Lincoln Becomes Postmaster of New Salem

Lincoln was appointed his postmaster's position by President Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, on May 7, 1833.

In Lincoln's 1860 autobiography, he pointed out that the office was "too insignificant" to make politics an objection (he favored the Whig party at the time).

The job didn't support Lincoln completely or require his full-time attention, so he also performed odd jobs such as rail splitting and began work as a land surveyor.