Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-02-07

f1e WAS melduCuCllC, COnbIltuIlOudly So III
clined, in such matter, we know, to the most
morbid view The upshot was at all events,
that on New Years day, 1S41, the very day, as
one account has it. which had been set for the
wedding, he broke the engagement, According
to Herndon, one Of his biographers, who also
his law partner, he broke 1t publicly pos
sibly by failing to make his appearance on the
appointed wedding day. The engagement was
broken. no doubt Of that; but Herndons account
of its breaking is not well authenticated
Lincoln took this trouble deeply to heart. He
abandoned his business and went away to forget
1t the following summer, making visit with that
purpose to his old friend Speed in Louisville, KY.
From this trip he returned in better frame of
mind. This, perhaps, because he had been called
upon there to counsel with and resolve some
doubts of Speed regarding his own approaching
marriage. Lincoln and Miss Todd remained
reconciled for year and a half In the summer
Of 1912 they were brought together unexpectedly
by mutual friends, and met secretly several
times later at the house of Mr.. Simeon Francis.
At length the engagement was renewed This
came about. through a circumstance Of serio-
comic features In which they both had part.
This circumstance Is story in itself 1t in
wolves, besides the two principles James Shields
the same afore referred to of Miss
Todd's admirers. He Irshman of ability
and courage, he afterward proved on the bat
tlefeld in the Mexican war; when, to cleanse a
wound through the lungs, silk handkerchief
drawn through his body.
At the time Of the Lincoln affair Shields was a
leading Democrat of Illinois and held the Office
of auditor of state. He was quick, impulsive
man, whose disposition put him often ON the
defensive with the Whig leaders, for the Repub-
lican party then unborn. OF these Whig
leaders in that state Lincoln then was Now.
1t the custom at that time to carry much
political controversy through the press by means
of personal communications, such know
as Letters from the People," Great space
and at pver given these n the
in that day.
Just about that date Lincoln furnished such a
letter to Springfield paper 1t signed Aunt
Rebecca," and in it Shields, whose vanity and gal
lantry often made him mark, was most unmer
cifully ridiculed. 1t made hit this letter, and
Miss Todd and friend, it's real authors by the
way. followed 1t up with another and with some
doggerel rhyme, which reached the paper in the
manner the first
Springfield laughed loudly at these communi
cations-not much at the matter of them u.
at the anger displayed by Shields He actet
promptly sent friend at once to the editor q
the paper to demand the of the writer o
the articles. Dueling then still common
incident Of public life, and the editor called upol
Lincoln, who, unwilling to bring the ladies' int,
the affair, gave his own name as the author.
While he was at fremont, on the law circuit
fifteen days later, two friends Of his overlook hin
and advised him that Shields the wa.
following him up to challenge. Shields and
friend arrived shortly, and Lincoln was soon ii
receipt of written demand for the Satisfaction
due gentleman" In full positive and absolut
retraction. This may prevent" the missi7e sal
further, Consequences which will regre
more than myself"
Lincoln refused to apologize Seconds were In
mediatey named-Whitesides. editor of the pape
in which the matter had appeared for Shields
E. H. Merryman for Lincoln The seconds talke
OF peace but Whitesides refused to discuss sue
settlement with his principal why" he salt
he'd challenge next, and soon cut m
throat as not!"
with Lincoln's preliminaries to follow since
was the challenged party, namely these:
Weapons, cavalry broadswords.
Time, Thursday evening at o'clock.
Place within three miles of Alton, on the q
posite side of the river Mississippi.
On the End OF September, 1912. they were a
fair were about completed when the party W,
joined by friends. Among them was Colon
John II. Hardin. who knew Lincoln well. +
had been warned of the fight by Eliza Lott WI
had heard of 1t when the duelists stopped
breakfast going out. Colonel Hardin and the re-
managed to satisfy Shields that Lincoln was NJ
the author OF the articles, but was shielding a
other, and to aid the seconds In settling the tro
BILE with honor" as the phrase is, ito all CO
cerned."
Less than two months later marriage licen
for Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd was issue
Miss Tarbell describes the event as almost Il
promptu" The ceremony interrupted a meet
of the Episcopal Sewing society at the house
Miss Todd's sister. the Mrs. Edwards alsea.
mentioned.