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Early in the spring of 1830, the Lincoln family pushed westward 

 once more, this time to the bluffs along the Sangamon River, in Macon 

 County, Illinois. Soon afterward, having reached his majority, 

 Lincoln left his family and began life for himself. 



The facts summarized thus far afford a picture of the early 

 life of the farm-boy Lincoln of a century ago. The farming he knew 

 in his youth was pioneer exploitation rather than settled cultivation, 

 and hardly comparable with the farming of today. His early agricul- 

 tural environment manifested itself in his stories and in the choice 

 of illustrations used in his speeches. 



In 1S32, at the age of twenty-three, Lincoln announced his 

 candidacy for the Illinois legislature. In a long address to the 

 people of Sangamon County, he pointed cut the need for internal im- 

 provements - good roads, navigable streams, and canals, He endorsed 

 railroads, then a new means of transportation, and demanded more 

 careful regulation of banks. He referred to education as the "most 

 important" subject of all. The dexterity with which he handled the 

 issues in this address is early evidence of his native ability as 

 a political strategist. Although defeated in this first attempt to 

 be chosen for public office, he won two years later and served four 

 consecutive terms. Later ha had one term in the National House of 

 Representatives (1847-1849). As has been said, "Lincoln's early 

 public career can be best understood as that of an ardent champion, 

 promoter, booster of his section, state and locality." His years as 

 a lawyer riding the court circuit added to his political sagacity and 

 also to his knowledge of the problems of the pioneer farmer. The 

 result was that during the 1850 's he "came slowly but surely to rep- 

 resent the frontier, the farmer, and the small town democracy. . . as 

 few other men ever represented a people" and emerged as a logical and 

 formidable candidate for the presidency. - Everett E. Edwards. 



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