Grave of James Rutledge, father of Ann

[maharba]

I'm not sure of the timing. Lincoln had several friends and relatives pass on and that added to his chronic depression. Now maybe this is 1836. He either does or does not pursue a courting with Rutledge, maybe this is 1837. Then he mails the Suicide Poem to the Sangamon newspaper in 1838. Folks are solicitous for him and leery that he himself does not commit suicide? If that is the timing, then is the break with Rutledge the focal point of that period of his depression spell? Or maybe I have the timing and other events confused with the timing of the 1838 Suicide Poem.