THE WAUPACA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

May 27, 1881

 

The First Time Abraham Lincoln Swore

From a Galena Letter.

 

            Lincoln went to work for a man named Kirkpatrick who promised him $13 a month. Ten was about the usual price but Lincoln was very strong and Kirkpatrick who ran a saw-mill, said it would save him buying a jack-screw to handle the logs with if he got Lincoln, so he promised to pay him $13.  When they came to settle up, Kirkpatrick wouldn’t pay him but ten and Lincoln was pretty mad.  By the way that led to the first oath I ever heard Lincoln use.  I don’t know but it was the last, too.  You see, about that time the Black Hawk war broke out, and we organized a company.  The adjutant came over from Springfield, and the men – about 100 – were drawn up in line.  The adjutant told us that the governor would appoint field officers, the colonel, major, etc., but we could elect our own captain.  We had understood this, and there were two candidates, Lincoln and Kirkpatrick.  When we were in line the adjutant asked the candidates to step ten paces in front of the men, and when Lincoln and Kirkpatrick came out he told us that all who wanted Lincoln should form a line by him, and all who wanted Kirkpatrick could go to his side.  I was very eager for Lincoln, and the minute the word was given I ran and stood at his elbow.  The others followed according to their choice, and in forming the two lines they became rather crooked, everyone planted to see how many each candidate had.  Lincoln was so tall that he could see over all our heads, and when the last man had taken his place and before the adjutant had counted noses, he saw that he had triumphed, and he slapped me on the shoulder and said:  “Bill, “I’ll be d----d if I hain’t beat him!”

            I think he was more pleased at beating Kirkpatrick, and thus in a manner of getting even with him for his dishonesty, that he was in secure the captaincy of the company.