The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-08-25
LINC0LN'S OLDLOVE.
A Lady OF Texas Who Was Once Woo
ed by Abe.
She Was Blushing Sixteen When lie
Offered Her His Heart.

The following paragraph appeared in
Honey Grove, Texas, paper the other |
day, and desiring to learn the truth of it,
a correspondent drove out to the iady's |
house:
| "Mrs. William DIenan, O very respect |
able lady living in this county, ouce re
fused to marry Abraham Lincoln, VINO
was afterward president"
| As soon rs she saw the clipping she
smiled aud said:
Eyes, it is quite true"
The correspondent suggested that
little sketch of her history would be in
terssting, and she gave it as follows:
II was born in Bingham county, North
Carolina, in 1916, but when quite young
moved with my parents to Sapgamon
county, Illinois, where l lived until, in
1912, I moved to Texas. knew Mr.. Lin.
coin well-knew and played with him
when he wore knee breeches and went
barefooted with the rsst OF rs. We at
tended the same school in an old log
: schoolhouse, presided oSsr by what new
, know to have bsan vary primitive, but
good old man. He didn't
> KNOW MUCH,
"a Lien are educated these days; but, lab,
me! we used to think him a compendium
Z OF knowledge. And Mr.. Lincoln (simply
, Abe then, thought, was a very apt
scholar, always ahead in his studies. He
/ was a great friend of mine those days
, and used to "coach" me, as my son calls
it.
a "T could talk day of Mr.. Lincoln, for
he attained such an eminent place in
Americas history, and my childhood
9 having been passed within nalf an hours
o easy walk from his house, that 1 have
5 treasured his memory most dearly. AS q
u boy he was an excellent playmate, and
could make as good mud pies as any Of
u US. It seems rather strange To talk of a
u president making mud pies, doesn't ii 7
Well, I reckon all Of them have, and liked
it, too. But as young man he was most
exem mplary-gererou to- a fault, chival-
% rous, kind, honest and trustworthy; and
t he loved his good old mother.
n "One little incident never will forget.
d We all went to church one Sunday, cresk
10 being on the way, over which We crossed
% on two fallen logs. Mr.. Lincoln was not
!" present drring church-was away. be-
y lieve, in Springfield. Several of rs girls
10 had walked, as it was beautiful day
e Aut Just before church was out, the sky
/ clouued up and it commenced to rain
Is very hard.
Is WE GIRLS,
" at the conclusion of the service, were ST.
ting in the church waiting for the rain &c
,s cease, when Mr.. Lincoln rode up. His
III mother had also attended service, and Oh
% foot. After the rain was over he assisted
w Mrs. Lincoln onto his horse, saying hi
o would walk home with the girls, which ht
w did. But when we came TO the creek til,
~ logs had been washed away and the wate
ae was fully three feet deep. What to do W,
didn't know, but young Abe did. He com
mencsd with me, and carried us all owe
in safety, till the last one, very flesh.
d. girl, was only left on the wrong sids
,,a He waded through after her and took he
;" in his arms, starting across. We wer
making all sorts of fun at them. and
40 laughing gayly, when she, being mis-
Gu chievous body anyway, whispered some
ea thing to him which caused him to Civ
CT vent suddenly to u loud peal of laughter
'ie when, somehow, the girl slipped from hl
u arms and both fell hat into the water
But it didn't spoil our fun in the leas'
Why, bless your soul, when We saw tn
two woebegone looking creatures rise ant
wade to the shore we laughed all th
more, and SO did they. Those were goo,
il old times, indeed.
I'M 1T was early in the spring of 1854, on
lv evening when We were out walking, tina
~ Mr.. Lincoln asked me to
nd MARRY HIM,
ed but as had already formed an attach
n ment with and had promised 10 MARI
IN Mr.. Drenan. of courss / refused him. III
I'D seemed to be quite sorry, but in hi
ry genial way said: Well Martha, any way
e. va can all ways be good friends An
re- we were. | always thought great des
ON of Abe, and hated to refuse hirl, bu
~. ri r al
of compelled to.
81 when he heard of our intention t
lis remove to Texas Mr.. Lincoln came owe
en- to our house on a visit and remaine
by three days, trying his best to dissuad
US. My maiden name was Matilda Wi
Is son.
re Mrs. Drenan gave the above with th
On artlessness of child, and was great
he affected during tho recital. She laughe
ed, heartily when telling OF the accident (
IRE the creek. Judging from her presses
ice looks, Mics Matilda Wilson must ha.
III been an exceptionally prepossessin
To- young lady, and one that Mr.. Lincol
"A would naturally look to for helpmat
ng for her mind is richly stored with kno y
ed. edge gained both from books and varie
in ex xperiences. The furrowsd brow an
me silvery hair but tell tale of years in q
au- uhueVclopeu county aultu iFiai anu feA
ar tions, and her manner is motherly IN
ry. benevolent. She is
an
"a VERY LovABLg STILL.
in Mr.. Drenan then gave some very hapl
re- "reminiscences of Lincoln.
ON "Yes, indeed" he said, II knew NJ
the Lincoln well. We were chums in ol
has youth, aud many fishing and huntir
md rip have we been on together. He W
ar a very robust young man and one of II
the most powerful in the country. II
,ur. honesty and integrity were proverbial.
mo AMY wife told an incident in his ear
IN life and If you wish l will tell one tn
At l hare never seen in print There W
any and election in Springfield and lar,
tin. numbers OF country folks were there
the vote. In the forenoon, however, a gal
lan of roughs, who were intoxicated, declar
that no one should vote uniess they sa