Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-09-25
LINCOLN'S BOYHOOD.
Ruins of the Place Where He Spent
Els Early Days.
The Boys from Cleary's GrOve.-DrInk.
from the E8ung.ElOlc Of
Barre!-. L!ncOln,s
First Love.
[Cor Chicago Tribune. ]

a postoflcc, tavern, or shop, There is mott
house in sight From tho hill whero sit.
under the shade of three trees whose branches
make one, look cut over the Sangamon
river and its banks covered apparently with
prmevol forests. Around are fields over
grown with weeds and stunted oaks. We
may say Of it as of Troy: "Salem fuit." 1t
was a town OF ten or twelve years only; be-
gun in 1874, ended in 1886. Yet in that timo
had a history which the world will not letdie;
not so long as it venerates the mcliory of
the noble libcrator and mai tyr, President
Abraham Lincoln.
| came here today with few Of the old
settlers rs on pilgrimage to TINS Mecca or
the soul" We drove up from Petersburg
about two miles, passing on the way the site
of the old mill run by Lincoln and the re-
mains of the old dam on which his hntboat
lodged VIII N floating down from SanSac-
town on the way to New Orleans
After much debate rs the mode of reach
ing the old site, we entered uh old field
through Il gate, and, driving upa hill show
ing whee-track through tall weeds, we
rode over the streets of the old town. The
weeds were high ON the horses
backs Mr. Tice stood up in his buggy,
and surveying the landscape pointed
out places where the weeds were lower
"Therc WAS Cumcron's boarding house where
Lincoln boarded when he kept store for Den
ton Ollit" Near it was George Warhurtons
store Beyond was Sara Hills.
"Ovcr there to tie south was tie BAPTIST
church and the cemetery alongside"
LINCCLN'S FIRST LOVE.
Mr. Green pointed ont the site of Rutlcdge's
house There" said he Ann Kutledge
lived Lin oln wa; engaged to her. Her
death almost broke his heart. He told me
once that ho didn't want to live. He
couldn't bear the thought that the rain was
falling on her grave and she sleeping in the
cold ground We had to watch him to keep
h;m from Earming himself
"Right here was Denton Oftt's store, where
Lincoln and | were clerks together" Mr..
Green had not been here for forty years. yet
recognized the spot.
small depression showed a former cellar.
Out of it grow three trees about fifty feet
high. with bourhs intcyltcol, making one in
their outline There was the locust thorn.
with leaves like q fine fringe, tn elm and a
cottonwood. Tha elm and cottonwood grew
out OF the same stamp, rs Ii forming one
tree The dark leaves Of the elm and bright
gici as from one truI!n.
"rohull," said Stroitnan, san emblem OF
the Union maintained By Lincoln.
Mr.. Greene pointed out the 81 where Lin
coin had the wrestling match with the Arm
strOncG
The CIeary Grove boys, composed of the
hrustroncs. Jure,cs, Ggc2nes, AMI others,
lad planned to try Lincons pluck; SO they
challenged him to WrcStIe. Jack Armstrong,
the bjg@es; one, took him in hand and tried
to throw him. lie tried all sorts OF tricks,
got foul holds, and inside leg bitches, all in
vain. Then Lincoln said that if they were
for enemies, he was ready; or for frends, as
il suited them. Big Jack Armstrong slapped
HIM on tho lack AMI said, %, We were only
in fun Let lis be friends and they wcre
ever after 1t was the son of che OF those
very Armstrong; duff that Lincoln de-
Tended Gnl Slved from conviction or mur.
der by producing the old almanac, by which
the Jury were convinced that the moon did
not shine as the witness had testified. They
acuuittel the prisoner in five minutes. Duff
Armstrong IS ST Il living.
PUTTING A MAN IN a BARREL.
Mr.. COTE remarkcd The Cleary Grove
boys wers always up to some mischief Ihey
trimmed tho names and tails Cf horses, cut
brides so that but a little remained to break
at the first pull, cut glrths, pat stones under
saddles 50 as 20 cau'e riders to he thrown
when mounting. Right in front OF QUITS
stor, tAcy rolled James Jordan down
that hill. You se, it goes Gnwa at an
angle of forty-iive degrees, Then 1t
reached down to the river POO feet,
and there was 10 read there as there
is row. lie used to come here
for whisky fifteen nie anl would get his
fl. When drum; the Armstrong; beaded
him up in a hogshca |. He was LARGO, fat
fellow. and leGrly tiled it. Then they sent
it rolling down the hill. 1t went with in
c!ea sing velocity threa ,ening II g. INTO tie
river, when il was caught under tie leaning
whitc-oak, and their victim liberated. La
c, In was here surrounded by tough fellows
o; this stamp, but even then he had bis eye
on the future. He was studying to lie n law
ycr. All had confidence IN his Judgment ana
and honesty. He didn't drink like the rest,
yet was not total abstalner.
LINCOLNS GREAT STRENGTH
"I won my first lur hat on a bet that he
caud lake drink of whisky from the buns
Of n forty-gallon barrel You SEQ man
e''''N-'
lingers in a knot aad then bat you couidn e
mar: his little finger | had lost several bets
Mt it. when Lincoln said he'd help ne to get
even with linn He showed me how he could
i.tala,rcl Of whisky ON his knees and rut
his mouth to tho burgiole he toll re to
take a kcg and hold II up as Il drlntilnS anu
let "A far hat that Lincoln could take u a
barrel of whisky and drink from the buhS-
hole Easaps took the bet and lost.
"lincoln came to Salem on " datboat. o'it
lrd built q tiatloat at the heal of the river,
loaded it with bacon, corn, hogs ana goods
of all sorts, and set out to 50 to New Creams
Lincoln was put in charge. lie starter
down in the spring tcol, Arriving al the
dam opposite Salon the scow stuck. 1t was
ullc q led and a store set up Oh the bank.
"At one TIN, there were threa stores here
and church, serving as Il schoo.-hou5e NO"
al is tlraolatc Petersburg, started 10y George
Warburton and Peter SuGins, took the wIi'd
cut OF its sails Ii was abandoned for tn'
The roof-trte moulded on the cruniblnS
ball.
Then all disappeared, and only few holes
are lett to show where the houses and stores
once were"
Materials tor Zee Cream.