The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-22
MRS. LlNCOLN's AMBITION.
Her Early Determination to become the
Wife OF the President or the United

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, July 2l.-Al.
though Mrs. Iincoln's illness was not
known here, her name was men,
toned in n pleasant parlor conversation
between ladies one evening last week, and
some interesting "reminiscences OF her were
given by Mrs. Wm. Preston, OF Lexing.
ton. NY, who, when n young girl, Miss
WicklitIe was well acquainted with Miss
Mary Todd, for both were then living in
Lexington. Mrs. Preston says that Miss
Todd had always insisted when quite
4 young girl that her husband would be
President OF the United States, and rs
she did not then appear TO be one who would
attract the attention OF young men, not be-
ing as handsome as most OF her compan-
ions, many Of the latter would laugh at her
prediction. 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. Ed.
wards, in Springfield, Ills, and declared
that she would yet be the wife OF the Pres.
dent OF the United States and triumph
over those who had opposed her.
She went, and was courted by both Ste
phen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln,
and accepted the latter, After becoming
engaged TO him she wrote to her friend
Miss Wickliffe playful description OF the
man oi her choice, mentioning his unpre-
possessing appearance and awkwardness,
and with merry appreciation OF the hu-
NOR Of the prediction again said: "But l
mean to make him President OF the United
States all the same. You will see that, as
always told you, will yet be the Presi-
dents vile"
Years afterwards, in fact not more than
ten or twelve years ago, in looking over
the papers OF his father.in-law, Governor
Wicklihe, who had just died, Gen. Preston
came across letter indorsed in Governor
Wicklides 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 etrothed-Abraham Lin.
coin. When General Preston showed it to
his wife she said she supposed that after
reading it she had thrown It carelessly down
on her fathers desk, attaching no impor.
tance to it, but he, picking it up, was go
impressed by it that he indorsed it as quoted
above and laid it away among his papers,
t. be found after the girlish prophecy had
been fulfilled.
Mrs. Lincoln's talent for matchmaking
did not end with herself, for it was she
who picked out Mary Harlan, the daughter
OF the Senator from Iowa, for her son Rob
ert, and seeing her one evening at the
opera, remarked: Il should like Robert to
marry just such girl as that" Her hus.
band, who heard her say it, then observed
to Mr.. Sumner: "My wife is great match.
maker. She will make match between
lIarlan's daughter and Bob; see il she
don't" VS.
Subsequently Mrs. Lincoln sent Miss
Harlan bouquet and began cultivatine
her acquaintance and throwing her son
and the young lady together. Meantime
the young people had met at hop at the
National Hotel, in Washington, and soon
became interested in each other. That
was III the spring OF 1865. Their marriage
however, did not occur until September,
1867 or 1865, / think the latter year, and
the only time Mrs. Abraham Lincoln has
visited Washington since her removal
from the White House after her hus-
bands assassination was when she attend
ed her sons wedding there. She has
always been fond OF his wife, ever since she
has been offended with him, and Mrs. Rob.
ert Lincoln visited her last winter, and has
done SO every year when her mother.in-law
has been in this country. President Lin
coin also was attracted by Miss Harlan, and
1 was told by one who knows and who
spoke Of it to ME in Washington in the
spring, that he had before his death de-
cided to take Mr.. Harlan in his Cabinet,
and it was plsyfully said that it was tbs
possibility OF match between their child
rem which first suggested the idea to him.