Lincoln's Life as Depicted in the Museum Exhibits (continued)

Model of a wagon made by Lincoln in 1840.

MIGRATION TO ILLINOIS, 1830. In 1830, when Lincoln was 21 years of age, his family migrated to Decatur, Ill. After assisting in the building of a new cabin, Lincoln left home for New Salem to make his own way in the world, Here he received employment clerking in a store, and later entered the service of his country during the Black Hawk War. He was elected captain of his company and served 3 months without seeing action. Returning from the war, Lincoln became a partner in the Lincoln-Berry store, a venture which proved unsuccessful and left him in debt. In May 1833, he was appointed postmaster at New Salem, and also served as Deputy Surveyor, for which he was paid $3 per day. An original document executed by Lincoln as surveyor, and the staff which he used as a rest for his surveyor's instrument, are shown in one of the Museum cases.

This is one of 3,000 rails split by Lincoln and John Hanks at Decatur, Ill., in 1831.

A rail taken from the fence of Thomas Lincoln's farm near Decatur, Ill., one of some 3,000 split by Lincoln and his cousin John Hanks, is preserved in the Lincoln Museum. Decorated with streamers and bearing the inscription "Abraham Lincoln, the Rail Candidate for President in 1860" it was carried by John Hanks to the Illinois Republican Convention in May 1860. This incident provided an effective slogan for the campaign of 1860.