Mark Rehagen aka Abraham Lincoln presented the life story to the students at Jamestown Wednesday, Feb. 18.
In honor of Presidents' Day and the study of United States presidents Sarah Russell's third grade class invited him to come and share his story.
Upon arriving, Lincoln spoke to the kindergarten, first and second graders.
He began telling the children of his childhood and worked all the way up to his presidency. He highlighted his three nicknames of "Rail-Splitter," "Honest Abe" and the "Great Emancipator." He also encouraged them to learn all they could as he was only able to attend school for one year. He shared how his step-mother taught him to read.
The students sat in awe as he told of the story of receiving a letter from one Grace Bedell, 11 years old, informing him he needed to grow whiskers to improve his chances of becoming president.
After his presentation he was met with questions like, "Are you walking on stilts?" "How old are you?" and "Why do they call you honest Abe?" He took time to answer all the questions and share as much knowledge as possible with the children.
All the students were excited to have the special guest but probably one of the most excited was third grader, Treye, who had written his president report on Lincoln. He was eager to listen to see if he said anything he had not already learned.
Rehagen, a member of the Missouri State Friends of the Archives, has been impersonating Lincoln for approximately 13 years. He loves working with the children and answering their questions. Working full-time for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the adult literacy program he manages to make 30-35 appearances at schools just like Jamestown.