Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-12
REcOLLECrIoEs OF LINCOLN.
Death Of an Old Friend Of the Rail.
Splitter President.
virsInI. lIII.a Enauirrr. No. IA.


Virginia II, Enquirer. march,
John McNamer was buried last
Sunday, near Petersburg. Menard
county. A long while ago he was
assessor and treasurer Of the county
for several successive terms. Mr..
McNamer was an early settler in that
section, and before the town of Peters
burg vas laid out 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 its .inhabi-
tants. There arc old-timers yet living
in Menard who bought many a Jug Of
cornjuice from Old Abe when he
lived at Salem. 1t 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 Oriei-
nally John McNamer's sweetheart.
but Abe took a shine" to the young
lady, and succeeded in heading off
McNamer, aud won her affections.
But Annie Rutledge died, and Lin
coin went to Springfield where he
some time afterward married. 1t is
related that during the war a lady be-
longing to a prominent Kentucky fam
lily visited Washington to beg for her
sons pardon, who was then in prison
under sentence Of death for belonging
to a band of guerrillas who had COM
mltted many murders and outrages.
With the mother was her daughter, a
beautiful young lady, who was an ac-
cOmplished musician. Mr.. Lincoln
received the visitors in his usual kind
manner, aud 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
seemed to be deeply bordering, the
young lady moved to a piano near by,
and taking a seat. commenced to sing
Gentle Annie, a very sweet and
pathetic ballad, which, before the war.
was a familiar song in almost every
household in the Union, and is not
yet entirely forgotten, for that matter.
1t is to be presumed the young lady
sang the song with more plaintive-
ness and effect than Old Abe
had ever heard it in Spring
field. During its rendition, he arose
from his seat, crossed the room to a
window in the westward, through
which he gazed several minutes with
that sad, far-away look, which had
been so often noted as one of his pecu-
liarities. His memory, no doubt.
went back to the days of his humble
life on the banks Of the Sangamon.
and, with visions of Old Salem and its
rustic people who once gathered in his
primitive store. came a picture of the
Gentle Annie of his youth, whose
ashes had rested 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 mercy. Be that as it NAV,
Mr.. Lincoln drew a red silk handker-
chief from bis coat pocket, with which
he blew his nose vigorously. Then
he turned, advanced quickly to his
desk, wrote a brief note, which he
handed to the lady, and informed her
that 1t was the pardon she sought.
The seen was, no doubt, touching in
a great degree, and proves that a nice
song well sung has often a powerful
influence in recalling tender recollcc-
tions. 1t proves also that Abraham
Lincoln was a man Of fine feelings
and that if the occurrence was a put
up-jOb' on the lady's part, it accom-
pllshed its purpose all the same.
There are but few of the Old Salem
friends and companions Of Mr.. Lin
coin still living, and, we are told. they
are widely scattered. William G..
Greene, Of Tallula, now a wealthy
banker and farmer, was an intimate
friend Of Lincoln's while the latter
lived at Salon, and it is said, loaned
him the small capital upon which he
entered into business at that place.
Mr.. McNamer, whose death we chron-
lcle above, was always an admirer Of
Mr.. Lincoln, and kept in his posses
sion many letters written to him by
that gentleman which he valued very
highly.