The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-13
THE DAILY ARGUS.
Mrs. Lincoln's Ambition
Fer Early Determination to Become sze Wife of
the President of the United Sts;es,

tne Eresldent OF Ins Onitco Sts.cs|
Although Mrs. Lincoln's illness was
not known here, her name was mention
ed in pleasant parlor conversation be-
tween ladies one evening recently, and
some interesting "reminiscences of her
were given by Mrs. William Preston, of
Lexington, KY, who, when young
girl, Miss Wickliffe, was well acquaint-
ed with Mary Todd, for both were then
living in Lexington. Mrs. Preston said
that Miss Todd had always insisted
when quite young girl that her hus-
band would be president of the United
States, and as she did not then appear
to be one who would attract the atten-
ton of young men, not being us hand
some as most of her companions, many
of the latter would laugh at her predic-
ton. While she was still young she got
into girlish pet with her family, and
announced that she was going away to
make her home with her sister, Mrs.
Edwards, in Springfield, H., and de-
clared that she would yet be the wife of
the president of the United States and
tris-tnph over those who had opposed
her.
She went, and was courted by both
Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lin
coin, and accepted the latter. After
becoming engaged to him size wrote to
her friend, Miss WickGffe playful de-
scription of the man of her choice, men,
tioning his unprepossessing appearance
and awkwardness, and with a merry
appreciation of the humor of the pre-
diction again said: but / mean to
make him president of the United
States all the same You will see that,
i N9x.vo IL I vaf h< he
presidents wife,
Years afterward, in fact not more than
ten or twelve years ago, in looking over
the papers of his father-in-law, Gov.
Wickliffe, who had just died, Gen. Pres
ton came across aletter Endorsed in Gov.
Wickliffe's handwriting: The most re-
markable letter ever written by one girl
to another This proved to be the
identical letter written by Mary Todd in
regard to her Abraham Lin
coin. When Gen. Preston showed it to
his wife she said she supposed that at
ter reading it she had thrown it care
lesslv down on her fathers desk, at
taching no Importance to it. but he,
picking it up, was so impressed by it
that he Endorsed it as quoted above and
laid it away among his papers, to be
found after the girlish prophecy had
been fulfilled.
Mrs. Lincoln's talent for match-mak~
inc did not end with herself, for it was
she who picked out Mary Harlan, the
daughter of the senator from Iowa, for
her son Robert. and seeing her one even
ing at the opera remarked: 81 should
like Robert to marry just snch girl as
that Her husband, who heard her
say it. then observed to MIR. Summer:
My wife is a great matchmaker. She
will make a match between Harlan 5
daughter and Bob; see if she don't"
Subsequently, Mrs. Lincoln sent Miss
Harlan bouquet, and began eultivat-
inc her acquaintance and throwing her
son and the young lady together. Mean
time the young people had met at hop
at the National Hotel, in Washington,
and soon became interested in each 9TH
err That was in the spring of 1865.
Their marriage, however, did not occur
until September, 1867 or 1868, think
the latter wear, and the only time Mrs.
Abraham Lincoln has visited Washing
ton since her removal from the white
house after her husbands assassination
was when she attended her SON S wed
ding there She has always been fond
of his wife, even since she has been of
tended with him, and Mrs Robert Lin
coin visited her last winter, and has
done SO every year when her mother-in-
law has been in this country. President
Lincoln also was attracted by Miss Har-
Ian. and was told by one who knows,
and who spoke of it to me in Washing
ton in the spring, that he had before his
death decided to take Mr.. Harlan into
his cabinet, and it was playfully said
that it was the possibility of match
between their children which first sug-
gested the idea to him.-Cor. PbstGdeL-
-