John Hanks, a Cousin

John Hanks, a Cousin

By Kathleen M. Brosius

“I do not think much of a man who is not

 wiser today than he was yesterday.”

Abraham Lincoln

Rural life in Kentucky was difficult for folks early in the 19^th Century. Subsistence farming was the prominent way of life, and people worked hard hoping that after the family was fed, there may be enough crops to sell. The death of a child was common during those years. Children often lost a parent or both due to the hardships, as well. During this time, young John Hanks found himself alone, having lost both parents. In need of a home, his mother’s cousin invited the lad to live with them. The family welcomed the extra hand to help with the farming.

Deep in the woods in a small log cabin in Knob Creek, Kentucky, young John found happiness; he and his cousin became best friends. Many times, the two were hired by nearby farmers to help out. They planted crops, helped with livestock, and outdoor chores. They built log cabins and cleared land of unwanted brush. The toughest, yet to them the most enjoyable, was spitting rails for building and for making fences. The money they earned was given the family to help with expenses.  

As teenagers, the cousins had grown tall and strong. The boys never had the opportunity to acquire a formal education. Young John was too busy with outdoor activities. His younger cousin did learn to read from the little bit of schooling he did have and by his mother and later stepmom. He read everything he could get his hands on from the Bible to Shakespeare.

As they matured, the cousins went their separate ways, but always kept the close relationship. John hugged his cousin good-bye promising to keep in touch. “I’ll be back,” John promised. His cousin nodded and watched his boyhood friend disappear down the road.

John loved boating and it was not long before he became an expert boatman. He was hired by a man in Illinois to ferry a shipment of goods from Springfield, MO to New Orleans. He visited his cousin and invited him to join him. “We will make 50 cents a day.”

Abe answered, with glee. “Yes, John, yes. I will go with you.” Abe was tired of living in the woods. He was tired of building log cabins and fences. He longed for a different life, so he was eager to join his cousin. They bought a canoe and set off paddling down the Sangamon River. Abe complained during the whole trip, “This is the worst river, I’ve ever been on, John.” He added, “Look at the logs and boulders; and all the zig-zag turns.” But they made it. Both men were happy to finally realize that their first destination, Sangamon Town, was just up ahead.

John had made arrangements to meet Denton Offutt, who had the goods ready and waiting for shipment. “We can pull in right over in that stretch of bank.” They paddled into shore, pulled the canoe up and into the weeds and walked to town. There, they met up with Abe’s stepbrother, John Johnston, who joined the group.

Abe asked Cousin John, “What will we haul these goods with?”

John said, “I don’t rightly know. I expect that Mr. Offutt has that all arranged. “I’ve worked on the longboats. I would assume that we’ll be cruising down the river on one of them.”

At Sangamon City, they searched for Mr. Offutt. Nowhere to be found, they looked inside the local saloon. There they found the gentleman, his head nestled on his folded arms on a table. He apparently had enjoyed a night of card playing and drinking. Cousin John, remarked, “Well, looks like our boss man likes to party.”

Abe added a colorful comment, sending laughter throughout the saloon. His long strides took him to the sleeping Mr. Offutt. “Excuse me, sir,” he said. “We’re here to take a load of supplies down to New Orleans.”

Mr. Offutt jumped, stood, steadied himself and cleared his throat. Grabbing his hat, he slapped it on his messed-up head of hair and said, “Yes,” clearing his throat again. “Yes, I’ve got it already to go.” He straightened his back and headed for the door, the three young men from the hills in tow.

Offutt cleared his throat again and began telling the young men his plans. “I don’t have a flatboat.” He continued, “I’m hoping that you fellas can build one. I’ll pay ya. Don’t you worry about that.”

The three stared at each other, confused at this request. Where they would get the tools, and the wood, became their priority. John Hanks spoke first. “There’s a woods not too far from town. I remember seeing a good-sized patch of “old growth trees” just right for making a flatboat.”

At the site of the trees, about seven miles northeast of town, the men began their work. Abe took charge. He was a natural leader. Having built log cabins and had once ridden in a longboat, he felt that the job wasn’t going to be so hard. The three cut the trees needed, used a local mill to make the lumber and set to work.

After several weeks of toil, an 80’ by 18’ longboat was presented to Mr. Offutt for approval. The boat had a small cabin set in the middle. Abe pointed out, “It has a flat roof so that supplies can be secured on top.”

