Famous Friends

Some aspects of human nature seem to be common throught the world. One of these is the tendency to become excited when links, no matter how tenuous, with someone famous,or even notorious, are discovered. Such an interesting case has recently come to our notice.

The spelling of surnames varied quite considerably through the years, especially around the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Various branches of a family would finally settle on a particular form. Some people used several different spellings for their name at different times. The Okey family is one good example, using Okey, Oakey, O'Key, Oke and Okes. Similarly, the Beadles also developed several ways of spelling their name. One of these was Bedell which eventually became strong around Kent, and was exported to America. This has been a long-winded approach to the reason why Mrs Wordsmith is seriously considering taking out American citizenship.

In 1860 a little Bedell girl from New York State wrote the following letter ....

Hon A B Lincoln
Oct. 15, 1860
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 eleven 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 I am if so give them my love and tell them to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brother's 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 husband's 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 and 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 baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter dirct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chataque County New York
I must not write any more answer this letter right off Goodbye
Grace Bedell

Four days later, Lincoln replied. Manners and the postal service were obviously better in those days.

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, having never worn any, do you think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin right now ?
Your very sincere well-wisher
A. Lincoln

Eventually Lincoln did grow a beard of sorts. Whether this influenced his popularity, we will never know. Did Grace Bedell change the history of the United States and the world ? Wouldn't it be lovely to think you had some relationship with this bright little girl ?