Daily Republican., 1879-03-18
MEMORIES OF LINCOLN.
HIS Early Love, and the Song,
"Gentle Annie"

HIS early Love, anu the SOnE,
"Gentle Annie"
From the Virginia, ILL.,, Enquirerl
John McNamer was buried last Sun
day near Petersburg, Menard county.
A long while ago he was assessor and
treasurer Of the county for several sue
cessivs terms. Mr.. McNamer was an
early settler in that section, and before
the town Of Petersburg was laid out
was in business at Old Salem, q village
that existed many years ago two miles
south of the presen. site of Petersburg.
Abe Lincoln was then postmaster of
the place, and sold whisky.to its in.
habitants. There are old timers yet liv-
ing in Menard who bought many a jug
of corn juice from Old Abe when he
lived at Salem, 1t was here that Annie
Rutledge dwelt, and in whose grave Lin.
coin wrote that his hear twas luried. As
the old story runs, the fair and gentle
Annie was originally John McNamer's
sweetheart, but Abe took a "shine" to
the young lady, and succeeded in head
ing off MeNamer and won her affections.
But Annie Rutlsdge died and Lin
coin went to Springfield, where he
sometime afterward married. 1t is re-
lated that during the war lady be-
longing to prominent Kentucky fam
lily visited Washington to beg for her
sons pardon, who was then in prison
under sentence of death, for belonging
to band of guerillas, who had com
mittsd many murders and outrages.
With the mother was her daughter, a
beautiful young lady, who was an &c
complished musician. Mr.. Lircoln re.
ceived the visitors in his usual kind
manner, and the mother made known
the object of her visit, accompanying
her plea with tears and sobs and all
the customary dramatic incidents.
There probably were extenuating cir.
cumstances in favor of the young rebel
prisoner, and while the President SEEM
cd to be deeply ponderihg the young
lady moved to a piano near by, and
taking seat, commenced to sing Gen
tie Annie" very sweet and pathetic
ballad which, before the war, was a
familiar song in almost every house.
hold in the Union, and Is not yet en-
tirely forgotten for that matter.
1t is to BE- presumed the young lady
sang the song with more plaintiveness
and effect than Old Abe had ever heard
it in Springfield. Dnring its rendition
he arose fro,n his seat, crossed the
room to window in the westward,
through which he gazed several min
utes with that "sad, far away look, "
which has been 80 often noted IS one OF
his peculiariti, His memory, no
doubt. went back to the days of his
humble life on the bank. Of the Sanga-
mon, and, with visions OF old Salem
and its rustic people who once gathered
in his primitive store, came picture
of "Gentle Annie" Of his youth, whose
ashes had rested for many long years
under the wild flowers and bramblss
of the old burying ground, but whose
spirit then, perhaps, guided him to the
side Of mercy. Be that as it may, Mr..
Lincoln drew red silk handkerchief
from his coat pocket, with which he
blew his nose vigorously.
Then he turned, advanced quickly
to his desk, wrote brief note, which
he handed to the lady, and Informed
her that it was the pardon she sought.
The scene was, no doubt, touching in
a great degree, and proves that nice
song we'll sung has often a powerful in
auence in recalling tender recollec-
tions. 1t proves also that Abraham
lincoln was man OF fine feelings and
that il the occurrence was "put.up
job" on the lady's part, it accomplish
ed its purpose all the same.
There are but few Of the Old Salem
friends and companions Of Mr.. Lincoln
still living, ana we are told, they are
widely scattered. William g. Greene,
of Tallula, now a wealthy banker and
farmer, was an intimate friend of Lin
coins while the latter lived at Salem,
and, IT is said, loaned him the small
capital upon which he entered into
business at that place. Mr.. McNamer,
whose death we chronicle above, was
always an admirer of Mr.. Lincoln, and
kept in his possession many letters
written to him by that gentleman which
he valued very hi : hly.