Stepbrother John added, “Or one of us can sit up there, sort of, as a look out.”

Mr. Offutt was impressed. He noticed the long poles protruding out of holes on each side of the bow of the craft, for steering; In the rear, the boat also had a rudder.

The longboat was loaded with packages of slab bacon, sacks of corn, barrels of pork, live hogs, and other goods. The next morning, bright and early, Mr. Offutt and the three-man crew began the long trip to New Orleans.

Abe, happy about the long-anticipated journey finally beginning, called to his crew, “We look like a piece of driftwood floating down a stream of newly melted snow.” He laughed as he said it, always ready to make fun of himself, his awkward ways, ill-fated clothing, and his accomplishments, with humble remarks.

The passengers laughed with him. “I think that I’ll make a steamboat, to travel down these meandering waters, Abe,” Mr. Offcutt said. “And I will make you the captain.”

Abe was pleased to hear of Mr. Offcutt’s confidence in him, but he didn’t dwell on the concept of becoming a captain of a steamboat. He longed for bigger things. He was a learned man and dreamed of becoming a lawyer, someone who would be able to help the people.

The longboat was difficult to maneuver. The inexperienced crew did their best to navigate the winding stream. Approaching the town of New Salem on the Sangamon, the crew wasn’t aware that a mill dam had been built on one side of the river. Its purpose was to divert the fast-moving water to one specific area producing energy for a water wheel. The dam was almost invisible to boat traffic. The crew, not knowing this, ran smack into the dam. The boat got hung up, thus stopping short the longboat.

Abe took charge and located a small raft from the towns people who had gathered to watch the “show.” The crew began transferring the cargo onto the raft. As the longboat grew lighter, Abe augured a hole close to the front of the craft to allow the rapidly sinking boat to relieve itself of river water. That being done, the crew was able to pry the boat free and maneuver it over the obstruction. Once reloaded with the cargo, down the river they once again floated.

The townspeople were amazed at the tall, lanky fellow, who seemed to be a natural river boat man, problem solver, and leader. As were his crewmates, including Mr. Offcutt, They, as well as the people who had watched the scene, encouraged the young Abe to follow his dream in becoming a man for the people.

Beyond the dam fiasco, the river continued to test the crew’s patience and ingenuity. Slow moving water over shallow areas, demanded the crew to be extremely cautious and aware of log jams and sunken sandbars. The meandering river produced sharp turns and jagged stumps that lay just below the surface, waiting to rip the longboat from bow to stern. As much as Abe’s hate for the Sangamon River grew, he appreciated how the challenge forced his cleverness and resourcefulness.

The longboat carrying the crew, the boss man, and the cargo finally said farewell to the Sangamon River. A short trip down the Illinois River, and they entered the Mississippi River at Cairo, Ill. A short stay at Cairo, the crew resumed their journey to the South. The river took them by Vicksburg and Natchez, eventually to New Orleans. Once relieved of their cargo, the longboat was disassembled, the logs and lumber sold. They were paid what was promised to them plus a $60.00 each bonus.

“Look at this,” John Hanks said, as he proudly counted his money.

John Johnston agreed. He carefully folded his earnings and stuffed the wad deep into his pocket. “I am going to hang on to as much of this as I can,” he said. “When I get back home, I’ve got some bills to pay and a wife to fuss over.” He patted his pocket, a satisfying smile on his face.

Abe’s attention had turned to a square in the middle of town. He had stashed his earnings in his pocket, as well, “What is going on over there?” he asked, turning toward his pals. The three of them followed the noise. They heard yelling and what sounded like an auction. Abe had never been to an auction. John Hanks had and knew what was going on.

They pushed through the crowd, through people calling out questions, comments, and bids. They heard crying and cussing. They saw a line of dark-skinned people linked together by chains behind the center scaffold. “What is going on?” Abe whispered. He looked at his cousin. “What is this?”

John’s answer appalled Abe, sending distressing emotions through him. It was his first sight of slave trade. After watching the spectacle, there was nothing that he could do that day, but from that moment forward, his quest was to stop this horrifying treatment of humanity.

John Hanks became Abe Lincoln’s right-hand man in the campaign to carry him to the presidency. He later, with the help of his son, wrote journals recalling Mr. Lincoln’s life. John visited the White House several times and attended the President-elect’s inauguration. The next time he saw his cousin, his old friend, his President, was at the President’s funeral.