Mary's Reputation

[Houmes]

"I do know that Mary H. and the children spent a great amount of time in Iowa. Some think this indicates trouble in the Lincoln marriage; others believe it shows that Mary H. found herself in a sandwich generation - tending to the needs of children and parents. I do not know enough about the Harlans to know their medical needs during the 1870's. What ever family needs Mary H. Lincoln faced, it was her duty to tend to these issues as they fell into the 'woman's sphere.'"

The Harlan family members were socially prominent and civic leaders in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. During the Civil War, both of Mary Harlan Lincoln's parents were supportive of President Lincoln and the war. James Harlan was a U.S. Senator and helped fund one of the first staging areas in Iowa for training soldiers. Ann Eliza Harlan, upon hearing of casualties in the Battle of Shiloh, went there personally securing needed food, medicine, and clothing to aid the wounded. James led a vigorous life and died at his Iowa home in 1899. Ann Harlan had occasional illnesses and died in 1884 during a visit to a Virginia oceanside resort. Both Mary Harlan Lincoln and her husband spent many summers and had frequent visits to Mount Pleasant. The major Harlan family health issue in the 1870's was the death in 1876 of Mary's brother, William Harlan. He died in California (probably of tuberculosis) after living the previous three years in Colorado, where his parents had made trips to see him.