^5

I

V

o

n

a

Abraham Lincoln and

Education

Mentor Graham

(William Mentor Graham)

Excerpts from newspapers and other

sources

From the files of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection

LINCOLN'S EARLY DATS.

Facts About One of the Preceptors of

Ills Yontn. fC/t 7

To the Editor of tho Globe-Democrats '^ 1 \J>

Petersburg, Ilu . July 5.— About the year 1828 tho small village of New Salem wan founded. In what became In 1839 Menard County. The little hamlet that to-day Is famous as the oarly home of Lincoln stood on the right bank of the Sangamon River, about two miles south of the county seat, Petersburg. Few traces of the town are left; only here and there the nearly filled cellars, making slight depressions in the ground, show where the buildings once stood that sheltered the 200 or 300 people who lived here when Salem was at its best. An old settler pointed out to me the place where the Rutledge tavern Stood when Lincoln did chores lor his board when his finances were so low that he could not pay.

Back in the early thirties (so my Informant said) Mentor Graham opened a school in a log church on the farm ol Thomas Watkins, which adjoined Salem. Here he taught a few of the children of the town and surrounding country lor the modest compensation of $8 per quarter each.

Graham was a very learned man for his day In the pioneer West— a typical pedagogue of the border. He was tall, straight and muscu- lar, and with courage sufficient to hold his own in a country where it took brawn as well as brain to teach school.

The following Incident will give an Idea a9 to how the master ot that day had to conquer a peace. One day In the little town of Gra- ham he was approached by a strapping youth, who remarked: "When I was a boy 1 always said that I would thrash you when I was grown, and I am going to do it now." "Trv It, young man; but you should have waited until you were older." Thereupon he ad- ministered a punishment that taught the youth that he could still take lessons of his former preceptor.

In nonel of the biographies and sketches of Lincoln that it has been my fortune to read has Graham ever received the credit due him lor his patience and care in laying the foun- dation of Lincoln's education. The teacher was an enthusiast in his calling and he found the mind of young Lincoln rich and virgin soil In which to sow the seeds of knowledge. One of the brightest students In Graham's now historic country school was Ann Rut- ledge. W.ltli a mlndjfc easily trained •uu - a desire PxcBl -she ooon_ acquired a knowledge of the low books that were to be obtained in the settle- ment. Graham advised her to study gram- mar, and her father sent t6 St. Louis by a trader for the book, which is now a highly prized heirloom in her family on account of Its association with one whose future great- ness lends a charm to the name and memory of the girl. From the time of Lin- coln's arrival In Salem (1831) and his acquaintance with Graham he evinced a lively interest in the teacher and the school, and every Friday afternoon, when it was possible, he attended the. spell, ing match which always wound up the exer- cises for the week. Graham was a good con- vener, and Lincoln sought his company and enjoyed the long talks in which the master ever dwelt upon the advantages of education. One day Lincoln expressed a desire to study arithmetic, of which he knew but little. Graham, ever ready with en- couraging words. Immediately proceeded to explain the use of figures and to point out to the ungainly boy their value. From this time on the whole trend of Lincoln's life was changed. The contact with Graham, who was himself a student, turned him from the rough sports of the pioneers, in which he was a master, and created a desire for learn- ing, which would raise him abovo his com- panions, who knew and cared little for books. Lincoln, at this time, worked at what- ever his band could find to do, fighting j for a living with ax and reaping-hook. | His skill with the former made his services ini demand for the clearing of the spot for the j cabin, and his great strength made him In- ! valuable in piling the huge logs on top of each l other fh the construction of the house. I

When Lincoln was finally employed as clerk I In Ofiut's store he managed to give more time to his books. In the long summer afternoons I he would lie on the counter and figure on I the wrapping paper, and Graham, coming by ! from school, would crlticUe his work and I urge him on. Ho pretty thoroughly mastered ! the arithmetic, and after the failure of himself I ancLhis employer as merchants he devoted still more timo to his teacher and his books. His appointment as Deputy Surveyor came, and he Immediately applied to his friend Graham, who told me that Lincoln acquired ; the science of laying out lands and describ- ing them by metes and bounds in the lncred- i lbly short space of six weeks. His position of Deputy Surveyor made it possible for him to exist without having to perform the exhaust- ive labor to which he had been accustomed (except the short time he was clerk and mer-

