08-19-2012, 10:48 AM
Bill,
It was in an interview that Cogdal gave to Herndon.
I Knew Abe Lincoln the first week he came to Salem in 1831 — June or July. He Kept Store for Offutt in Salem in 1831 & 2. — Saw Offutts goods opened — Lincoln boarded with Jas Rutledge at the time he was a Clk of Offutt. Rutledge lived in Salem — Kept tavern — small frame one story house made of Clap boards — fronting south and on the Main street — which East & west — but one Street in town — house had 4 rooms. The house was on the north side of the Main Street — fronting South [1] The first book I ever Saw in L's hand was Blackstone — in 1832 — He surveyed for Calhoun & Neal — one in 1834 to 1836 — the other from 1836 to 1838, I think — Salem was a great place for fighting and Lincoln was called the Peace Maker: he always interfered. He became acquainted with Miss Ann Rutledge in 1831 — 2, & 3: he courted her — and after he was Elected Presdt. he said to me one day — "Ike Call at my office in the State house about an hour by sun down. The Company will then all be gone"
Cogdale went according to request & Sure Enough the Company dropt off one by one — his, Ls, Clerk included.
"I want to enquire about old times and old acquaintances" Said Lincoln. He then said — "When we lived in Salem there were the Greens, Potters Armstrongs — & Rutledges. These folks have got scattered all over the world — some are dead. Where are Rutledges — Greens — &c."
"After we had spoken over old times — persons — Circumstances — in which he showed wonderful memory I then dare to ask him this question —
May I now in turn ask you one question Lincoln Said Cogdale Most assuredly. I will answer your question if a fair one with all my heart. then it was that he answered — as follows [2]
Abe is it true that you fell in love with & courted Ann Rutledge" Said Cogdale. Lincoln said, "it is true — true indeed I did. I have loved the name of Rutledge to this day. I have Kept my mind on their movements ever since & love them dearly" — said L
Abe — Is it true — Said Cogdale, that you ran a little wild about the matter:
I did really — I run off the track: it was my first. I loved the woman dearly & sacredly: she was a handsome girl — would have made a good loving wife — was natural & quite intellectual, though not highly Educated — I did honestly — & truly love the girl & think often — often of her now."
Bakers praire comes up — on the East side of the river just Even with Salem — a little north — The forest on the hill eastward joins Bakers prairie and is East & South of Salem — The Able [3] house was a frame house — it is the same house under the hill now: it was once on the top of the hill — fronted East — looked into Bakers Prairie —
Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3856 — 57; Huntington Library: LN2408 1:469 — 71
Tripp called Cogdal's recollections fraudulent. J.G. Randall said that he didn't believe them either, saying that Lincoln disliked being called "Abe" and that no one would have done so.
Best
Rob
It was in an interview that Cogdal gave to Herndon.
I Knew Abe Lincoln the first week he came to Salem in 1831 — June or July. He Kept Store for Offutt in Salem in 1831 & 2. — Saw Offutts goods opened — Lincoln boarded with Jas Rutledge at the time he was a Clk of Offutt. Rutledge lived in Salem — Kept tavern — small frame one story house made of Clap boards — fronting south and on the Main street — which East & west — but one Street in town — house had 4 rooms. The house was on the north side of the Main Street — fronting South [1] The first book I ever Saw in L's hand was Blackstone — in 1832 — He surveyed for Calhoun & Neal — one in 1834 to 1836 — the other from 1836 to 1838, I think — Salem was a great place for fighting and Lincoln was called the Peace Maker: he always interfered. He became acquainted with Miss Ann Rutledge in 1831 — 2, & 3: he courted her — and after he was Elected Presdt. he said to me one day — "Ike Call at my office in the State house about an hour by sun down. The Company will then all be gone"
Cogdale went according to request & Sure Enough the Company dropt off one by one — his, Ls, Clerk included.
"I want to enquire about old times and old acquaintances" Said Lincoln. He then said — "When we lived in Salem there were the Greens, Potters Armstrongs — & Rutledges. These folks have got scattered all over the world — some are dead. Where are Rutledges — Greens — &c."
"After we had spoken over old times — persons — Circumstances — in which he showed wonderful memory I then dare to ask him this question —
May I now in turn ask you one question Lincoln Said Cogdale Most assuredly. I will answer your question if a fair one with all my heart. then it was that he answered — as follows [2]
Abe is it true that you fell in love with & courted Ann Rutledge" Said Cogdale. Lincoln said, "it is true — true indeed I did. I have loved the name of Rutledge to this day. I have Kept my mind on their movements ever since & love them dearly" — said L
Abe — Is it true — Said Cogdale, that you ran a little wild about the matter:
I did really — I run off the track: it was my first. I loved the woman dearly & sacredly: she was a handsome girl — would have made a good loving wife — was natural & quite intellectual, though not highly Educated — I did honestly — & truly love the girl & think often — often of her now."
Bakers praire comes up — on the East side of the river just Even with Salem — a little north — The forest on the hill eastward joins Bakers prairie and is East & South of Salem — The Able [3] house was a frame house — it is the same house under the hill now: it was once on the top of the hill — fronted East — looked into Bakers Prairie —
Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3856 — 57; Huntington Library: LN2408 1:469 — 71
Tripp called Cogdal's recollections fraudulent. J.G. Randall said that he didn't believe them either, saying that Lincoln disliked being called "Abe" and that no one would have done so.
Best
Rob
![[Image: photoc05c72cbf100a89b4b.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/photoc05c72cbf100a89b4b.jpg/)