In The Boyhood of Lincoln: A Tale of the Tunker Schoolmaster and the Times of Black Hawk

In Short

This historical tale of the American frontier blends real biography with instructional fiction, tracking young Abraham Lincoln from his rustic boyhood through his rise to national leadership during the Black Hawk War era. Alongside Lincoln’s story runs the journey of Jasper, an eccentric, itinerant Dunkard schoolmaster who wanders the settlements of Indiana and Illinois advocating heart-centered education, nonviolence, and moral strength. Rich with frontier folklore, classroom antics, Indian lore, and moral discourse, the novel endures as an inspiring portrait of how early struggles, selfless choices, and an unshakable commitment to justice build a character fit to guide a nation.

The Story

The narrative opens in the rough pioneer settlements of the Midwest, where standard education consists of harsh discipline and mechanical spelling bees. In Andrew Crawford’s log schoolhouse, a towering, threadbare boy named Abraham Lincoln stands out for his unusual intellect, quiet dignity, and innate empathy for all living creatures. When young Abraham delivers a passionate impromptu speech defending a turtle with a crushed shell from his classmates' cruelty, he catches the eye of Jasper, a wandering Tunker (Dunkard) schoolmaster. Jasper is a gentle missionary following the educational philosophy of Pestalozzi, believing that true education must cultivate the heart before the head. Inspired by the principle that "right makes might," Jasper travels a vast wilderness circuit between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to preach, teach, and spread a gospel of mercy and practical brotherhood.

As Abraham grows into manhood, pursuing books by firelight and working odd jobs, his life intersects with the broader political and racial tensions of the frontier. The region is fraught with anxiety over the encroaching Black Hawk War and past conflicts between white settlers and Native American tribes. Jasper takes under his wing a young Native American named Waubeno, whose father died in a tragic struggle against white men. Bound by a solemn oath to avenge his father’s death, Waubeno harbors a burning fire of hatred in his heart. Jasper patiently endeavors to steer the boy away from vengeance, sharing stories of noble leaders like Shaubena, who worked to save white settlers, and the Marquis de Lafayette, an apostle of universal liberty.

During the Black Hawk conflict, Abraham Lincoln serves as a young volunteer captain. When his men capture an elderly, starving Indian named Main-Pogue and demand his execution as a spy, Lincoln fearlessly steps between the trembling captive and the armed mob. Facing down accusations of cowardice, Lincoln risks his own life to defend the helpless man, allowing Main-Pogue to walk away safely under his protection.

Word of Lincoln’s selfless act of justice reaches Waubeno. Deeply moved that a white man would risk everything to save an old Indian for the simple sake of doing right, Waubeno’s desire for revenge melts away. Later, when rogue agitators ignite a catastrophic prairie fire that threatens to consume the homes and dry fields of Prairie Island, Waubeno rides out into the roaring flames to beat back the blaze. He successfully saves the settlement, but in doing so, he inhales the deadly heat and fire. As he lies dying under the stars, he declares that he gave his life "for Lincoln's sake"—for the man who proved that forgiveness and righteousness surpass revenge. Years pass, and Lincoln's unwavering adherence to conscience carries him through local politics, the halls of Congress, and ultimately to the Presidency on the eve of the Civil War, fulfilling the Tunker’s prophecy that a nation will always seek a leader whose heart it can trust.

How It Unfolds

The frontier classroom In a humble log schoolhouse, Andrew Crawford attempts to teach spelling and manners to raw backwoods youths with mixed success. Abraham Lincoln rises above the chaos, demonstrating a deep, reflective nature when reciting classic poetry and defending an injured turtle against his schoolmates.

The schoolmaster's vision Jasper, a traveling Tunker minister, witnesses Lincoln's defense of the turtle and recognizes the boy's moral potential. He sets out on a sprawling missionary circuit through Illinois and Indiana, determined to teach that true wisdom begins by training the human heart to love doing right.

Tales around the fire In frontier cabins and at local gathering spots, settlers trade harrowing stories of Indian wars, pioneer hardship, and ghost legends. Jasper counters these bitter tales with parables of peace and accounts of honorable Native American chiefs who protected innocent settlers.