chant), and gave him time to continue his" I studies. Graham insisted that he should take I up the grammar, but he could not find one So ft was finally arranged by Graham that alter school hours he was to have the use of Ann Rutledge's and study In the evenings As in other pursuits of learning. Lincoln made rapid progress and quickly overtook the prize scholar, who had already evinced a maidenly Interest In the struggling voung man. Then in the evenings they studied to- gether, and Graham would come In to hear them recite and encourage Abe to push his education. He pointed with prophetic finger to the upward path that lay before the youth If he could but plant his feet firmly upon it No wonder that in these evenings, with i that grammar before him and the brown eyes of the rustic beauty fixed upon him, Lincoln lost his head and dreamed of the time when he as a scholar would maice for them both a home amid more congenial surroundings. Graham saw during these studious days that his pupil had a most wonderful faculty for acquiring ilnformation and insisted that he should studv law Lin- coln had won quite a reputation among his backwoods friends as a public speaker, but it was not until Graham had Insisted again and again that he borrowed from a friend in Springfield some lawbooks and plunged Into them with his characteristic energy

Soon after beginning the study of law he removed to Springfield and started on that upward path— pointed out by Graham— which placed him finally in the highest position ac- corded to man. Mentor Graham taught long In the neighborhood of Salem, and In later years talked much of the days when Presi- dent Lincoln was his pupil. Who knows but that for the meeting of these two the bright- est star of th3 nineteenth century might never have arisen?

Certain it is that, while different persons have boasted of having been Lincoln's in- structor. Mentor Graham was the earnest capable man sent by Providence to impart his enthusiasm In education to the man who became the great central figure of our times.

Mentor Graham in his declining years lost his wife, his sons, his home, everything, and aged, poor, forgotten, he died not long since In an obscure village in Dakota, whither he had gone to avoid the poor house among the acquaintances of his more prosperous days. Jack D. WrIght.

J W I GHT

An Early Illinois School Master

MENTOR GRAHAM Abraham Lincoln's tutor at New Salem

"I know of my own knowledge that Gra- ham did more than all others to educate Lincoln." R. B. Rutledge.

POST CARD

PLACE STAMP HERE

Illinois Pupils Reading Circle

has supplied books to the schools

of your county since July 1, 1931.

We thank you most sincerely for your interest and cooperation as County Man- ager.

D. F. NICKOLS, Manager. April 5, 1932.

REC' MAR 11 19^

£MiJujQEaoi

1617 North Vasear Avenue, Wichita, ans. March seven, lp40

Information Bureau,

Lincoln National Life Foundation,

Fort Wayne, Indiana

I have been directed to you as a possible source of assistance in a writ- ing conterning Mentor Graham, schoolmaster of New Salem Illinois from 1828 to 18^5(?), and between the years of I83I and 5 tutor to

Abraham Lincoln.

His life while in Illinois is well authenticated for my book, but I find much trouble with his first 28 years which were lived in Kentucky. His father, Jeremiah Graham, was son of William Graham, supposed to have entered Kentucky Oounty of Virginia in the early 1770' s perhaps with Benjamin Lynn, whose sister was William Graham s wife. At any rate, these two, William Graham and his wife, Nancy Lynn Graham, had a large family: ffl0-^f(jtjttf0]( .1 njpm Ron , hynrit Jeremiah and Robert— and two daughters.

Jeremiah s children were : Mentor( 1800) born near Greensburg, ureen Gounty, Ky; Robert, John, Johnson, Nancy and Elizabeth.

If you can direct me to sources of information concerning these Grahams in Kentucky, or their ancestors, in the warolinas(Ky, Historians say they came from South, Illinois historians , from North warolina), I shall be grateful.

Mentor is said to have taught in Friendship, ^rush and Greensburg schoos before going to Illinois in 1828.

Thank you,

March 1J, 19*K3

Mr. IBssjlflMSl Duncan 1617 Horth Yasser Ave. Wichita! Xfensae

Dear Mr. Duncans

While in Hoflgenville, Krotucky, this last euasaer, X talked with William Qraham about his ancestry , having known that Mnrtor Qraham cams from the Lincoln community Just across the line in Oreen County.

Possibly if you will write to Jfc». Graham in Hodgenrille, he may be able to help you trace the ancestry of Bfentcr Qraham* !33» records of Green County are attached and I happen to have dons some research work there this aumoer, but I did not pay special attention to the Qraham family. Of course, you are familiar with the fact that many of the Hew Salem people came from Oreen County* Kentucky, but it seems to me that Mr. William Oraham of Hodgenville, Kentucky, would be your best contact.

