Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-12
CHAPTER VII.


the legislature were precisely
such as had been predicted
both by Mr.. Lincoln and Mr..
Rutledge. He had been defeated, as he
expected himself, and it had done him
much good, In the politicians sense, as
promised by Mr.. Rutledge. He was
now somewhat acquainted with the
people outside Of the New Salem dis
trict and generally marked as young
man of good parts and popular man
ners. The vote given him at home
demonstrated his local strength and
made his favor a thing of value to the
politicians of all parties.
Soon after his return from the army
he had taken quarters at the house Of
J. r. HerndOn, who loved him then and
always with as much sincerity as one
man can love another. Mr.. Herndon's
family likewise became much attached
to him. He nearly always had one of
Herndon's children around with him.
Mr. Herndon says Of him further that
he was cat home wherever he went" !"
making himself wonderfully agreeable
to the people he lived with or whom
he happened to be visiting. Among
other things he was very kind to the
widow and orphan and chopped their
wood.
Lincoln, as we have seen already, was
not enamored Of the life Of a common
laborer, mere hewing and drawing. He
preferred to clerk, to go to war, to en-
ter politics but that dreary
- Ja;Jx f0i PY1f
he was now, as he would say, Gin a
fix" Clerks were not wanted every
day in New Salem, and he began to
cast about for some Independent bust
ness Of his own by which he could earn
enough to pay board and buy books. In
every community where he had lived
the merchant had been the principal
man. He felt that, in view Of his ap-
premiership under those great masters
Jones and Offutt, he was fully compe-
tent to run store and was impatient
to find an opening in that line.
Unfortunately for him Che circum-
stances of the business men Of New Sa-
lem were Just then peculiarly favorable
! to his views. At least three Of them
were as anxious to sell out as Lincoln
was to buy.
Lincoln as Storekeeper.
Lincoln, as already stated, was at
this time living with "Row" Herndon.
Row and his brother Jim had taken a
store down to New Salem early in that
year. But Jim didn't like the place and
sold out his interests to an idle, conviv-
1al fellow named Berry. Six weeks lat
er Row Herndon grew tired Of his new
partner and sold his interest to Lin
coin. The store was a mixed one-dry
goods and groceries.
About the same time Mr.. Radford,
who kept one of the New Salem grocer
les, fell into disfavor with the Clary's
Grove boys, who generously determin-
ed that he should keep a grocery no
longer. They accordingly selected a
convenient night for breaking in his
windows and, in their own elegant
phrase, ''gutting his establishment" !"
The next day Radford was standing
disconsolate in the midst Of his wreck
when Bill Green rode up. Green thought
he saw speculation in Radford's dis
tress and offered him $500 for the
IL
with him, and in few minutes Green
owned the grocery and Radford was
ready for the road to a more congenial
settlement. 1t is said that Green en-
ployed Lincoln to make an inventory of
the stock. At all events Lincoln was
satisfied that Green's bargain was
very good one and proposed that he
and Berry should take it off his hands
at a premium of $3.50. Radford had
Green's note for $4OO, but he now sur
rendered it and took Lincoln & Berry's
Green, while Lincoln & Berry gave
Green a note for $3.50, the latter's profit
in the trade.
Mr.. Rutledge also owned small
grocery in the village, and this was
speedily absorbed by the enterprising
firm Of Lincoln & Berry, who now had
the field to themselves, being sole pro-
prietors of the only store of the kind
in New Salem.
Whether Mr. Lincoln sold liquor by
the dram over the counter of this shop
remains, and will forever remain, an
undetermined question. Many of his
friends aver that he did, and as many
more aver that he did not When Doug
las, with that courtesy for which he
distinguished himself in the debates
with Lincoln, revived the story Lincoln
replied that, even if it were true, there
was but little difference between them,
for, while he figured on one side of the
counter, Douglas figured ON the other.
IT Is carfair1 1iurr0rs xyoro a narf 0f tho
stock Of all the purchases of Lincoln s
Berry. OF course they sold them by the
quantity and probably by the drink.
Some Of it they gave away, for no man
could keep store without setting out the
customary dram to the patrons of the
place.
ITO he Continued