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CHALLENGED ALL COMERS.
Personal encounters were of frequent occurrence in Gentryville in early
days, and the prestige of having thrashed an opponent gave the victor
marked social distinction. Green B. Taylor, with whom "Abe" worked the
greater part of one winter on a farm, furnished an account of the noted
fight between John Johnston, "Abe's" stepbrother, and William Grigsby,
in which stirring drama "Abe" himself played an important role before
the curtain was rung down.
Taylor's father was the second for Johnston, and William Whitten
officiated in a similar capacity for Grigsby. "They had a terrible
fight," related Taylor, "and it soon became apparent that Grigsby was
too much for Lincoln's man, Johnston. After they had fought a long time
without interference, it having been agreed not to break the ring, 'Abe'
burst through, caught Grigsby, threw him off and some feet away. There
Grigsby stood, proud as Lucifer, and, swinging a bottle of liquor over
his head, swore he was 'the big buck of the lick.'
"'If any one doubts it,' he shouted, 'he has only to come on and whet
his horns.'"
A general engagement followed this challenge, but at the end of
hostilities the field was cleared and the wounded retired amid the
exultant shouts of their victors.
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Stories and Anecdotes About the Life of Abraham Lincoln
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