Very truly yours,

XAW:KS Director

L. A .Warren

WI-IYOHI

(Moon)

(Each)

Monthly Bulletin of the South Dakota Historical Society

Vol. V.

August 1,1951

*>• ?

THE H-ITOHB UNDERGOES A CHANGE

For exactly four years and four months the Wi-iyohe has, in form, make up and appearance, been a headache. For the grammarian who dislikes split in- finatives it has been much worse no doubt. It seems doubtful that there will be any marked improvement from hie standpoint in the immediate future but in form we think it will be a real improvement. To start with, we are using a lightweight book paper instead of mimeograph stuff and the pictures should show a real improvement. Then we are eliminating the "insert" which never had a page continuity. Ve hope you like the new appear- ance. We may find it necessary to make a charge to non-member addressees but hope we can avoid that.

Aat tells its own story. One of the difficulties about reading the Historic Markers are that you are well by them usually before you know what you have passed. It's d&ngerous to back up and when you H do, frequently there is no' TURNOUT m at the sign. Ve want to do something

about it and the above sign is what we have done over at Blunt

where we have a sign like the one below on the highway right

in town. Ve hope to have this on a TURNOUT one of these days.

Because every sign has a reverse, it

seemed like a pious idea to put some- thing on the reverse. Ve sent a copy

for either a Sunshiny SUN or a COYOTE

to the sign maker and told them to

use the one they liked best. It seems

that every sign has to have a support

and that it is usually on the back

and they solved the difficulty by

putting both the Coyote and the Sun

on the back. And now we think it is

a very good idea indeed. The sign is

made of cast aluminum and is 2k x 15

inches overall. The background is brown with the words and

figures in yellow and it not only is attractive but also at-

tracts the tourist attention to the fact that 1000 feet in ad- vance is something he may want to stop and take a look at. This is the way the hack of the sign looks and now that we have you stopped to read the sign you might as well go in and look the place over. Just to let folks know that it has a historical and patriotic background there is a flag flying from a 30 foot pole ifcich you can see by looking at the pic- ture below rather closely and if you have a reading glass you can see the myriad of apples on the tree east of the house. The lawn,

planted last Fall as a Community effort by a lot of the good people of Blunt has fared well and by Tall we expect to have a very respectable flower showing also. As can be seen, the whole is enclosed in a substantial fence, so substantial in fact that some of the "kidders" over in Blunt asked if we ex- pected to keep a bull. Bight beside the front door is a bronze plaque. We thought we had a suitable picture but the litho- grapher^ ruled it out. It however reads:

The house has been

MENTOR SB A 5 A H

Died here October k, 1885. He was Abraham Lincoln's teacher. This house donated Y)k6 to South Dakota State Historical Society by the following Life Members: Charles L. Hyde, Doane Robinson, Henry M, Reed, Rex Terry, Theodore F. Riggs, Vm. H. Pringle, William Williamson, E. D. Roberts.

repainted, a shingle roof placed on the main part. The floors in two rooms have been replaced, the plaster repaired all over the house, and the two front rooms have been pa- pered. Electric

lights have been installed and all in all it is quite a com- fortable place. We have been fortunate in getting furniture of the period in which it was lived in by Mentor Graham and at long last a chest of drawers that he had in the house. Peo- ple who were there have advised what sort of an item was in what place in the house and so far as obtainable we have dup- licated the item in place. The picture below was taken from the bed room, through the double doors. To be noted are the picture of Mentor in his high hat, the insignia of the learned In -that day. The folding chair and the love seat were donated by Mrs. Robert Bay of Sturgis, the couch was located in an. old attic in Blunt and entirely recovered, the table is part of the items contributed by Mr. Harold Fisher, formerly of St. Lawrence, as are the great bed, the dresser and commode in the bed room. We have aoueht some of the furniture that was there

when lived in by Mentor Gra- ham and last year through the kind offices of Mr. D. 7. Nichols, of Lincoln, 111., co-author of the book "Men- tor Graham", we obtained the rocker shown below. This ws not the one Graham had, at Blunt - but an exact dupli- cate that had been in the family. This Spring, and thanks again to Mr. Nichols, we obtained the chest of drawers depicted below from Mrs. Sellers of Mt. Pulaski, 111., distant kin of Graham. By and large, we have the Living room and bed room furnl3hed as we want them. On the rails are pictures, framed items, including the newspaper with lis obituary, telling the story of this remarkable man. He lied in this house >6 years ago on the 5th day of Dctober and it is low planned to lave a formal Ded- ication of this aouse to the Mem- >ry of Mentor Gra aam and his great itudent. Further announcement of the programme fill be given aerein and thru

