Abraham Lincoln, who was our 16th president, was born in the most modest of circumstances in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His entire childhood and early years were spent on the brink of poverty as his pioneering family made repeated fresh starts in the West. Opportunities for education, cultural activities, and even socializing were meager.

Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, who were Abraham Lincoln's parents, set up housekeeping in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Where there they had their first child which was Sarah Lincoln. She was born on February 10, 1807. Then sometime on the month of December in 1808, Thomas bought a hard scrabble farm on the South Fork of Nolin Creek. That is where Abraham Lincoln was born. About two years later the family moved to a more productive farm along Knob Creek.

Like most young children Abraham performed chores when he was young. But sometime he and Sarah did more than stay home and do chores and help their parents. They also went to school sometimes. They attended classes in a log schoolhouse about two miles from where they lived. Nancy had a third child, Thomas But he died in infancy.

Faulty land titles, which were a constant problem to Kentucky settlers, were especially troublesome to Thomas Lincoln. Because of problem in title, he lost part of a farm he had bought before he got married, and both of his other Kentucky farms became involved in the process. For this reason, and because of his problems he decided to move to Indiana, where land could be bought directly from the government.

Abraham was seven years old when, in December 1816, the Lincolns struck out northwestward. They crossed the Ohio River on a ferry near the village of Troy, made their way 16 miles farther north through thick woods and tangled underbrush, and settled near Pigeon Creek, in present Spencer county, Indiana. Thomas hastily threw up a half-faced camp, a rude shelter of logs and boughs, closed on three sides and warmed only by a fire at the open front. Here the family lived while Thomas built a cabin. The region was gloomy, with few settlers, and wild animals prowled in the forest.

The Lincoln's did not stay in Indiana for to long. In 1830 the family moved to Decatur, Illinois. Lincoln, then a while later took a job working as a cashier at a general store. There was always a big crowd in the store. Lincoln was good at telling stories and people believed him and liked to listen to what he had to say. He then soon became a very popular figure of the town. He then ran for office for the Illinois Legislature.