Lessons in the marketplace Young Abraham spends his leisure hours studying grammar in wilderness stores and participating in lively debate societies. He earns a reputation for absolute honesty, physical courage, and a persistent faith that moral duty outweighs personal ambition.

A stand for justice During the Black Hawk War, Captain Abraham Lincoln physically shields an old, helpless Indian from a band of angry, bloodthirsty soldiers. He defies his own men at gunpoint, proving his courage and establishing that justice applies to all people regardless of race.

The sacrifice at Prairie Island Inspired by Lincoln’s mercy, the young Indian Waubeno abandons his quest for revenge and rushes to defend a white settlement from a raging prairie fire. He successfully smothers the flames but suffers fatal injuries, dying peacefully with Lincoln’s name upon his lips.

A nation calls Decades later, as the country faces its greatest crisis, the American public turns to Lincoln for leadership. His lifelong habit of choosing principle over policy guides him as he assumes the presidency and calls the nation to preserve the Union.

The People

• Abraham Lincoln: A tall, dark-faced backwoods youth in short buckskin trousers who grows into a compassionate leader. Driven by a quiet passion for learning and an unyielding moral compass, he routinely defends the weak—from mistreated animals to helpless captives—and proves that character outweighs formal privilege.
• Jasper (The Tunker Schoolmaster): An eccentric, itinerant Dunkard preacher and disciple of Pestalozzi. He wanders the frontier with no desire for wealth or fame, seeking only to educate the hearts of pioneer children and reconcile hostile cultures through love and moral instruction.
• Waubeno: A proud young Native American burdened by a bitter oath to avenge his father's tragic death. Trapped between his affection for Jasper and his fiery thirst for retribution, his heart is ultimately transformed by Lincoln's selfless act of mercy.
• Andrew Crawford: A well-meaning, ambitious backwoods schoolmaster who struggles to teach spelling, grammar, and formal courtly manners to rough frontier children using traditional, rigid methods.
• Thomas Lincoln: Abraham’s uneducated, hardworking father, who shares vivid stories of pioneer hardship by the hearth but remains skeptical of his son's dreaminess and poetic inclinations.
• Aunt Olive (Mrs. Eastman): A pragmatic, plain-spoken frontier woman who doubts that the studious, visionary Abraham will ever "amount to shucks," yet warmly provides food and hospitality to wandering preachers.

In Its Own Voice

"The end of education is not to make young people do right, but to train the young heart to love to do right; to make right doing the nature and habit of life." Jasper explains his philosophy of heart-centered education to the backwoods schoolmaster while watching the boys play.

"I stand for justice. Let him come on. I stand alone for right. Let him come on." Young Captain Abraham Lincoln defies his own angry soldiers to protect an old, defenseless Indian captive.

"We kindled the fire for our fathers' sake, and I smote it for him who protected Main-Pogue." The dying Waubeno reveals to Jasper why he risked his life to extinguish the raging prairie fire that threatened the settlement.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book argues that true leadership is rooted in moral character rather than intellect, pedigree, or force. Through its dual focus on Abraham Lincoln’s formative years and Jasper’s educational crusade, the narrative contends that the ultimate purpose of learning is to cultivate empathy and a love for justice. It frames Lincoln’s historical rise not as a series of political maneuvers, but as the natural outcome of a lifetime spent choosing conscience over convenience. Beneath the historical adventure lies a persistent critique of racial hatred and revenge, showing how acts of mercy can break cycles of violence and transform even the most hardened hearts.

Why Read It Today

This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy traditional 19th-century historical fiction, Americana, and uplifting biographical storytelling. Reading it feels like sitting by a crackling hearth listening to an old-fashioned storyteller weave folklore, pioneer history, and moral instruction into a single narrative tapestry. It offers an intimate, highly romanticized glimpse into the frontier culture that forged one of America's most iconic presidents.

Modern readers should be prepared for the book's period style, which includes deliberate uses of regional dialect, sentimental prose, and episodic plotting that occasionally pauses for lengthy historical digressions. Additionally, its portrayal of Native Americans reflects 19th-century literary conventions—balancing a genuine sympathy for Indian grievances with paternalistic idealization. Despite these period artifacts, the book's central message remains deeply resonant. What stays with you is the powerful portrayal of young Lincoln standing entirely alone against a hostile crowd, demonstrating that true moral courage consists of doing what is right when it is most difficult.