Sam Haycraft Jr. [1795-1878] the famous pioneer historian. He wrote HAYCRAFTS HISTORY OF ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY. His father was one of the original settlers of E-town and the family had many dealings with the father of Abraham Lincoln. Haycraft Sr. owned a farm next to the Lincolns in the Mill Creek community. Haycraft doubtless saw the young Abe Lincoln at times when Tom Lincoln came to the court house where Sam Haycraft was the clerk. He had a correspondence with President Lincoln, the letters still exist. Its interesting to note that even though Abraham Lincoln was from the Elizabethtown area that Haycraft's vote in the 1860 election is believed to have been one of only six cast for Lincoln in Hardin County. An 1810 document signed by Haycraft, from Hardin Co. [Elizabethtown] Kentucky. Approx. 8 x 4-3/4". Signed by Ben Helm on the verso.BEN HELM (1779-1858). Born in Virginia, his father, Thomas Helm, moved his family to Hardin County, Kentucky in 1780. Young Ben thus became a pioneer and became noted for his success as an Indian fighter. Major Ben Helm was the uncle of John Larue Helm, governor of Kentucky and grandfather of Confederate General Ben Hardin Helm who married Emilie Todd, sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Ben Helm, married Mary Edwards, the daughter of Benjamin Edwards and was a sister of Governor Ninian Edwards. It was the governor's son and namesake who married Elizabeth Todd, sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Thus there was a connection with Mary Todd Lincoln on both sides of Ben Helm's family. Ben Helm was a prominent citizen of Elizabethtown who served as a merchant and bank president. He was County Surveyor and was a member of the Town Board, Clerk of Hardin County Court and the Circuit Court and a major in the War of 1812. He as County Surveyor and the first to survey Elizabethtown, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Helm built the first brick house in Elizabethtown that became an important social and meeting center of town. On May 28, 1860, Abraham Lincoln referred to Ben Helm in a letter to Samuel Haycraft. Ben Helm also became the owner of the Christopher Bush farm. It was Bush's daughter Sarah that became Abraham Lincoln's step-mother when Abe's mother, Nancy Hanks died of milk disease.

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