Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-02
Historical Record of
Lincoln on Exhibition

An exhibit which has been placed IN
the Illinois building at the Louisiana
purchase exposition Is the manuscript
and pictorial life of Lincoln prepared
by the state historical society of Hill
nois. The work was done by George
y. Black. of Springfield. Mrs. Jessie
Palmer Weber, secretary of the So
ciety. and III. +. Barker. 1t represents
the most complete record life of
Abraham Lincoln in existence and will
be preserved by the state as histori-
cal manuscript life of the president.
The letters and official papers in the
original are of rare value and in the
preparation of the exhibit some very
interesting and new facts have come
TO light.
The work begins with the ancestry
of Lincoln and takes up the thread of
his eventful life from the cradle to
the tall white shaft at Oak Ridge Gem
etery. So many people have attempt
ed to cast slurs upon the ancestry of
Abraham Lincoln that Mrs. Weber
has made the beginning of his life
strong point in the exhibit.
\ number of fac-simile photographs
of original letters and official papers.
where the originals could not be sent.
have been received. Among these are
his beautiful love letters to Mary
Owens. Lincoln was not an ardent
lover. but these letters are filled with
a dignified courtesy and more yelled
sentiment than is found in love letters
at this day.
Beginning the exhibit which is to
touch upon all the typical periods of
Lincoln's life. is the warrant and sur
vey to land granted the grandfather
in 1906. when the name was spelled
"Linkhon.'' The record sent i'm by the
minister. Rev. Jesse Head, of Wash
ington county, Kentucky. who united
in marriage Thomas Lincoln and
Nancy Hanks. will also be found in
this period Rev. Head signs his name
Jesse Head. ID. NJ. f. G." doctor of
Methodist Episcopal church,. Accom-
panying this is a reproduction from
pen drawing Of Rev. Head. in the pos
session of Col. Durrett, of Kentucky.
The picture of Lincoln'S step-mOther.
Mrs. Salie Bush Lincoln, the first
home of Lincoln in Indiana where he
was born. his first home in Illinois
near Decatur. and the tally sheet of
his first vote in New Salem. also the
tally sheet when he was clerk of the
election i'm Menard county, are among
the interesting features.
Lincoln was just the same sort of
school boy that every other boy is,
and lie has dedicated psalms to the
front page of many Il primer and
spelling book. One of these repre-
scnts this fact and also another, since
it must have been a book belonging
once to Ann Rutledge. The first page
in the book has her name inscribed
upon its surface. while on the oppO-
site page iS that of his own.
An old primer. which was given by
his Stcp-mother to Jesse Week, has
the following inscription therein sur
rounded by many abraham LincOlns"
in his queer chirogaphy, "Abraham
Lincoln. his hand and pen, he will be
good. but God knows when" Another
page representative of this time of
youth is Il page from copy exercise
i'm arithmetic. In connection with his
early life and love for Ann Rutledge
at New Salem. an interesting event
occurred. recently brought ont by the
efforts of the historical society.
Ann Rutledge was at one time en-
gagged to one John Mcnamara. of New
Salem. She was also engaged to
abraham Lincoln. the latter love story
following the first. So much has been
written about this time in the presi-
dents life that letter from a son of
Mr.. Mcnamara, who now lives in Cot
ton Wood, Cal, which came i'll the
other day is extremely interesting. In
il he says that his father and Abra-
ham Lincoln were both engaged to
Ann Rutledge and that he has in his
possession letter written by Lincoln
to his father which he will either sell
or send to the exhibit.
Another important item has also
been brought out in the search. There
il an original record showing that
Lincoln was ut one time justice of
the peace in Hancock county. This is
dated 1871. in August. at the time
when it i said he was supposed to be
crazy. 1t is not generally known that
he was ever justice of the peace.
but this document signed with his
name. and justice of the peace follow
ing. is very convincing. 1t was imme-