The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-02-05

"Salem is the old Biblical word meaning
peace and here If you have any sentiment
coursing in your blood, you will find peace. Per-
feet peace hovers this serene, stately
inence of green jutting out into the quiet sea of
prairie and woodland. Old Salem never ceased
to mean much to Lincoln. He expected to make
1t his rural home after his second Presidency.
Research work has brought to view
the original foundations of every log cabin along
these forgotten streets, the almost obliterated
road leading out of the village to Springfield
and the path from Ofut's store where Lincoln
clerked, down to the grst mill where he
wont to oficiate Soon all log cabins will be
restored on their original foundations and all
cabins, shops and mill will be furnished as they
were in 1881
when this work is tactfully done, the SEM
blance of a vanished era will be perfect. The
associations the taverns, the homes, the old well
which is now in use, the paths of great life
will be eloquently impaired to u.s. The six hap
piest and most fruitful years Abraham lincoln
had spent up to this time in his life will lie
before us more wildly than tongue or pen could
describe them"
So far the buildings which have been restored
are the Rutledge tavern. the Offut store,
which took place the famous Armstrong Lincoln
wrestling match the store where Lincoln and
William Berry were business partners; the
Henry Onstott cooper shop and the Hill and Nc
structure which is used as Lincoln museum
containing many interesting Lincoln relics AL
though the original town was named New Salem
the state park and the restored village is called
Old Salem. This was necessary because there
is New Salem in Pike county, Illinois, and
a town of Salem in Marion county. So to pre-
vent confusion it was thought best to call the
ressurrected town Old Salem.
1t during Lincoln's life in New Salem
that there became associated with his name
some of the innumerable stories so familiar to all
of us. Some of them are sufficiently authent-
Gated to be accepted as fact but others are pure
legend Not the least of the services of the
late Senator Albert ]. Beveridge in his monu-
mental biography of Lincoln, published by the
Houghton Miffln company some four years ago.
was the confirming of some of these legends and
the dispelling of others so that an authentic
portrait of Lincoln emerged from the great mass
of evidence which he exarcined in writing his
twovolume work.
One of the favorite stories Is his historic
wrestling watch with Jack armstrong. leader
of the "Clary Grove Boys" who had thrown or
whipped every man who had wrestled or fought
with him and was considered the best fighter
In all the countryside. Various accounts of this
match have survived, most of which depict Lin
coin as an easy victor over his fought opponent
But Beveridge gives most credence to an EYE
witness who says that after striving q long time
without either man prevailing, Lincoln said Jack,
let's quit / can't throw you-you can't throw
me- Armstrong agreed and the matter was
ended in fun -. Whatever happened. the
Clary Grove Boys and their leader became. from
that moment warm friends of Lincoln and their
friendship grew more ardent as time passed by"
The high spot in Lincoln's career at New
Salem in the mind of most people, no doubt was
his romance with Ann Rutledge, daughter of the
tavernkeeper over which so many writer's have
cllo 11xv ;pooo Tl
was very substantial basis of fact for the
legend which has sprung up about this love
affair, but it was not the grand passion" which
has been so often depicted OF her Beveridge
says:
"Ann appears to have been the most attrac-
tive girl in New Salem and was courted by the
two most prominent and prosperous young men