoln.”
Early Influences and Family Dynamics
- Thomas Lincoln’s Background:
- Thomas Lincoln’s character was shaped by his own traumatic childhood. At the age of eight, he witnessed the death of his father during an attack by Native Americans. This event contributed to his reserved and often stern demeanor.
- Formation of a Blended Family:
- Following Nancy Lincoln’s death, Thomas Lincoln married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They formed a blended family, with Sarah and her three children moving to Indiana.
Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln’s Impact on Abraham Lincoln
- Intellectual Nurturing:
- Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln played a crucial role in Abraham Lincoln’s intellectual development. Unlike Thomas Lincoln, who often discouraged his son’s reading, Sarah encouraged his curiosity. She provided him with books, which were scarce and valuable resources on the frontier.
- This support fostered a close relationship between them. Abraham Lincoln referred to her as “Mama” throughout his life.
Final Visit and Subsequent Events
- Final Farewell:
- In January 1861, shortly before his inauguration, Abraham Lincoln visited Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln in Charleston, Illinois. During this visit, she expressed concerns for his safety, predicting his assassination.
- Lincoln reassured her, but they did not meet again.
- Later Years:
- Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln died in 1869, at the age of 80.
- A daguerreotype of Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln, taken shortly before her death, remains as a historical record.
Additional Information
- Early Frontier Life:
- The Lincoln family’s early life was characterized by the hardships of frontier living, including the prevalence of diseases like “milk sickness.”
- The scarcity of resources, including books, made Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln’s support of Abraham Lincoln’s education particularly significant.
- Family Relationships:
- The contrast between Thomas Lincoln’s and Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln’s attitudes towards Abraham Lincoln’s intellectual pursuits highlights the complex dynamics of their blended family.
- Abraham Lincoln’s enduring affection for Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln underscores her positive influence on his life.
Conclusion
“The early life of Abraham Lincoln, marked by loss and shaped by the contrasting influences of his father and stepmother, played a significant role in his development. Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln’s support of his intellectual growth was particularly influential. Historical records, including a daguerreotype, document her role in his life.”