the newspaper. The pictures contained on this and the pre- seding and following page have been placed on Postcards and

will hereafter he on sale at the House - as well as the Mentor Graham hooks. It has taken the "better part of five years to get this place rehabilitated. It is by no means completed as yet "but it is so far along as to make it well worth a short visit. Below are pictures of the front or east wall of the living room and a picture of the SW corner where the organ and an unusual picture of Lincoln are the attractions.

VOLUME XXV HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS This volume in due course should have been in the hands of our membership prior to December, 1950. Printing costs had so risen that the General Appropriation for printing was ex- hausted prior to that time and while all copy had been with / the printer since July, 1950 the final publication had to a- wait a new fiscal year. We believe HOW, barring some unfor- seen difficulty, that this Volume will be mailed out in the next 60 days. It will contain: Donald D. Parker has found some new material which he has added to the History of Early Exploration of South Dakota and the Fur Trade therein, with emphasis on the Missouri River and the area east of it. This fine treatise contains extraordinarily good footnotes and the notes contain copious reference to the sources so that it serves a dual purpose most satisfactorily. Hyman Palais, of Humbolt State College, California, had written a story of early day Stage and Wagon Roads , gleaning his materia^ from newspapers and such sources. To this fine story the Secre- tary has added a considerable number of footnotes where there"' was any incompleteness and a series of Maps, covering the exact location of the stage lines and of the Stations. Norman Thomas has written a story of the Hutterian Brethren, tracing their history in Europe briefly and supplying charts and tables show- ing their goings and comings in America. There are also Maps

Stiff Course of Reading Prepared Abe

Lincoln for His Career as Public Man

William Mentor Graham Had the Future Stitesman in His Blab School Only Six Weeks, hut Followed Through With Years of Instruction Based on His 200-Book Library, and Including Public Speaking as Well as Study. |\anS^^ (3 *V

%T r-/2^?2.

The writer of the following Kill.) Republican and two small, |attcnded by New Salem chil-

article in co-author of the local papers. "Reading," in dren, was down the hill from

%. i atir-tii ** ..j /->,„ Graham's philosophy, mean

book, "William Mentor Gra, makjng g ^^ &£gt (to nP

recited orally) of what each fac tion stood for. After this, any injustice, illogic, untruth, any undermining immorality, any in

L1KK u.« in'o.ui r.i i»amei adequate English must be point D «.« i.™« j „* ed out and its correction worded.

ham, the Man Who Taught Lincoln."

By Kunigunde Duncan. IKE the legend of Daniel Boone, the legend of Abraham Lincoln's be- ing a "self-made man" will doubtless never be altered

Reading Meant Learning.

town, held in the log church house the first settlers had built on Greene's Rocky Branch. Gra- ham had hewn and hand- smoothed all the lumber in his house, and had made most of the furniture.

Finally, Graham guided Lin- coln, the man still ambitious for

public life, in the matter of From 1831 to 1837, under alspeech-making. All during his ^"ii^^^ria^'^^ri^v^TihP slern master, Abraham Lincoln Treading," Lincoln had also been "J, Vla r "'"^JLfr'a ™<* every book in Graham's set to writing and delivering haCp^cettB^e^'Sml^all but'meaty library; this, [speeches. From. being a lout-

plot PCI v. ' > ■• i <■'• "/*. < < ■* ' > « « ' » ■" i 1 1 «■' « , ..

equal a modern college or uni- restate ^'^ sentence in his versitv course under a man also own ™r*s- . S,nCe ^Graha™ named Graham, a descendant of owned 200 volumes, this part

the Kentucky trail maker.

Among the recently opened Robert Lincoln papers, now on exhibition at the Library of Con- gress, are a few in the fading script of William Mentor Gra

of Lincoln's course was, alone a challenge to anything com- parable in today's university courses. The volumes were philosophy,

Bible commentarv, history, Eng

ham, New Salem, 111., schooT;lish masters of poetry, Latin

master at the time Lincoln lived and Greek in translation natu-There were amp]e topics: slav there Thev verify, without :ral history, astronomy and nies ery> education of women steam

Hot Subjects for Debate.

