MEET MARY LINCOLN BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVE & CHRONOLOGY WWW.PRESIDENTLINCOLN.ORG Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum MARY TODD’S EARLY LIFE ary Todd was born the finer things in life that allowed to continue her M into a prominent Lex- money bought, among them studies at the Mentelle’s for ington, Kentucky family. Her were beautiful clothes, im- Young Ladies School. Begin- parents, Eliza Ann Parker ported French shoes, elegant ning in 1832, Mary boarded and Robert Smith Todd dinners, a home library and, at Mentelle’s Monday were second cousins, a com- private carriages. through Friday and went mon occurrence in the early home on the weekend even eighteen hundreds. Mary Mary was almost though the school was only was not yet seven when her nine years old when she one and a half miles from her mother died of a bacterial entered the Shelby Female home. Every week, Mary was infection after delivering a Academy, otherwise known brought to and from school son in 1825. Within six as Ward’s. School began at in a coach driven by a family months Mary’s father began 5:00 am, and Mary and Eliza- slave, Nelson. The cost of courting Elizabeth “Betsey” beth “Lizzie” Humphreys room and board for one Humphreys and they were walked the three blocks to year at this exclusive finish- married November 1, 1826. the co-ed academy. Mary ing school was $120. For The six surviving children of was an excellent student and four years, Mary received Eliza and Robert Todd did excelled in reading, writing, instruction in English litera- not take kindly to their new grammar, arithmetic, history, ture, etiquette, conversation, step-mother. Adding fuel to geography, natural science, letter writing, and dancing. the fire was Betsey’s ten- French, religion, painting, and All of her lessons and con- dency of using shame, em- sewing. Mary’s education versations throughout the barrassment, and humiliation cost her father $44 per year; week were conducted in in raising her step-children. French lessons were extra. French. As a girl, Mary was Robert Smith Todd a tomboy, who enjoyed play- Known as vivacious entertained politicians, diplo- and impulsive, Mary was also ing pranks on people, such as mats, and scholars in his putting salt or pepper in the “one of the brightest girls of home while Mary was young the school who had the high- coffee of her black nurse, and she was allowed to listen Mammy Sally. She loved est marks and took the big- to conversations after the gest prizes.” Mary was con- horseback riding and would dinner hour. Unlike most gad about on her sidesaddle sidered “a merry, compan- girls of her time, Mary loved ionable girl with a smile for outfitted in a plumed hat that to discuss and argue politics. reached her shoulders and everybody,” and “the life of Mary’s fascination with poli- the school, always ready for long flowing skirts. Her qui- tics set her apart from her eter side found enjoyment in a good time and willing to peers and contributed to her contribute even more than reciting poetry, sewing, and reputation as an oddity. By studying. Mary was said to be her own share in promoting the time she was fourteen, it.” But Mary also had an- “highly strung, nervous, im- Mary considered herself an pulsive, excitable, having an other side to her personality, ardent Whig. Mary’s father, and she became known for emotional temperament whose family were founders much like an April day, sun- her biting wit, sharp tongue, of Transylvania University, haughty manner and sarcas- ning all over with laughter did not believe in raising one moment, the next crying tic comments. Her ability to uneducated children, and as mimic people, developed as though her heart would a result, Mary received an break.” Not only was Mary through her participation in atypical education. mischievous, but willful as school plays, brought great well. Because Mary’s father Mary’s education fun to her and her friends, was prosperous, she enjoyed was unusual because she was although, sometimes causing hard feelings and embarrass- Page 2 MEET MARY LINCOLN BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVE & CHRONOLOGY ment. Included in this group were 4:00 p.m. to stroll, gather wild wedding, Mary and Lincoln set some of the brightest names flowers, strawberries, black- up housekeeping at the Globe When Mary was in Springfield: Stephen A. berries, and nuts. When night Tavern living in one room on twenty-one she moved to Douglas, Lyman Trumbull, fell, the girls were escorted the second floor. Springfield, Illinois. While in James C. Conkling, James home by Springfield’s most Springfield, Mary was the belle