Lincoln came to New Salem in 1831. He was 22 years old, unskilled, and no money. He educated himself through the interest and kindness of local mentors who loaned him books to read and instructed him in law and introduced him to politics. It is claimed Lincoln taught himself to be a lawyer when a partner here with William Berry during the periods of slow business. Berry, on the other hand, drank too much of the store's whiskey and the partnership, as Lincoln put it, soon "winked out."

The site is on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Salem, Illinois.

Go Back to the Kay Smith Global Art Gallery

This watercolor painting is part of a larger historical painting series by Kay Smith, Artist Laureate of Illinois.
Visit Kay Smith's website to see additional paintings.