Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[L Verge]

Eva - Ms. Coleman pointed out the distance between villagers and farm folk (and especially as they moved west) and their government offices in order to register for licenses (if needed) and also the fact that many couples were far removed from their physical, religious buildings. If weddings were performed, it was generally in the family home - and ministers traveled from pillar to post, so might not be available for over a month. There were a significant number of pregnant brides, and those "delay factors" made it more convenient to just take up habitation and begin raising the family.

I tried to point out to the Rutledge-obsessed gentleman that Mary and Lincoln were "the opposites attract" syndrome in personalities, that Mary was very well-educated and especially politically-inclined towards the Whig preference of Lincoln, having trained at the knee of Clay, and that she was in the center of the society that he needed to win over. I think all of these elements made her fascinating to him. She wasn't just some air-head (not to say that Ann was, but we don't know...).

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Laurie - that makes sense. (Especially the praline weddings.)

I think all of these elements made her fascinating to him.

I think so, too. (As for the last point - I think long-term she might have been too "boring", too little "challenging". I think both, Mary and Abraham Lincoln needed a strong counterpart - intellectually and overall.)

[RJNorton]

(I think he once clearly commented on the Todd name.)

Eva, I am not certain this is the story you are talking about, but it came to mind:

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One evening Lincoln mentioned the fact that David Tod, the wartime governor of Ohio, who had declined Lincoln's invitation to succeed Salman P. Chase as Secretary of the Treasury, had occasion to visit Washington in 1863 on government business. During an interview with Lincoln, the President remarked, "You are perhaps aware, Governor, that my wife is a member of the Todd family of Kentucky, and they all spell their name with two d's. How is it that you use but one?"

David Tod replied, "Mr. President, God spells his name with one d, and one is enough for the Governor of Ohio."

I think the versions of the story may differ somewhat from book to book, but this is the one I have. Some books, I believe, give the punch line to Lincoln, not Tod.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Yes, Roger, I was thinking of a different version of that story (with punch line to Lincoln), and I am pretty sure it is in M. Burlingame's 1st volume of "A Life".

[HerbS]

A happy wife is a happy life! Laurie-I agree with your opinion 100%Roger-I think-Lincoln enjoyed a happy life! Gene-I here is a song that typifies Lincoln's needs-You are my Sunshine!Eva-I agree with your outlook 100%!!!!!!!!!!

[Gene C]

Great choice of songs Herb


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc2jsjnt-HY

[Juan Marrero]

It's like a Stephen King novel with Ann being dug up and her arm bone and bits of hair carted off and reburied for personal gain.
Has there ever been discussion to put her all back together at Oakland? Are the any descendants living today?

By 1860 many family members (brothers and the mother of Ann Rutledge) had moved to Iowa and are buried in Bethel Cemetery, Van Buren County, near the village of Birmingham. One brother, Robert Rutledge was named Provost Marshal, 1st District Iowa, in 1863.

Back in the 60's in King's Beach, Lake Tahoe, my mother worked as seamstress and ironed clothes in a laundry owned by a very nice man named Rutledge. (Claim to fame: she ironed Frank Sinatra's clothes for when he appeared at the CalNeva Lodge. Mr. Rutledge told me, upon learning of my early interest in Lincoln, that Ann Rutledge was a collateral ancestor of his. Mr. Rutledge was a Mormon and a very straitlaced man for what it's worth.