In 1839 Miss Mary Todd, of Kentucky, arrived in Springfield to visit a
married sister, Mrs. Edwards. At the instance of his friend Speed, who
was also a Kentuckian, Lincoln became a visitor at the Edwards’, and
before long it was apparent to the observant among those in Springfield
that the lively young lady held him captive. Engagements at that time and
in that neighborhood were not announced as soon as they were made, and it
is not at all impossible that Miss Todd and Mr. Lincoln were betrothed
many months before any other than Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Speed knew of it.
At this time, as was the case till Lincoln was elected to the presidency,
his one special rival in Illinois was Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Douglas had
more of the social graces than Mr. Lincoln, and it appeared to him that
nothing would be more interesting than to cut out his political rival in
the affections of the entertaining and lively Miss Todd, and so he paid
her court.
A spirited young lady from Kentucky at that time in Illinois would have
been almost less than human if she had refused to accept the attentions
of the two leading men of the locality. Therefore Miss Todd, being quite
human, encouraged Douglas, and again there was what nowadays would have
been called a flirtation. This course of action did not spur Lincoln
on in his devotion, but made him less ardent, and he concluded, after
much self worriment, to break off the engagement, which he did, but
at the same interview there was a reconciliation and a renewal of the
engagement.
Lincoln’s marriage to Mary Todd occurred in Springfield, Ill., at the
home of Mr. M. W. Edwards, where Miss Todd lived. She was the belle of
Springfield. The marriage, although hastily arranged in the end, was
perhaps the first one performed in that city with all the requirements
of the Episcopal ceremony. Rev. Charles Dresser officiated. Among the
many friends of Lincoln who were present was Thomas C. Brown, one of the
judges of the state supreme court. He was a blunt, outspoken man and an
old timer.
Parson Dresser was attired in full canonical robes and recited the
service with much impressive solemnity. He handed Lincoln the ring, who,
placing it on the bride’s finger, repeated the church formula, “With this
ring I thee endow with all my goods and chattels, lands and tenements.”
Judge Brown, who had never before witnessed such a ceremony, and looked
upon it as utterly absurd, ejaculated, in a tone loud enough to be
heard by all, “God Almighty, Lincoln, the statute fixes all that!” This
unexpected interruption almost upset the old parson, who had a keen sense
of the ridiculous, but he quickly recovered his gravity and hastily
pronounced the couple man and wife.