Graham had invited the raw Lincoln to become a member of the debating society, for which speeches were properly prepared and frequently given. If no society was meeting, or Lincoln had no part in the cur- rent debate, his speechwriting and making went on in private.

doubt, the fact that Lincoln was

his student, first in blab school

and later, for many months, as i a private' student. A part of ' this time Lincoln lived in 1he

home of Graham, working for

board, room and tutoring. These statements, written by

Graham, are dated Petersburg,

111., 1884. They are in letters

to B. F. Irwin, who was 1hon

writing a biography of Lincoln

which can be found in any li- brary, as one item of reliable

data concerning Lincoln.

Still Farming at 84.

In 1884 Graham was 84 years old, and his script is none loo firm. Even at such an age this teacher-farmer- was still teach- ing, still farming, and he apolo- gizes for his poor writing by saying, "My hands are too stiff from plowing to write plainly."

"Lincoln attended my blab school in 1831," Graham wrote, "altogether about six weeks. In the month of February, 1833, he came to live with me. I taught him t,he rules of surveying. I do not think he was anything

of a mathematician—especially 0f anti-slavery papers. From in geometry and trigonometry this the real" stature of Lin- before he came to my house, coin's course of studv begins to I think I may say that he was: become apparent, if one had my scholar and I was his;resajd jn his own words the teacher. He commenced theisentpnce.by-sentence accounts in

Wju.tam Mentor Graham . . . Hk Hap a Large Part in Shaping Abb Lincoln's Skill With the English Lan- guage.

boat river commerce, heaven and hell, and teaching the Ne-! gro.

Graham lived to be 86. He died in Blunt, S. D., in the home of his pioneering son. In 1933 the teachers of Illinois returned his body to the Sangamon coun- try. In Kentucky, lie and Lin- coln had lived nine miles apart in Green County. They now sleep, separated by about the same distance, Lincoln in his rightly honored tomb, Graham in his recently honored, more Humble grave that heats the in- scription, "William Mentor Gra- ham, the Man Who Taught Lin- coln."

That inscription is Ihe title of the biography of Graham which; f prepared in collaboration with D. F. Nickols, who died in Lin- coln, III., last August.

L " "'' T7~ •*"*■ ftlntwf

study of grammar with me and would recite to me in the eve- ning. He lived with me about six months."

Graham, Lincoln's senior by only nine years, relates further that he and his scholar became very close friends, and that Lin- roln confessed his ambition to

200 such volumes, he would have mastered an understand- ing of several 4-year courses.

And, of course, in addition, all of Graham's textbooks were studied the same way. Lincoln was finally permitted to cease studying grammar only when he

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MONDAY, FEB. 18, 1952

ABERDEEN AMERICAN!

Shrine At Blunt Immortalizes Story Of Man Who Influenced Lincoln's Life

(American-News Dakota News Service) west Gf the house in which he

BLUNT Memories of Abra- died The cemetery is located be- ham Lincoln stirred again with the side the road on tj s 14 and to anniversary of his birth last week the north Some years aftcr ^e and thoughts of Harry Lincoln Gra- burial, relatives removed the body ham and Mentor Graham were re- to a Farmer's Point, 111. cemetery vived here. where it was re-interred.

Just how the name Lincoln is 7^ Graham played a large part connected with Harry Graham is|. «.. jx,_i___, nt T ;„„„i„ ;* a well-known story in this South in the development of Lincoln is Dakota community. not doubted for he was the man

Harry was named after his fath- who taught Lincoln grammar. Pri- er's great friend, Abraham, when or to the lessons, Lincoln had want- Lincoln was essentially an un- ed to give up further study but known. Sarah, the mother, insist- Mentor w Abraham on the need ed on calling the boy Harry L. of studies f man h ^

Mentor but the father always call- fn ___,_ nMi„ Kto

p¥^-..v

-

Harry "Little Lincoln."

study and friendship at New Salem,

Harry's father was Mentor Gra- m. During six months of the time ham "the man who taught Lin- Lincoln lived at the Grtftam home, coin.' It was during that time that he

Mentor's counsel, advice, friend- became engaged to Ann Rutledge. ship and teaching shaped Lincoln's STORY TOLD

life and thus helped develop the GrahanVs influence is vividly destiny of our nation according shown fa h book <1Mentor Gr/_ to many present-day Lincoln his- ham fce Man whQ Taught Un. tonans. . coln., b Kunigunde Duncan and

SHRINE ESTABLISHED d. F. Nichols.

