Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[Mike B.]

Yes, it's true that John Hill in 1862 published a story in the Menard Axis about Lincoln falling desperately in love with a fair maiden who tragically died, which plunged Lincoln into such despair that it alarmed his friends.

I thought I would include the key paragraph from this article in case people want to comment. I believe some historians feel this is the best proof of a romance because it came prior to Herndon's revelations. This was printed in the Feb. 15, 1862, Menard Axis:


He now became an actor in a new scene. He chanced to meet with a lady, who to him seemed lovely, angelic, and the height of perfection. Forgetful of all things else, he could think or dream of naught but her. His feelings he soon made her acquainted with, and was delighted with a reciprocation. This to him was perfect happiness and with uneasy anxiety he awaited the arrival of the day when the twain would be made one flesh. — But that day was doomed never to arrive. Disease came upon this lovely beauty, and she sickened and died. The youth had wrapped his heart with her's, and this was more than he could bear. He saw her to her grave, and as the cold clods fell upon the coffin, he sincerely wished that he too had been enclosed within it. Melancholy came upon him; he was changed and sad. His friends detected strange conduct and a flighty imagination. — They placed him under guard for fear of his committing suicide. — New circumstances changed his thoughts, and at length he partially forgot that which had for a time consumed his mind.

The entire article is here.

Roger, I always thought this was key. Those who want to dismiss Ann Rutledge as a Herndon invention to "get" Mary need to remember this article exists. It by itself shows that it was not a Herndon invention. Also, the very first serious Lincoln biographer, Josiah Holland found evidence of it too in his interviews before Herndon but left it out of his biography in Victorian propriety. I believe this can be found in the the JALA article "Holland's Informants" by Guelzo.