The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-30
Eearly Associations of Linc0ln---Annie
Rutlege.

John McNamer was buried last SIM
day pear Petersburg, Menard county. A
long while ago he was Assessor and
Treasurer of the county for several Sue
cessive terms. Mr.. MeNamer was an
early settler in that section, and before
the town of Petersburg was laid out he
was in business at Old Salem, a village
that existed many years ago two miles
south OF the present site Of Petersburg.
Abe Lincoln was then postmaster of the
place and sold whisky to the inhabitants.
There are Old timers yet living in Menard
who bought many a jug OF corn Juice
from Old Abe when he lived at Salem.
1t was here that Annie Rutlege dwelt,
and In whose grave Lincoln wrote that his
heart was buried. As the story runs.
the fair and gentle Annie was originally
John McNamer's sweetheart but Abe
took ''shine' to the young lady, and
succeeded in heading off McNamer, and
won her affections. But Annie Rutlege
died and Lincoln went to Springfield,
where he sometime afterward married.
1t is related that during the war lady,
belonging to prominent Kentucky fam
lily. visited Washington to beg tor her
sons pardon, who was then in prison
under sentence of death for belonging to
band of guerrillas who had committed
many murders and outrages. With the
mother was her daughser, a beautiful
young lady. who was an accomplished mu-
stefan. Mr.. Lincoln received the visitors
In his usual kind manner, and the moth
| er made known the object of her visit,
accompanying her plea with tears and
sobs and all the customary dramatic in
cldents. There were probably extenua-
ting circumstances in favor Of the young
rebel prisoner, and while the President
seemed TO be deeply bordering the young
lady moved to piano near by and tax
ing a seat, commenced to sing "Gentle
Annie," very sweet and touching bal
lad, which, before the war, was famil.
lar song in almost every household in
the Union, and is not yet entirely forgot
ten, for that matter. 1t is to be pre-
sumed the young lady sang the song with
more plaintive effect than Old Abe had
ever heard it in Springfield.
During its rendition he arose from his
seat, crossed the room to a window in
the westward, through which he gazed
for several minutes with that "sad, far
away" look which has so often been
noted as one of his peculiarities. His
memory, no doubt, went back to the days
of his humble life on the banks Of the
Sangamen, and with visions of Old Sa-
lem and its rustic people who once gath
cred in his primitive store came a pic
ture of the "Gentle Annie" of his youth,
whose ashes had rested for many long
years under wild flowers and brambles
Of the old rural burying- ground, but
whose spirit then, perhaps, guided him
to the side of mercy. Be that as it may,
Mr.. Lincoln drew large red silk hand
kerchief 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 tauching in a
great degree, and proves that nice song
well sung has often powerful enfluence
in recalling tender recollections. It
proves, also, that Abraham Lincoln was q
man of fine feelings, and that if the &C.
currence was put up job on the lady's
part, it accomplished its purpose all the
same. There are but few of the Old Sa-
lem friends and companions of Mr.. Lin
} coin still living, and we are told, they are
widely scattered. VIM. G.. Greene, of
Tallula, now wealthy banker and farm
er, was an intimate friend of Lincoln
} while the latter lived at Salem, and, it is
said, loaned him the small capital upon
} which he entered iuto business at that
; place. Mr.. McNamer, whose death We
! chronicle above, was always an admirel
of Mr.. Lincoln, and kept in his posses.
sion many letters written to him by that
gentleman, which he valued very highly