The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-04-04
REcoLLEcTloNs OF LINCOLN.
DEATH OF AN OLD FRIEND OF THE MAR
TYR RAIL SPLITTER PRESIDENT - MR..
LINCoLN's SWEETHEART.

John McNamer was buried last Sunday
near Petersburg, Menara county. A long
while ago he was Assessor and Treasurer
of the county for several successive terms
Mr.. McNamer was early settler in that sec
tion, and before the town Of Petersburg
was laid ont he was in business at Ole
Salem, village that existed many years
ago two miles south of the present site Of
| Petersburg. Abe Lincoln was then post
master of the place, and sold whisky to its
inhabitants. There are old-timers yet liv.
ing in Menard who bought many jug Of
corn-iuice from Old Abe when he lived al
Salem. It was here that Annie Rutledge
dwelt, and in whose grave Lincoln wrote
that his heart was buried. AS the old story
runs, the fair and gentle Annie was origl-
nally John McNamer's sweetheart, but
Abe took "shine" to the young lady,
and succeeded in heading off McNamer and
won her affections. But Annie Rutledge
died, and Lincoln went to Springfield,
where he some time afterward married. 1t
is related that during the war lady be-
longing to a prominent Kentucky family
visited Washington to beg for her sons
pardon, who was then in prison under SEN
tence of death, for belonging to q band of
guerrillas who had committed many MUIR
ders and outrages. With the mother was
her daughter, beautiful young lady, who
was an accomplished musician. Mr.. Lin
coin received 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 circumstances in favor of the
young rebel prisoner, and while the Presi-
dent seemed to be deeply pondering. the
young lady moved to piano near by, and,
taking seat, commenced to sing "Gentle
ANNIE" very sweet and pathetic ballad,
which, before the war, was familiar song
in almost every household in the Union,
and not yet entirely 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. 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 been so often
notsd as one of his peculiarities. His
memory, no doubt, went back to the days
Of his humble life on the banks of the San
CANON, and, with visions of Old Salem and
its rustic psople who once gathered in his
primitive store, came a picture of the
"Gentle Annie" of his youth, whose ashes
had remained for many long years under
the wild flowers and brambles of the old
burying. ground, but whose spirit then,
perhaps, guided him to the side Of marry.
But that as it NAV. Mr~E.iseoin drew red
sill b.,-..-SIcn1ef from his coat-pocket,
with which he blew his nose yigororslys
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 great degree. and
proves that a nice song we'll sung has often
q powerful influence in recalling kinder
recoIlections. It proves, also, that Abra-
ham Lincoln was man of fine feelings, and
that if the occurrence was a "put-up-job" "
on the lady's part, it accomplished its pur-
pose all the same.
There are but few of the Old Salem
friends and companions Of Mr. Lincoln still
living, and, we are told, they are widely
scattered. William G.. Greene Of Tallula,
now wealthy banker and farmer, was an
intimate friend of Lincoln's 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
20 him by that gentleman, which he valued
very highly Virginia Isls.) Enquirer,
March 1st.