Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-23
LINCOLN'S 0LDLOVE.
A Lady of Texas Who Was Once Woo
ed by Abe.
She Was BluShing Sixteen When lie
Offered Her His Heart.

she Was Blushing Sixteen When lie
Offered Her His Heart.
The following paragraph appeared in
! Honey Grove, Texas, paper the other
lay, and desiring to learn the truth of it,
correspondent drove out to the lady's
house:
Mrs. William DIenan, very respect
able lady living in this county, once re
fused TO marry Abraham Lincoln, VINO
was afterwerd president
As soon as she saw the clipping she
smiled aud said:
Eyes. it is quite truen
The correspondent suggested that
little sketch of hsr history would be in
aud she gave it as follows:
= 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, moved TO Texas. / knew Mr.. Lin
coin Sell-knew and played with him
when he wore knee breeches and went
baretooteo with the rest of rs. We at
tended the same school in an old log
schoolhouse, presided over by what new
know TO have been very primitive, but
good old man. He didn't
KNOW MUCH,
as Laen are educated these days: but, lab,
me! we used to think him compendium
of knowledge. And Mr.. Lincoln (simply
Abe then, though), was a very apt
scholar, always ahead in his studies. He
was q great friend OF mine those DAYS
and used to coach" me, Gs nv son calls
it.
''T could talk a day of MIR. Lincoln, for
he attained such an eminent place in
Americas history, and my childhood
having been passed within half an hours
easy walk from his house, that ( nave
treasured his memory most dearly. AS a
boy he was an excellent playmate, and
could make as good mud pies as any of
US. It seems rather strange to talk of a
president making mud pies, doesn't it?
Well, I reckon all OF. them have, and liked
1T, too. But as young man he was most
exemplary to q fault, chivaI-
rous, kind, honest and trustworthy; and
ne loved his good old mother.
"One little incident l never will forget.
We all went TO church one Sunday, creek
being on the way, over which we crossed
present dpring church-was away, 1 be-
lieve, in Springfield. Several of Us girls
had walked, as it was a beautiful dav.
Aut just before church was out, the sky
clouded up and it commenced to rain
very hard.
WE GIRLS,
at the conclusion OF the service, were sit
ting in the church waiting for the rain to
cease, when Mr.. Lincoln rode up. His
mother had also attended service, and on
foot. After the rain was over he assisted
Mrs. Lincoln onto his horse, saying he
would walk home with the girls, which he
did. But when we came TO the creek the
logs had been washed away and the water
was fully three feet deep. What TO do we
didn't knoy, bat young Abe did. He com
menced with me, and carried us all over
IN safety, till the last one, d very feshy
girl, was only left on the wrong side.
He waded through after her and took her
in his arms, starting across. We were
making all sorts of fun at them. and,
laughing gayly, when she, being a mis-
chievous body anyway, whispered some
thing to him which caused him to give
vent suddenly to a loud peal of laughter,
when, somehow, the girl slipped from Ills
arms and both fell fat into the water.
But it didn't spoil our fun in tho least.
Why, bless your soul, when we saw the
two woebegone-looking creatures rise and
wade to the shore we laughed all the
more, and SO die they. Those were good
old times, indeed.
sit was early in the spring of 1884, one
evening when were out walking, that
Mr.. Lincoln asked me TO
MARRY HIM.
but as had already formed an attach
ment with and had promised TO marry
Mr.. Dronan. of course I refused him. He
seemed to be quite sorry, but in his
we can ali ways be good friends And
we we're. I always thought a great deal
Of Abe, and hated to refuse hir1, but
were such that was almost
com PEELED TO.
"When he heard Of our intention to
.emove to Texas Mr.. Lincoln came over
hree days, trying his best to dissuade
Is. My maiden name was Matilda Viii
on"
Mrs. Drenan gave the above with the
Irtlessness of b child, and was greatly
lffeoted during the recital. She laughed
heartily when telling of The accident at
he creek. Judging from her present
ooks, Miss Matilda Wilson must have
,een an exceptionally prepossessing
7oung lady, and one that Mr.. Lincoln
would naturally look to for nelpmate,
or her mind is richly stored with knowl
dge gained both from books and varied
x periences. The furrowed brow and
livery hair but tell tale of years in an
county amid trial and vexa-
ions, and her manner is motherly and
benevolent. She IS
VERY LovABLK STILL.
Mr.. Drenan then gave some very happy
eminiscences of Lincoln.
"Yes, indeed" he said, 81 knew Mr.. |
lincoln well. We we're chums in our
outh, and many fishing and hunting |
rip have we been on together. He was
very robust young man and one of the |
most powerful in the country. His
honesty and integrity were proverbial.
'sMy wife told an incident in his early |
ife and if you wish / will tell one that |
hare never seen in print. There was |
nd election in Springfield and large |
numbers OF country folks were there to
ote. In the forenoon, however, a gang
# roughs, who were intoxicated, declared |
hat no one should vote unless they said
o. For an hour they kept the polls
losed, when Abe, becoming exasperated,
an to hardware store near by, grabbed
nd axe handle, and motioning the wait
ng voters to come on, told the beiliger-
nts to move aside, for he would either
pave the way to the polls or break their
eads.' They were too well acquainted
nth the athletic young aspIrant for
flee to say nay, and the polls remained
named the halanca of the Gau