The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-11-07
ALOVER'S CONSPIRACY.
How President Lincoln Helped Hern

How President Lincoln Helped Hern-
don Gain His wife.
Hon. Jesse w. Weik. who was en-.
gagged with Herndon in preparing
the latter's"Life Of Lincoln, "tells the
following story Of the great Presi-
dent and how Herndon won his pres
ent wife:
"In the city ofSpringfield. ILL.,. the
home Of both Lincoln and Herndon,
there lived a most estimable young
lady, proud, beautiful and imper:
ious. whose intellectual and physical
graces captured the susceptible neart
Of Lincoln's old law partner, himself
o grim and gruff widow0r, not partic-
ularly attractive to q woman with an
eye for youth and beauty. Herndon
however. laid violent seige to her
heart and hand, but she would have
nothing TO do with him. and the old
lawyer was compelled to resort to
stratagem In order to capture the OBJ.
ject of his mature affection, and this
is the scheme he worked. as told by
himself.
"The young lady lived with her
brother.in-law, q smart and ambi.
tious ieweler by the name of Charles
w. Chatterton, and he was one Of
the instruments used by Herndon to
accomplish his hearts desire. Know
ing that Chatterton was anxious to
make money fast. and become rich.
the lawyer called him into his Office
one night-the same room in which
Lincoln had spent the happiest days
of his life-and asked him if he
didn't want a good paying position
in the Government service. where he
had excellent opportunities Of max.
ing money easily and rapidly.
"Of course Chatterton did. Hern.
don then went on to explain what
the young jsweler already knew, that
he was IN love with the pretty young
sister.in-law, Hannah, and that he
was determined to have her for
wife, If such thing was within the
range Of the probabilities ; and then
disclosed hts plan. which was. that
Chatterton and his wife should do all
in their power to persuade Miss Han.
nah that it was to her interest to
marry Herndon. in return for which
the lawyer was to obtain from Lin
coin such q position as might he de.
cided upon ; that is. anything within
reason and suited to the capabilities
of Chatterton.
"This struck the jeweler as a good
thing. and he willingly gave Hern-
don the lawyer his promise that
he and his wife would leave nothing
undone to induce Hannah to become
Herndon's wife. This sort of cam.
paign was kept up until at last the
lady surrendered, agreeing to become
the wife of Lincoln's old partner
within a reasonable period. AS soon
az this was settled Chattsrton de.
mandsd the promised Office, and sug-
gested that he and Herndon 60 on to
Washington at once. and see If Lin.
coin would carry out the promise his
partner had made. TO this HerndOn
would not consent. He did not
want Chatterton with him when he
went to the President with his I'M
ique request. He told Chattertop,
however, there was no question but
what Lincoln would give him any.
thing he asked for, but that he would
70 alone to the capital and lay the
whole affair before his true and tried
friend, and off he started on his mis-
sion.
"Arriving in Washington. he had
no trouble in getting an audience
with the President. To Mr.. Lincoln
he told the whole story. the recital
of which gave the President unre.
strained enjoyment. He was well &C.
quainted with all the parties. and
the matter appeared wonderfully
funny to him, but he was only too
glad to assist in In the conspiracy.
"'Now, said Lincoln, after every.
thing had been explained, what
does Charley want p
"An Indian agencv,' answered
Herndon.
"'He shall haye it, replied the
great-hearted magistrate. and will
see that he gets his commission this
very day. SO come along : and to,
gethsr Lincoln and Herndon posted
to the Commissioner of Indian af-
fairs-then the Hon. William P.
Dole, formerly of Paris. Ill. Here
Lincoln told good story and then
made his request for an Indian
agency for Herndon's prospective
brother.in.law.
at did not take long to find one
of Buchannon's appOintees who could