He soon began to make a practical application of his legal knowledge.  He bought an old form-book and began to draw up contracts, deeds, leases, mortgages, and all sorts of legal instruments for his neighbors.  He also began to exercise his forensic ability in trying small cases before justices of the peace and juries, and soon acquired a local reputation as a speaker, which gave him considerable practice.  But he was able in this way to earn scarcely money enough for his maintenance.  To add to his means, he took up the study of surveying, and soon became, like Washington, a skilful and accurate surveyor.  John Calhoun, an intelligent and courteous gentleman, was at that time surveyor of the county of Sangamon.  He became interested in Lincoln and appointed him his deputy.  His work was so accurate and the settlers had such confidence in him that he was much sought after to survey, fix, and mark the boundaries of farms, and to plot and lay off the town of Petersburg.  His accuracy must have been attained with some difficulty, for when he began to survey his chain was a grape-vine.  He did not speculate in the land he surveyed.  Had he done so the rapid advance in the value of real estate would have made it easy for him to make good investments.  But he was not in the least like one of his own appointees when President,—­a surveyor-general of a Western territory, who bought up much of the best land, and to whom the President said, “I am told, sir, you are monarch of all you survey.”

The nomination of Lincoln for the State Legislature on his return from the Black Hawk War was premature.  The people of New Salem voted for him almost to a man, but his acquaintance had not then extended into the surrounding district far enough to insure his election.  In the campaign of 1834 the choice of a candidate again fell upon him, and this time there was a prospect of success.  Lincoln entered into the contest with earnestness, and used every legitimate means to secure a victory.  Mr. Herndon relates the following incident of this campaign:  “Lincoln came to my house, near Island Grove, during harvest.  There were some thirty men in the field.  He had his dinner, and then went out into the field where the men were at work.  I introduced him, and the boys said they would not vote for a man unless he could ‘make a hand.’  ‘Well, boys,’ he said, ‘if that is all that is needed I am sure of your votes.’  He took hold of the cradle and led the way all around with perfect ease.  The boys were satisfied.  I don’t think he lost a vote in that crowd.  The next day there was speaking at Berlin.  He went from my house with Dr. Barnett, who had asked me who this man Lincoln was.  I told him he was a candidate for the Legislature.  He laughed and said, ’Can’t the party raise better material than that?’ I said, ’Go to-morrow and hear him before you pass judgment.’  When he came back I said, ’Doctor, what have you to say now?’ ‘Why, sir,’ he said, ’he is a perfect take-in.  He knows more than all the rest of them put together.’”