The tav- Shields, Joshua Speed, and eligible bachelors. of the ball and lived with her Abraham Lincoln. Mercy ern/boardinghouse was very eldest sister, Elizabeth, who, Levering, Caroline Lamb, Julia Although their back- different than the elegant Ed- at the age of sixteen, had mar- Jayne, Matilda Edwards, and grounds were completely wards’ home. Stagecoaches ried Ninian Wirt Edwards, other eligible young women different, Mary and Lincoln and carriages arrived several son of Illinois’ third governor. from town rounded out the were drawn to each other by times a day and were accom- Although Mary heard talk of group of like-minded young common interests. Both panied by the ringing of a loud an up-and-coming young law- people who discussed art and loved to discuss politics, bell indicating horses needed yer named Abraham Lincoln politics while having fun at- books, Shakespeare, the thea- to be tended. Boarders came during her visit to Springfield, tending parties, sleigh rides, ter, and poetry. After court- and went regularly and meals she did not meet him. Having and political rallies. Mary was ing for two years, Lincoln and were eaten in a communal promised her father the jour- in her element within this Mary reached an understand- dining room—a far cry from ney to Springfield was strictly group, but oftentimes, Lincoln ing they would marry, much what Mary was used to. The a visit, Mary returned to Lex- had to be persuaded to join in to the dismay of her family, Lincoln’s were charged $4 per ington that autumn. the festivities. His manner who thought she was too week for their accommoda- good for him. tions and meals. When her Eventually Mary re- was awkward, his nature moody, and he was prone to husband was not working the turned to Springfield and took Mary Todd and young couple attended plays, depression. up residence with her sister Abraham Lincoln were mar- concerts, and the circus. Lin- Elizabeth. Mary’s sister liked Mary along with ried on the morning of No- coln called Mary “Molly,” and to entertain and the Edwards’ several other young ladies vember 4, 1842, in the home she referred to him as “Mr. home was a frequent gather- of Mary’s guardians, Elizabeth belonged to the “Pedestrian Lincoln.” ing spot for important and Club.” They met every day at and Ninian Edwards. After the stylish people of the town. MARY LINCOLN’S LIFE AS YOUNG WIFE AND MOTHER hile living at the Globe gutters, and although it was girls to help around the W Tavern Mary found situated on the outskirts of house, but they proved to be herself with time on her town, it was only a short walk inefficient and in constant hands, but that ended on Au- to the center of the city. need of supervision. Mary gust 1, 1843 with the birth of Houses of the day had no had very high standards and her first son, Robert. In the plumbing, so people used believed she could perform winter of 1843, the Lincolns outhouses and carried water the work better. Her philoso- moved out of the Globe and from an outside pump when phy was why part with hard- into a small rental cottage at they wanted to cook or earned money when she 214 South Fourth Street. The bathe. There was no electric- could perform the work far following spring they pur- ity, therefore oil lamps and better and for free? chased their first home at candles were used to light In the autumn of Eighth and Jackson Streets homes. Rooms were kept 1846 Lincoln was elected to from Dr. Charles Dresser, the warm by fireplaces and often- Congress. The family made Episcopal minister who mar- times houses were drafty and preparations to move to ried them. The Lincolns paid cold. Washington, D.C. by renting Dr. Dresser $1,200 for the Newly married, their home for $90 a year. six room house and also gave Mary had little knowledge of Mary, Robert and a second him a small piece of property how to run a household. son, Edward Baker, who had worth $300. After her sons were born, been born March 10, 1846, Constructed in a Mary hired servants to help went with Lincoln in the fall of Greek Revival style, the home with the heavy chores of 1847. Robert was four years was a typical farm house of washing and ironing and old and Eddie was one-and-a- the time. The neighborhood housecleaning. For the most half. In Washington the Lin- had no sidewalks, curbs, or part Mary hired native-born coln family lived at a boarding- Page 3 WWW.PRESIDENTLINCOLN.ORG in Springfield. He was named Neighbor children for William Wallace, who was had a friend in Mary Lincoln married to Mary Lincoln's who invited them into her sister, Frances. Willie was a home and served them gin- handsome, smart, serious and gerbread and macaroons.