Historical records matching Grace Greenwood Billings
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About Grace Greenwood Billings
Grace Bedell Billings:
- at Wikipedia
- at Find a Grave
Grace Bedell, when she was a young girl, wrote a letter to then-candidate Abraham Lincoln urging him to grow a beard so that he would be more appealing to the ladies who would then urge their men-folk to vote for him. The family had Mr. Lincoln's letter in reply until it was sold in the 1960s. He did grow a beard, and, of course, did win the election. The true story is repeated in several books (Lincoln's Little Girl and Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers, among others)
Grace's letter
Hon A B Lincoln...
Dear Sir
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin's. I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have yet got four brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try to get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter direct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chautauqua County New York.
I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye
Grace Bedell
Abraham Lincoln's response
Springfield, Ill Oct 19, 1860
Miss Grace Bedell
My dear little Miss
Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received - I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters - I have three sons - one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole family. As to the whiskers have never worn any do you not think people would call it a silly affection if I were to begin it now?
Your very sincere well wisher
A. Lincoln
Grace Greenwood Billings's Timeline
1848 |
November 4, 1848
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Westfield, Chautauqua, NY, United States
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1872 |
September 16, 1872
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Cloud, KS, United States
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1936 |
November 2, 1936
Age 87
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Delphos, Ottawa, KS, United States
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