Today a shrine to Abraham Lin- To further perpetuate the story coin and the man who influenced of this important but litle known his life has been established at American, the South Dakota State Blunt. It was to Blunt that Mentor Historical Society bought the Har- and the "Little Lincoln" family ry Lincoln Graham house at Blunt moved in 1883. Harry purchased a when it was up for tax sale in boarding house here but settlers 1946. The group restored the house were establishing themselves so from a dilapidated, unpainted and fast then that the business was un- windowless frame to a trim mem- profitable. In November of 1884, orial refurnished with fittings en- Harry bought a house from Reuben tirely appropriate to the period and C. C. Norton. when Graham made the Blunt

Less than a year later Mentor house his living place, died in the house at the age of 85. The week he died the Blunt Advo- cate was established as a daily paper in the then prosperous com- munity. The obituary of Mentor Graham appeared on the front page of the first issue, dated Oct. ,

7, 1885.

It read as follows: "Mentor Gra- ham died at the residence of his son, H. L. Graham, in this place on Sunday evening last. Mr. Gra- ham ■ was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1802 and in 1822 mov- ed to Blinois. At 17 years of age he engaged in teaching and con- tinued in that profession for 55 years. Abraham Lincoln and Gov- ernor Yates were among his pup- ils. Those who, like the writer, first knew Mr. Graham when the weight of years had destroyed the vigor of manhood, canilly appreciate the worth of his character and but faintly conceive the influence he erected in moulding the minds of men who bore so large a part in guiding and preserving our nation during the period of the Rebel- lion."

INFLUENCE NOTED

Mentor was buried in the little cemetery on the hill about a mile

THE INTERIOR OF THE GRAHAM SHRINE at Blunt has been refurnished with fittings and furniture appropriate to the period when Mentor Graham, Abraham Lincoln's teacher, made the house his living place. Pictures of the Graham family and Lincoln dot the walls. Old-style lamps and furniture, including an old-fashion- ed organ, provide an atmosphere of the 1880s. The house shrine has been restored by the South Dakota Historical Society to spread the important story of "the man who taught Lincoln."

i %iJm$& %*i ' ' f-v<',>-'

m3R* <-'■ >^'' .*& i

./*WJ^*^*>(? aJJP^'.^

fc-.V*^ <.«£-

Aberdeen Lodge

No. 38

F. C Degree

8:00 P. M.

Tuesday Lunch

HERE IS THE GRAHAM HOUSE at Blunt that the South Dakota State Historical Society purchased at a tax sale in 1946. The-house at thai time, was. dilapidated, without windows and unpainted. The. historical group has renovated the house and improved it to the degree noticeable in the above picture. It was in this house that Mentor Graham, "the man who taught Lincoln, died in October of 1885 at the age of 85. The estate is now a shrine to Abraham Lincoln and the man who influenced his life.

Lincoln-Ann Rutledge Romance «"> Confirmed by Tutor's Report

Yellowed Foolscap Sheets in Library of Congress Bear Mentor Graham's Answers to Questions Regarding Schoolday Sweethearts in Illinois Who Were His Pupils— Betrothal Is Often Disputed.

By Kunigunde Duncan.

RECENTLY one of America's most chcr ished romances, thai of Ann Rutledge and Abraham Lincoln, has fallen prey to that type of literary de- bunkers who revel in the it- never- happened -at-all tech- nique. And certainly, at no

and the romance as fact.

Yellowed and faded, the original manuscript may be seen in the Library of Con- gress, old-fashioned sheets of lined, foolscap paper, closely covered with the rhythmic, script of Mentor Graham. He thus uniquely proves his own existence, another

In His Fine Hand, Mentor Graham Set Down His Personal Knowledge of Ann Rutledge and Her Romance With Abraham Lincoln.

time, have writers who regard her as real agreed as to her personal appearance and abil- ities.

Yet since the year 1865 a vivid and quite complete de- scription of her, by a man who knew her and tutored her, has been passed over. The man who provided it was making

which the debunkers have at- tacked with everything from scorn to baseless argument. It is not difficut, from his answers to deduce what Herndon's questions were.

Under date of April 2, 1865, the page concerning Ann Rutledge begins:

"I knew Miss Ann Rutledge.

amiable, kind and ( ?) a

good scholar in all the com- mon branches, including gram- mar."

In the Congressional Li- brary is to be found the Kirk- ham's Grammar which Ann studied in Graham's home. On its fly-leaf, in two different m a tt erl scripts, are two names: hers and Lincoln's. As Graham says. I she and Abe were both being tutored by him and she was at his house when she was seized with the malarial fever that look her life.

"She was beloved hv every- body and she loved every- body." roads the yellowed foolscap sheet.

Lincoln Told of Betrothal.

Finally the page closes wiih answers as definite as (hey are final to all questioners of the Ann Rut ledge-Abraham' Lincoln romance: i

"Lincoln and she were en- gaged. Lincoln told mo so. She intimated to me the same. He. Lincoln, told me I hat he fell ike committing suicide often! (after her death) hut I told him of God's higher purpose. He told me. he thought so too, somehow, couldn't tell how. He said that my remarks and ithers' had often done him ;ood."

"Many more sheets of yel- lowing foolscap in the Library of Congress are of like nature: Graham's personally given in- formation, together with many letters written by him out of pure good will, and because Lincoln was also his well-re- membered long-ago pupil.

Most are dated in the year 1865 and all are written from

MONDAY, FEB. 18, 1952

ABERDEEN AMERICAN!

Shrine At Blunt Immortalizes Story Of Man Who Influenced Lincoln's Life

lAmerican-Nexs Dakota News Senricet |West of the house in which he

BLUNT Memories of Abra-,died j^ cemetery is located be- ham Lincoln stirred again with the side 1he road on a s 14 and t0 anniversary of his birth last week;the north. s^e years after the and thoughts of Harry Lincoln Gra- burial, relatives removed the body ham and Mentor Graham were re-Jt0 a Farmers Point, HI. cemetery ' vived here. j where it was re-interred.

Just how the name Lincoln is That Graham played a large part connected with Harrv Graham is .... , - T . .

well-known story in this South m the development of Lincoln is Dakota community. j™* doubted for he was the man

Harry was named after his fath-|who taught Lincoln grammar. Pri- er's great friend, Abraham, when or to the lessons, Lincoln had want- Lincoln was essentially an un-ed to give up further study but known. Sarah, the mother, insist- M M Abranam on the need

ed on calling the boy Harry L. of ^ f h ^

Mentor but the father always call- to _„„ „.,. ...

The two men spent 15 years of Harry Little Lincoln. Istudy and friendship at New Salem. I

Harry's father was Mentor Gra- m. During six months of the time ham "the man who taught Lin- Lincoln lived at the Gr^T.am home. com-' It was during that time that he

Mentor's counsel, advice, friend- j became engaged to Ann Rutledge. ship and teaching shaped Lincoln's STORY TOLD

life and tiius helped develop the | Grahams influence is vividly destiny of our nation according. shovvn m the ^ ..Mentor Gra. to many present-day Lincoln his- ham me Man whQ Taught Lin. torians. . coin" by Kunigunde Duncan and

SHRINE ESTABLISHED p. F. Nichols.

Today a shrine to Abraham Lin-! To further perpetuate the story j coin and the man who influenced of this important but litle known ; his life has been established at American, the South Dakota State Blunt. It was to Blunt that Mentor Historical Society bought the Har- and the "Little Lincoln" family 'ry Lincoln Graham house at Blunt moved in 1883. Harry purchased a! when it was up for tax sale in; boarding house here but settlers. 1946. The group restored the house, were establishing themselves so j from a dilapidated, unpainted and fast then that the business was un-.windowless frame to a tri-i mem-| profitable. In November of 1884, orial refurnished with fittings en-' Harry bought a house from Reuben tirely appropriate to the period and C. C. Norton. when Graham made the Blunt

Less than a year later Mentor house his living place. I

died in the house at the age of 85. „,

The week he died the Blunt Advo- cate was established as a daily paper in the then prosperous com- munity. The obituary of Mentor Graham appeared on the front page of the first issue, dated Oct. 7, 1885. , ^

It read as follows : "Mentor Gra- ham died at the residence of his son, H. L. Graham, in this place on Sunday evening last. Mr. Gra- ham was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1802 and in 1822 mov- ed to Illinois. At 17 years of age he engaged in teaching and con- tinued in that profession for 55 years. Abraham Lincoln and Gov- ernor Yates were among his pup- ils. Those who. like the writer, first knew Mr. Graham when the weight of years had destroyed the vigor of manhood, canilly appreciate the worth of his character and but faintly conceive the influence he erected in moulding the minds of men who bore so large a part in guiding and preserving our nation during the period of the Rebel- lion."

