Wayne Temple thesis on why the Lincolns got married quick.

[RJNorton]

Hi Mike. Personally I think this is possible, but how can we know? If there were a "secret" here, both people took it to their graves. Springfield was a relatively small town at that time, and Lincoln was a well-known "rising star" as both a lawyer and politician. He had a good reputation for character, honesty, etc. It is possible that the two were worried that Mary might be pregnant and therefore the hurried wedding took place because Abraham's reputation and future political career might have been considered at stake. Also, Mary was living at the home of her older sister, Elizabeth, who was the wife of the son of the former Illinois Governor. No one wanted any possible embarrassments as the Edwards family was a very prominent one. But, as I said before, a definitive answer to this cannot be known. It's pure speculation, IMO.

I think another author who suggests this possibility is Janis Cooke Newman in Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln.