Quite a few years back, I'll guess 1976, I read an article in "The State" newspaper that claimed that Lincoln got the nickname of Honest Abe not because he walked many miles to repay a woman a few cents that he had shorted her but he got the name because he was a fair and just referee at cock fights.

Quote:

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Why is Abraham Lincoln called Honest Abe?

abraham Lincoln was a honest refferee at cockfighting events. Due to his honesty over the fights he soon developed the name Honest Abe.
Some one gave him the wrong amount of change, so he walked a long distance to give it to him.
Abe was also a well known cockpit referee. He always judged everyone fairly, despite reputation of their fowl, and he never lied about a match. Quite a few of the other FOUNDING FATHERS were well into chicken fighting.

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