Snopes.com does a nice job of investigating each of these dates and determining what's true and what's not.

1816 - Family was forced out of home, and he had to work to support them
1818 - His mother died
1831 - Failed in business
1832 - Lost election for legislature
1832 - Lost his job
1832 - Wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in
1833 - Began a business and went bankrupt, spent next 17 years paying off the debt
1835 - Sweetheart died
1836 - Nervous breakdown
1838 - Sought to become speaker of legislature and was defeated
1843 - Defeated for Congress
1848 - Defeated for re-election to Congress
1849 - Rejected for job of land officer
1854 - Defeated for US Senate
1856 - Defeated for Vice President
1858 - Defeated for US Senate
1860 - Elected President of the United States

Something to think about. Never quit trying.