for the first time in Offutt's store in 1831.
"Smoot," said Lincoln, "I am disappointed in you; I expected to see
a man as ugly as old Probst," referring to a man reputed to be the
homeliest in the county. "And I am disappointed," replied Smoot; "I
had expected to see a good-looking man when I saw you." From that
moment they were warm friends. After Lincoln's election to the
legislature in 1834, he called on Smoot, and said, "I want to buy some
clothes and fix up a little, so that I can make a decent appearance
in the legislature; and I want you to loan me $200." The loan was
cheerfully made, and of course was subsequently repaid.--_J. McCan
Davis._]

[Illustration: SAMUEL HILL--AT WHOSE STORE LINCOLN KEPT THE
POST-OFFICE.

From an old daguerreotype. Samuel Hill was among the earliest
inhabitants of New Salem. He opened a general store there in
partnership with John McNeill,--the John McNeill who became betrothed
to Ann Rutledge, and whose real name was afterwards discovered to
be John McNamar. When McNeill left New Salem and went East, Mr. Hill
became sole proprietor of the store. He also owned the carding machine
at New Salem. Lincoln, after going out of the grocery business,
made his headquarters at Samuel Hill's store. There he kept the
post-office, entertained the loungers, and on busy days helped Mr.
Hill wait on customers. Mr. Hill is said to have once courted Ann
Rutledge himself, but he did not receive the encouragement which was
bestowed upon his partner, McNeill. In 1839 he moved his store to
Petersburg, and died there in 1857. In 1835 he married Miss Parthenia
W. Nance, who still lives at Petersburg.--_J. McCan Davis._]

[Illustration: MARY ANN RUTLEDGE, MOTHER OF ANN MAYES RUTLEDGE.

From an old tintype. Mary Ann Rutledge was the wife of James Rutledge
and the mother of Ann. She was born October 21, 1787, and reared
in Kentucky. She lived to be ninety-one years of age, dying in Iowa
December 26, 1878. The Rutledges left New Salem in 1833 or 1834,
moving to a farm a few miles northward. On this farm Ann Rutledge died
August 25, 1835; and here also, three months later (December 3, 1835),
died her father, broken-hearted, no doubt, by the bereavement. In the
following year the family moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and some
three years later to Birmingham, Iowa. Of James Rutledge there is no
portrait in existence. He was born in South Carolina, May 11, 1781. He
and his sons, John and David, served in th