Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-02-15


at New Salem, Ill. Ann Rutledge, tavernkeeper's
daughter, was the girl
The second affair came when he was about
twenty-six 1t began as joke after Lincoln had
become lawyer and was practicing at Spring
field but it caused him untold worry-because
the girl, Mary Owens, was fat and he didn't
want to marry her. The third affair took"
That is, Mary Todd became Abraham Lincolns
wife, when he was thrty-three years old.
When he was youth in the wilds of southern
Indiana, Lincoln had his sentimental vaporings
one Of which appealed so strongly to his sense of
romance that he wanted to write story about
It, This vaporing the kind most of US have
along about the time the down on our upper lip
begins to tougher.
1t Is doubtful if Arm Rutledge evsr loved Lin
coin She simply appreciated his sympathy and
affection-she had been Tilted by James McNeill
who tired of her and went East to escape his
obligation. Her father, James Rutledge, one of
the founders of New Salem, kept a tavern and
there Lincoln went to board when in 1881 he left
his home and became clerk in a store there
ut breakfast. dinner apd supper he sat by the
side Of the tayernkeeper's daughter. He was
twenty-five; she was less than twenty She was
sad of heart and he tried to cheer her. Lincons
sympathy ripened into deep affection but the girl
was faithful for more than year to the memory
of MCNEIL
Even IL the girl had been willing Lincoln was
in no position to marry. He was very poor. He
of the first to volunteer in the Black
Hawk war. When TIE war was ended he re-
turned to New Salem, ran for the legislature
and was defeated His financial condition was so
muddled at this time that he seriously contem-
plated becoming a blacksmith in order to make
living An opportunity came to him to get an in
terest in a store without putting up any real
money. He was wretched storekeeper and his
partner was no better The business did not
flourish. but his courtship did. He and lAun Rut-
ledge sat at night the tavern steps or walked
along the roads around the little settlement.
They were young and youth is the age of glamour.
Lincoln beginning to think of a career as a
lawyer. He believed he would be able in a year
or two to support a wife Ann could not forget
Mcneil. but the devotion of Lincoln prevailed
and she consented to marry him.
The summer of their engagement was the hap
piest, perhaps in all of Lincolns life Ann Rut-
ledge was beautiful in face and figure aud charm
ing in every way. She was not tall and was
rather delicate At times when she would be-
come a little weary. Lincoln. whose strength was
unusual. delighted in taking her up in his arms
and carrying her as if she were child.
With their engagement everything seemed to
brighten for Lincoln. He was appointed post
master, he began to make little money doing
survey work and in the fall he was elected to
the legislature.
The young couple decided to get married in
the spring. Ann anxious to complete her educa-
ton, decided to go to Jacksonville to attend
academy there during the winter. Meanwhile,
Lincoln went to Springfield to attend the session
of the legislature, continue his law studies and
prepare for his admission to the bar in the spring.
He was in Springfield when he got a message
that nearly broke his heart. Ann Rutledge
dead. At the academy she contracted fever
and died in a few days. Lincoln was predisposed
TO melanoholia The death Of the woman he loved
so much almost upset his reason. He never fully
recovered from his grief.
Ann Rutedge had been dead two or three years
when Lincoln became engaged again In Spring
field there lived a Mrs. Able. with whom he was
well acquainted She had sister. Mary Owens
OF Kentucky, who visited Springfield for a short
time and TO whom Lincoln had been introduced.
Mary Owens was bright clever and buxom. She
returned TO Kentucky and Lincoln probably forgot
her But day Mrs. Able informed him that
she was going TO Kentucky and then, in q spirit
OF banter, she said TO Lincoln: