Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1910-06-09

Rev. Alexander Corkey, pastor oil
the First Presbyterian church of
an Iowa setting entitled The Victory
of Allan Rutledge-A Tale of the Mid
die West" In one chapter he relates
a romance of the early life OF Abra-
ham Lincoln. portion of which IS as
follows:
Mrs. Rutledge and Mabel had a long
talk together in the parlor. During
this conversation Allan was mentioned
quite often, and once Mabel remarked
that he was a great admirer of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and often quoted the war
president in his sermons.
He would no. be a Rutledge II he
did not admire Abraham Lincoln said
Mrs. Rutledge in reply abraham
Lincoln is we'll remembered in the life
story Of the Rutledge family.
How was that asked Mabel very
much Interested.
Did you never hear tho story of
Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge?
said Allan's mother, in surprise.
II must have forgotten 1T If 1 did"
said the girl with blush.
THE world doesn't know much about
that incident In 1.incolns life Went on
the good lady. Such things are soon
| forgotten, but the influence of Ann
Rutledgc, who was sister of Atlantis
grandpa. was one of the forces that
helped to make Lincoln what he was"
Tell me about it," said Mabel.
eagerly. and Mrs. Rutledge told her the
ltender story of Abraham Lincoln's
| early love.
II often heard Allan's grandpa tell
It," Mrs. Rutledge began, and never
| tired of hearing MIN speak of his
sweet sister, Ann. He used to tell how
| Abraham Lincoln first came to New
Salem in Illinois, In the early thirties.
and James Rutledge, his father was
one OF the first men who saw what Was
| in the coming president. He was so
flank and ungainly that some thought
The was only a lout, but James Rut-
Hedge that's Allan's great grandfather,
ltook to Lincoln from the start Ann
Rutledge was the third child. and she
| grew up 10 be girl of uncommon
beauty. She WAC as good as She was
beautiful. Iii all that county there was
no maid like Ann Rutedge. She had
| a most of admirers, but She finally
chose one. called Mcneil, a young and
| prosperous trader and farmer of New
4 Salem Soon after they We're engaged
to DC married Ann had terrible shock.
Mcneil told her that he had been liv-
| ing under an assumed name. His real
name WAS McNamar but he had
| changed his name when he came west
as he wanted TO build up a fortunte
unknown To his people in the east. He
said he had AN aged father, and that
lie wanted to sell out his business in
Illinois and 80 back to take care OF
him. He promised to return and wed
Ann, who had given him all the love
of her young heart She agreed to
await his return.
After ne Went east letters came fol
some time, but they came less and less
frequently and at last ceased alto
gether. Ann was only 19 at this time
and have heard Allan's grandpa tel
how the blow of McNanlar's treatment
soon began to tell ON AIMS health. ii
was at this time that Abraham Lin
coin first learned to love her. Ssh,
knew we'll what man Lincoln was
and it grievcd her sore that She wa:
bound SO that she could not return hi.
love. AT last she told him about hcl
false lover She mad NOW ceased 1,
love McNamar, as she could not lov,
man who had proved so false, bu
was so high principled that she feel
he must release her before she coult
enter into another engagement. Final
[ly she yielded to 11incoln's wooing
and became betrothed, though she still
felt that the other lover had a claim ol
her life. as
when Lincoln knew that there wa
hope that Ann Rutledge might be hi
wife he seemed like new man. II
took up the work of life with ne,
vigor Never was he so happy, befor