Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States from 1861 to 1865. During this time, he kept the Union together during the Southern Secession and the Civil War, and brought about the end of slavery in the United States. Lincoln was born on the American frontier in a log cabin in Kentucky. At 7 years old, Abe moved to Indiana with his family. Bears and other wild animals roamed the forest. As in Kentucky, a log cabin provided shelter for the Lincolns in Indiana log cabin sheltered many Americans at that time and did not signify poverty. His family was as comfortable as most of their neighbours and Abe was well fed and clothed. Abe's mother died in 1818 when he was 9. A year later, his father married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow. Abe's new stepmother had three of her own children and brought them with her to the Lincoln Cabin. Her arrival at the cabin ended the long months of loneliness that had followed the death of Abe's mother. Education was a problem for Abraham Lincoln on the frontier of 19th Century America. Books and paper were scarce. Young Abe was an eager reader and learner, and he would walk long distances to borrow books. At night he read by the light of the fireplace. Like other children of his time, Abe made his own arithmetic textbook, several pages of which still exist. Though Abraham Lincoln had less than a year of formal schooling, he continued studying throughout his life and educated himself. He went on to become a lawyer, a member of the United States House of Representatives, an outstanding writer and speaker, and of course, President of the United States.