Lincoln/Douglas debate

[STS Lincolnite]

Thanks Roger!!

I have begun work on following these sources back.

1&2: Look to be general works on courtship, etc. in the 19th century and not specifically related to the Stephen Douglas/Mary Todd or Abraham Lincoln/Mary Todd relationships.

4: I don’t know for sure what this document has in it. I have found that it currently resides in the collection of the ALPLM and have put in a request for a copy.

3: This one I was able to track down immediately as I have a copy of Keckley’s book.

In the pages following what Roger posted, Keckley goes on to give an account of how Mary also turned down an initial proposal from Lincoln (she states that she was told the story by Mary as well as Dr. Anson Henry). After this rejection of his proposal, Lincoln was upset and went to Dr. Henry for comfort. At one point she has Lincoln saying to Dr. Henry: “No! I believe that she is going to marry Douglas. If she does, I will blow my brains out.”

I can’t say those are words I would have envisioned Lincoln uttering.

This incident reported by Keckley apparently occurred prior to the actual engagement (initial) of Mary and Abraham. In other sources, Dr. Henry was the one who comforted and cared for a despondent Lincoln in January of 1841 following the dissolution of their initial engagement (not prior to their initial engagement as in Keckley's account). Is it possible that Keckley confused the incident and/or timing of Dr. Henry’s consolation of Lincoln? Or perhaps other sources have confused the timing? I haven’t seen sources that refer to Dr. Henry consoling Lincoln twice. But maybe there are ones out there.

All this is probably outside of the intention of the thread topic. If and when I find more I will start a new thread to continue on down this line for those that may be interested.