Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln was born 13 December 1788 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky to Christopher Bush (1742-1813) and Hannah Davis (1745-1835) and died 10 April 1869 Charleston, Coles County, Illinois of unspecified causes. She married Daniel Johnston (1782-1816) 13 March 1806 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky.
Biography
Sarah Bush is famously known as the illiterate stepmother of future US President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) who encouraged him to pursue reading and studies that prepared him for a spectacular career as lawyer and statesman.
Sarah was first married to Daniel Johnston (1782-1816) who died early, leaving her a young widow with three little children. Sometime in 1818, Thomas Lincoln (1778-1851) became a widower when Abraham was only 9 years old. One day he left the backwoods of Indiana, walked back into Hardin County, Kentucky and came right to her door to propose marriage. Quickly married, the second for both, Sarah age 31 and Thomas age 41, they loaded up a wagon with Sara's things and headed for the Thomas' farm in Indiana. Soon, Abraham and his sister found out they had a new mother as well as three new playmates.
Sarah continued to live at the Coles County farm until her death at age 80 leaving over twenty grandchildren to mourn her. She was interred beside her second husband, Thomas Lincoln.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Sarah Elizabeth Johnston (1806-1864) | 1 June 1806 Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky | 18 December 1864 Charleston, Coles County, Illinois | Dennis Friend Hanks (1799-1892) |
| Matilda Johnson (1809-1878) | 1809 Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky | 20 February 1878 Charleston, Coles County, Illinois | Squire Levi Hall (1805-1851) |
| John Daniel Johnston (1810-1860) | 10 May 1810 Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky | 20 September 1860 Muddy, Saline County, Illinois | Mary Barker (1816-1850) Nancy Jane Williams (1836-) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| William Bush (1763-1840) | |||
| Samuel Bush (1772-1812) | |||
| Hannah Bush (1777-1856) | |||
| Isaac Bush (1779-1827) | |||
| Rachel Bush (1780-1848) | |||
| Elijah Bush (1784-1851) | |||
| Sarah Bush (1788-1869) | 13 December 1788 Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky | 10 April 1869 Charleston, Coles County, Illinois | Daniel Johnston (1782-1816) Thomas Lincoln (1778-1851) |
References
- Thomas Lincoln Cemetery - FindAGrave Memorial #8256