Leadership is not something everyone can do. Some can wage war. Or some can lead a group of friends, but then we find those who can lead a nation. Despite Abraham Lincoln's difficult childhood, Abe was an extraordinary man who changed and inspired many lives. He was also our 16th president who led our nation to achieve great things. He is the type of leader who inspires people to lead and do countless things for others. Abraham was born to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln on February 12, 1809 at Sinking Spring Farm in Hardin County, Kentucky. Abe had a sister and two brothers, Sarah, Thomas and Dennis. Shortly after breathing for the first time, Thomas died unexpectedly from an unknown cause. When Abraham was born, his family owned two 600-acre farms, town lots, livestock, and horses. Thomas Lincoln had all kinds of jobs. From selling and buying farms to serving on juries. It also guarded slaves and prisoners. Later in life he also did some real estate business. The Lincoln family was one of the richest families in the county, but with great power and wealth comes great consequences. Later in 1811, Thomas lost all his land and wealth due to the wrong name in a court case. An even greater disaster occurred. When Abe was only nine years old, his mother died of tremetol, a milk disease. Abraham was left motherless, but not for long. His older sister, Sarah, was left to take care of Abe for a while until their father returned from hunting his future wife. Nearly a year without his father, Abe and his brothers believed their father was dead, until Thomas returned to the farm married to Sarah Bush Johnston. Sometime after Thomas and Sarah's marriage, Abraham's only sister died for giving... half the paper... who had fought so bravely for union and to affirm that all men are equal. “The brave men, living and dead, who fought here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or subtract” (Basler). On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. The Union had won the war. Lincoln had achieved many successes by winning the presidential elections twice and the Gettysburg Address was just a few of them. Along with the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation to highlight the true meaning of freedom. It declared “that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforth shall be free” (Emancipation Proclamation). The proclamation gave a better understanding of what freedom should really look like for all men. Lincoln will forever be remembered as a hero to many, as well as one of the best known leaders America has ever known.