INFLUENCE NOTED

Mentor was buried in the little cemetery on the hill about a mile

THE INTERIOR OF THE GRAHAM SHRINE at Blunt has been refurnished with fittings and furniture appropriate to the period when Mentor Graham, Abraham Lincoln's teacher, made the house his living place. Pictures of the Graham family and Lincoln dot the walls. Old-style lamps and furniture, including an old-fashion- ed organ, provide an atmosphere of the 1880s. The house shrine has been restored by the South Dakota Historical Society to spread the important story of "the man who taught Lincoln."

'tjfi

Aberdeen Lodge No. 38

F. C Degree HERE IS THE GRAHAM HOUSE at Blunt that the South Dakota State Historical Society purchased

fi-nn P M at a tax sale in 1946. The^house at that t^tie, wa$ dilapidated, without windows and unpainted. The

o:UU r. M. historical group has renovated the house and improved it to the degree noticeable in the above picture.

Tuesday Lunch It was in this house that Mentor Graham, "the man who taught Lincoln, died in October of 1885 at

the age of 85. The estate is now a shrine to Abraham Lincoln and the man •••u~ :-" *-:- ,:c-

T l ~a t-> l i lamas STty Star

Lincoln- Ann Rutledge Romance2-12-57 Confirmed by Tutor's Report

Yellowed Foolscap Sheets in Library «' Congress Bear Mentor Graham's Answers (o Questions Regarding Schnoldav Sweethearts in Illinois Who Were His Pupils— Betrothal Is Often Disputed.

RE

of Ann Rutledce .imi Ahrah.iivi Lincoln, has fallen prey Ibat type of lilerary hunkers who revel in the

id the romance as fact. Yellowed and faded, the iginal manuscript may he en in the Library of Con- ess, old-fashioned sheets ol lined, foolscap paper, closely covered with the rhylhi ript of Mentor Graham.

amiable kind and I ?) a

good scholar in all the com- mon brani-he' including cram- In (he Congressional Li- brary is to he found the Kirk-: ham's Grammar which Ann| studied in Graham's home. On its fly-leaf, in two different scripts, are two names: hers

foolscap sheet. Lincoln Told <>f Rr-trnthal, Finally I he pace closes wilh

of God's higher purpose. He

anrt abil

her as real agreed personal appearance itics.

Vet since the year 1865 a vivid and quite complete de< scriplion of her, by a man who knew her and tutored her, has been passed over. The man who provided i! was making categorical answers lo ques- tions put to him by William Herndnn who in 1865, shortly afler the assassins I ion of Lin- coln, set about gathering mate- rial from original sources for a Lincoln biography. So Mentor Graham, tuior and blab-school teacher, writing from Peters- burg, 111.,- gave precise an- swers lo questions in Ihp order asked him. and in doing so left a record that ui

Mich the debunkcrs ha\ eked wilh everything from orn lo baseless argument is not diflicul. from his iswers lo deduce what

Herndon's questions were.

Under dale of April 2, 1865, the page concerning Ann Rulledge begins:

"I knew Miss Ann Rutl She look sick while goir :chonl. Lincoln and she both rare studying at my house.-'

le was working to get his biography of the martyred President nut firsl. Neither could have possibly een our twentieth tury dehunking cult any they could have collaborating lo conco t fiction.

He s

icll how ■marks and done hi

■tilers' had ofl

"Many more sheet.s or yel- lowing foolscap in the Library of Congress are of like nature Grahams personally given in- formation, together with many letters written by him out < good will, and becau: Lincoln was also his well-r

cmbered long-ago pupil.

Most are dated in the ye; 1865 and all are written from Petersburg, his residence then "■ >w Salem, which was not fa:

■ay, had disappeared: it ha: been rebuilt in recent year: historical site

The Question

I

.eeking a rjuofali credited to Lincoln, indicating he had no fear of attack )i outside the continental United States. Will you print it? G. M. In a speech at Springfield

<^

Hie Time Al. and Ann Rutledge Pupila,

New Salem mill about 1828

1 saw the same commenced.

"Miss Rutledge died ahoul

'20 years old, with blue eyes, large and expressive, fair complexion and sandy or light

Thus vanishes the imagined goiden-haired Ann. Ann Hut- ledge was red-haired.