Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[LincolnToddFan]

(06-18-2014 06:12 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Except for the one time that he was rude to Mary's Confederate sister at the White House, I believe Sen. Ira Harris enjoyed her company on quite a few occasions.

Right. But I only included people on the list that I knew for sure loved the First Lady and for whom I could provide documentation. I couldn't really do that with Sen. Harris, at least not immediately. Maybe I will find something.

Eva E., Mary had such a hot/cold relationship with her sisters and the Todds, even before the war. That's why I felt it wise not to put them on the list even though there is no doubt that as dysfunctional as they were, the Todds all loved one another. I am trying to find the name of the Union soldier MTL befriended during the war. She wrote letters to his mother on his behalf when he was wounded.

What impresses me personally is that this woman counted among her friends and admirers a former presidential contender and suitor(Stephen Douglas), at least three former slaves, and three respected clergymen. Harriet Tubman was not a fan of Abraham Lincoln, but did like his wife enough to visit her at the WH on at least one occasion. She did later change her opinion of AL.(Looking For Lincoln, hardcopy pgs #428-429)

And aristocratic Charles Sumner...cultured, erudite, polyglot, aesthete, was one of the 19th century's biggest snobs. There is no way he would have been caught dead in Mary's circle if she was as vulgar and as vile as her enemies claim. President's wife or not, he would have cut her dead.

But he is one of the few people who remained loyal to her after he no longer had anything to gain from it.