Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09

N the meantime the Onut store, as Lincoln
expressed it, "petered out" and he out
of job. 1t looked as though he had reached
a turning point in his career He was trying
to decide whether it would be best to remain
In New Salem and make living at odd jobs
or to strike out for a more promising field.
The question was decided for him in a most
unexpected manner. messenger from the
governor posted handbillS in New Salem asking
for volunteers for the war against Black Hawk.
Lincoln was the first to volunteer his services,
and he was made captain of the local COM
pany. He served in that capacity from April
81, 1882, until May 81, 1882, the end of the
term of enlistment when he Immediately re-
enlisted as a private for 20 days. He was
finally mustered out at Whitewater, Wis, July
10, 1882.
On account of his horse having been stolen
Lincoln was obliged to walk from there to
Peoria. from which place he padded down the
Illinois River TO Havana in a canoe, and then
"hoofed it" across the country through the
woods and fields to New Salem
Upon reaching home he resumed his cam
paign for the Legislature His opponent was
Rev. Peter Cartwright, q Methodist preacher.
Lincoln was defeated, but his vote in and
around New Salem remarkable. He re-
ceived 2T7 of the 200 votes cast. He was greatly
encouraged by this showing and decided to try
his political fortunes at another time. In the
meantime 1t was necessary to get job. He
partnership in the grocery business with VIII
liam F. Berry. under the firm name of Berry e.
Lincoln. Lincoln had no money to put into the
enterprise, but gave his note in payment Of
his share. This venture into the mercantile
field did not pan out profitably. Berry be-
came entirely too much interested in liquor to
suit Lincoln and he therefore sold out his in
terest to the senior member of the firm, taking
Berrys notes in payment. These notes were
never paid.
When he returned from the Black Hawk War
Lincoln began boarding at the Rutledge Hotel.
The proprietor had a daughter named Ann
She had beautiful blue eyes, fair complexion
light golden hair and dainty figure She WIS
ID when Lincoln first saw her standing on the
bank of the river when his 1atboat stuck on
the dam. Ann and Abe were exact oppositeS
in appearance. It so happened that Ann at
this time was engaged TO a young merchant,
named Mcneil, who had come to New Salem
from New York to make his fortune His real
name, 1t was subsequently learned, was Nc
Namar. He claimed that he changed his name
in order not to be followed or annoyed by
relatives until he had made his fortune in the
West The story goes that as soon as he had
accumulated $4,000 he sold out to his partner
and informed Ann that he was going back to
New York to get his parents and that they
would get married upon his return.
On May 2, 1885, Lincoln was appointed post
master at New Salem and held the office as
eral miles to deliver q letter that he knew
some family was anxiously expecting. As post
master. Lincoln could not help but observe that
no letters came from AIMS promised husband
After several months Of silence Ann and her
friends began TO doubt his sincerity.
nNE evening, while they were out strorfIng.
Ann told Lincoln of her loss Of faith in
McNamar and of her diminishing regard for
MN. Under such conditions Lincoln deemed 1t
1a1r 70 open up his heart and confess the d1@D
love he had always entertained for her since
mat Gay when he first saw her standing on
tne 0ank OF the river. After that little con-
versat1on they were frequently seen together
They met at church, at the town pump and
various other places They roamed through the
grassy fields and along the tree-fringed river.
Each day Ann loved more and more the big
awkward young man with the kindly DISPOSE
ton and heart Of gold. At this period the
Rutledges quit the tavern business and moved
70 farm near Concord, about miles north
of New Salem.
AIMS brother urged her to marry Lincoln.
Ann, however, was anxious to obtain a little
more education and decided to spend year in
school In the meantime Lincoln was to do
his level best to get out Of debt and to run
for the Legislature again. They planned TO
marry at the end Of his legislative term in the
event Of his election. They were happy This
was, perhaps, the happiest period of Lncoln's
entire life.
The salary from the postmastership was not
sufficient to pay Lincolns board. 1t was neces-
sary TO do some work on the side. There was
not lazy bone in his body. He split rails,
labored In the gristmill and Sawmil harvested
hay and grain and did extra clerking in stores
In the midst of this variety of work there
came an agreeable surprise in the form of an
appointment as deputy county surveyor. Lin
coin knew absolutely nothing about surveying,
but he had faith in his ability to master 1t.
h foW ho,Oir f1ao
veyor and with the aid of his school teacher
friend actually learned what WAS necessary