Lincoln Occupation Period Thomas Lincoln made his first journey
to Indiana to inspect lands available for purchase in the autumn
of 1816. He settled upon a quarter-section of land in what was
then Hurricane Township, Perry County. It comprised the
southwest quarter of Section 32, Township 4 S, Range 5 W, and
was located along the east-west trace separating Congressional
townships 4 and 5. After the organization of Spencer County in
1818, the Lincoln farm was part of Section 32 in Carter
Township, and was bounded on the south by Sections 5 and 6 of
Clay Township. This area was among the territory originally
surveyed by Federal surveyors in 1805. At that date, the
surveyors described the terrain as level, with some stands of
oak and hickory trees, and dense brush. Much of the timber had
been burned, but second growth forests were becoming established
when Lincoln first visited. The territory in nearby Section 31
of Carter Township was noted as level barrens with poor
drainage, while Section 33 was chiefly botto