ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S EARLY LOVE
The Remains of Ann Rutledge Reinterred at Petersburg, Ill.
Petersburg, Ill., May 16-The remains of Ann Rutledge, famous in history as the woman Abraham Lincoln loved in early life, were to-day removed from the obscure grave at Concord, in which they have reposed for over forty years, and reinterred in Oakland Cemetery in this city.
Contributed by Kristin Vaughn
Picture of original grave
Ann Rutledge, sweetheart of Abraham Lincoln, died Aug. 25, 1835, and was buried in the Goodpasture grave yard (sometimes called Old Concord cemetery), shown above, near Petersburg. Her brother, David, and other relatives were buried beside her. Here she lay until 1890 when an undertaker, ambitious to sell lots in his new cemetary, disinterred the dust that remained of her, and moved it to Oakland cemetery, near Petersburg. Later a granite stone was erected over this second grave, and now people make pilgrimages there, to what purports to be her grave. Abraham Lincoln often visited the original grave.
Submitted by Jeanie Lowe
January 22, 1921, Miami Herald Record [Florida]
NEW STONE ERECTED ON GRAVE OF ANN RUTLEDGE
Petersburg, Ill., January 21-The grave of Ann Rutledge, sweetheart of Abraham Lincoln, who lies buried in Oakland cemetery here, was marked Saturday with a beautiful granite monument purchased by descendants of those who were intimately acquainted with the great emancipator when he was located at New Salem. The monument replaced a small crude stone, roughly hewn, inscribed "Ann Rutledge," and which has been the only mark to the final resting place of the girl who was nearer and dearer to Lincoln than perhaps anyone else in his early days.
The new stone is a massive one of dark Quincy granite and is inscribed with the following verses from Edgar Lee Masters' "Ann Rutledge:"
"Out of me, unworthy and unknown,
The vibrations of deathless music;
With malice toward none, with charity for all.
Out of me forgiveness of millions towards millions.
And the beneficent face of a nation,
Spinning with justice and truth.
I am Ann Rutledge who sleep beneath,
Beloved of Abraham Lincoln,
Wedded to him, not through union,
But through separation.
Bloom forever, O republic,
From the dust of my bosom."
January 7, 1813-August 25, 1835.
Henry B. Rankin of Springfield, who has done much to mark the numerous place in Illinois associated with the life of Lincoln, was largely responsible for the marking of Ann Rutledge's grave.
The ceremony accompanying the marking of the grave was simple.
Contributed by Kristin Vaughn
