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Lot 95
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Illinois Woman Writes About Mary Lincoln and Lincoln's 1st Love Ann Rutledge
Illinois Woman Writes About Mary Lincoln and Lincoln's 1st Love Ann Rutledge
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Description:

Mary Lincoln
Chicago, IL, June 7, 1867
Illinois Woman Writes About Mary Lincoln and Lincoln's 1st Love Ann Rutledge
ALS

In this letter, the author writes of visiting Mary Lincoln in Chicago. She describes how she cried because her household furniture had been sold and people called her crazy. She also writes about the story Abraham Lincoln's former law partner and biographer William H. Herndon published about Lincoln's youthful romance with Ann Rutledge. Although Robert Lincoln tried to keep the story from his mother, she still learned of it.

The author may have been Elizabeth Porter Swing (1832-1879), whose husband David Swing (1830-1894) was a prominent minister in Chicago. He was pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1866 to 1871 and the Fourth Presbyterian Church from 1871 to 1875. Although accused of and tried for heresy to the Presbyterian faith in 1874, he was acquitted but resigned from the denomination in protest. He founded the Central Church in 1875 and preached there for 19 more years.

Mary Lincoln first met David Swing in 1859 and renewed their acquaintance when both Mary Lincoln and the Swings moved to Chicago after the war. Especially after the death of Tad Lincoln in July 1871, Mary Lincoln spent a great deal of time at the Swing residence on Ohio Street. She showered gifts on the Swing daughters, Helen and Mary Ann. Mary Lincoln even assisted in planning Mary Ann Swing's wedding to Jewett E. Ricker in October 1874.

[MARY LINCOLN.] Elizabeth Porter Swing?, Autograph Letter Initialed "E", to her sister, June 7, 1867, Chicago, IL. 4 pp., 5" x 8". Expected folds; very good.

Complete Transcript
Chicago 7th June / 67
My dear sister
I[t] seems to me that I will never get time to write you again so I concluded to drop all and write a a few lines any how though I have the headache and can hardly hold my eyes open I have had two letters from mother and one from Father this week the one from Father was commenced in March He is improving slowly and if he only would get rid of that abominable delusion he has been laboring under for 20 years he might be a happy man again. He thinks I am worry his life away now I suspected for years that was at the bottom of his troubles with me Poor Father I dont know what is to become of him It is killing mother by inches to keep her there and not let her be with him when he is sick you know the reason. The last three letters I have received from mother she was at the cottage not according to her wishes no servant for I don't know how long at least six week[s] the servant girl has to stay with father besides a hired nurse Oh what will all this come to and when will it end I want mother to come home and yet I don't want Father to be left alone I got Fathers letter last evening but I have not finished reading it yet. O if he only will be brought to his right mind on this subject
The children are all well John is at his farm about 40 miles from here My Preachers have all left and I am trying to get some sewing done but I get along slowly I spent the afternoon with Ms Lencoln day before yesterday she could not let me away to day all her household furniture is sold at auction She cried almost all afternoon She said she was crazy and some people think she is but I guess she is just what she always was. This Ann Rutledge curse has almost put her crazy She never knew any worry about it till [?] a newspaper hereabouts wrote an article and sent it to her Robert tore Herndons statement out of the morning paper carelessly in purpose to keep her from suspecting anything to keep her from knowing about it but he went and saw Herndon and Herndon said he made it up and dated it 18 years before Mr L saw Mrs L. Well I must close my love to all Brother M children Well maybe I get to see you all sometime this summer your sister / E

Mary Lincoln (1818-1882) was born into the prominent Todd family in Lexington, Kentucky. Educated at female academies and boarding schools, she learned to speak French fluently and studied literature, dance, drama, and music. She was very well-educated for her time, place, and gender. In November 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, and they had four sons. She supported her husband's political ambitions, becoming First Lady in 1861. Because she was from a border state, with several of her relatives supporting the Confederacy, Mary Lincoln was the object of suspicion in the press. Although she was responsible for hosting many social functions, her extensive spending to renovate the White House also drew complaints from a nation at war and from her husband. However, she also visited wounded soldiers in Washington hospitals, taking them fruit and flowers and writing letters home for them. Prone to severe headaches and depression, she suffered the loss of three of her four sons and was present when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. After leaving the White House, she lived in Chicago, where her son briefly had her committed to a sanitarium in 1875. After being declared competent to manage her own affairs in 1876, she spent the next four years traveling in Europe and living in Pau, France. She later returned to Springfield, where she died in her sister's home.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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