Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-01-11
Mr.. LinCOgn's Early LiGe--Hnter-
estfng Reminiscence--A visit
10 one of his Humble Friends.

10 one Oh MS uutmDtS EEIenuSs
Correspondence OF the Chicago Republican,
HAVANA, Mason Co., ILL.,, Dec. IA.
Happening to be in the eastern portion of
this County, few days ago, l called to see
o Mrs. Wilcox formerly Mrs. Armstrong.
Years ago, when this goodly State of ours
was comparatively new, there came to the
tile village Of Salem, Monard County, q tall,
plain, and rather awkward young man, to
help in the mill, tend store, and make him.
sell generally useful. After serving in this
capacity some time, and making friends of
all who came in contact of him, at mill or
grocery. be was appointed County Survey
or, and went to live with farmer named
This Mrs. Wilcox whom went to see was
the wife of this Armstrong, and the slen.
der, rawboned shop-tender and surveyor was
Abraham Lincoln.
"The first time I ever saw him." " said
Mrs. W., 81 went trading. l told Arm
strong as soon as got home there was a
new clerk at the store, and liked him first
rate, he was so pleasant and kind. A few
days aftcrward Armstrong went to mill, and
when he came home he told me be had seen
the new clerk l Dragged about so much and
he liked him too They had got to lifting in
the mill a parcel of them, and tho clerk
outlifted every man there. ~
=" Well, he lived with you, did he not,
afterward ?"
"Yes; as soon as he got to surveying he
came to our house, and made it his home.
| made two pair Of deer-skin breeches for
hm-shirts, too. Armstrong used to carry
chain for him. They were great cronies
Wherever Armstrong went, Lincoln would
90 too. lie was poor, and had no horse I;
we had several, and he always rode one Of
our creatures. Sometimes they would be
gone a week at time to jacksonville,
| Springfield, or somewhere else. They lied
about him when he was nominated for the
Presidency said he used to drink, but he
| never did. | never saw or heard of his
drinking. The young folks thought him
kind Of queer. When there was fiolc, or
any doings among them, he would always
go, but nevar dance or cut up. He amused
himself by playing with the children, or tell
ing some funny story to the old folks. Yes
he stayed with US till we moved to Missouri,
and never saw him angry the whole time
He used to say hs would never marry
untl he could support wife comfortably
and he didn't We lived in Missouri Il iC
years, and when we came back he had gont
10 Springfield went down there trading
picNtY eptu, anu was standing IN II store
door looking at the folks, when | saw hin
coming down the street. A lady was with
him, 'his wife. and everybody was bowinl
and shaking hands with him. stood uf
straight in the door, little back like, think
ing maybe he would not want to see me
with his wife and all those people around
never could puto on any airs and he knew it
D He saw me, though, before he got to me
aud came up laughing and shaking hands
real glad to see me; asked after Armstrong
and all the rest, just as if he was one Of tn,
family. tell you, Mr.. T., he was kind
good hearted man, and true gentleman. -
lie defended my son her son was tried fo
homicide and acquitted, and after the trial
when told him had no money to pay
him, he laughed at me, and told me when
ever was in any trouble to come to him. -
Everybody told me wss foolish to write t,
him about nay son, who was sick in tn
army, that he had enough else to attend Il
now, besides looking after me and my fami
ly. But when teegraphic Dispatch dis
charging my son, and q letter to me, too
came, they found out that he had not for
gotten his old home down in Menard" "