McClures Magazine, January, 1896, Vol. VI. No. 2 | Page 3

time, and who knew personally many of the "boys,"
says:
"They were friendly and good-natured; they could trench a pond, dig a
bog, build a house; they could pray and fight, make a village or create a
state. They would do almost anything for sport or fun, love or necessity.
Though rude and rough, though life's forces ran over the edge of the
bowl, foaming and sparkling in pure deviltry for deviltry's sake, yet
place before them a poor man who needed their aid, a lame or sick man,
a defenceless woman, a widow, or an orphaned child, they melted into
sympathy and charity at once. They gave all they had, and willingly
toiled or played cards for more. Though there never was under the sun
a more generous parcel of rowdies, a stranger's introduction was likely
to be the most unpleasant part of his acquaintance with them."
[Illustration: A CLARY'S GROVE LOG CABIN,--NOW FIRST
PUBLISHED.
From a water-color by Miss Etta Ackermann, Springfield, Illinois.
"Clary's Grove" was the name of a settlement five miles southwest of
New Salem, deriving its name from a grove on the land of the Clarys. It
was the headquarters of a daring and reckless set of young men living
in the neighborhood and known as the "Clary's Grove Boys." This
cabin was the residence of George Davis, one of the "Clary's Grove
Boys," and grandfather of Miss Ackermann. It was built seventy-one
years ago--in 1824--and is the only one left of the cluster of cabins
which constituted the little community.]
Denton Offutt, Lincoln's employer, was just the man to love to boast
before such a crowd. He seemed to feel that Lincoln's physical prowess

shed glory on himself, and he declared the country over that his clerk
could lift more, throw farther, run faster, jump higher, and wrestle
better than any man in Sangamon County. The Clary's Grove Boys, of
course, felt in honor bound to prove this false, and they appointed their
best man, one Jack Armstrong, to "throw Abe." Jack Armstrong was,
according to the testimony of all who remember him, a "powerful
twister," "square built and strong as an ox," "the best-made man that
ever lived;" and everybody knew the contest would be close. Lincoln
did not like to "tussle and scuffle," he objected to "woolling and
pulling;" but Offutt had gone so far that it became necessary to yield.
The match was held on the ground near the grocery. Clary's Grove and
New Salem turned out generally to witness the bout, and betting on the
result ran high, the community as a whole staking their jack-knives,
tobacco plugs, and "treats" on Armstrong. The two men had scarcely
taken hold of each other before it was evident that the Clary's Grove
champion had met a match. The two men wrestled long and hard, but
both kept their feet. Neither could throw the other, and Armstrong,
convinced of this, tried a "foul." Lincoln no sooner realized the game of
his antagonist than, furious with indignation, he caught him by the
throat, and holding him out at arm's length, he "shook him like a child."
Armstrong's friends rushed to his aid, and for a moment it looked as if
Lincoln would be routed by sheer force of numbers; but he held his
own so bravely that the "boys," in spite of their sympathies, were filled
with admiration. What bid fair to be a general fight ended in a general
hand-shake, even Jack Armstrong declaring that Lincoln was the "best
fellow who ever broke into the camp." From that day, at the cock-fights
and horse-races, which were their common sports, he became the
chosen umpire; and when the entertainment broke up in a row--a not
uncommon occurrence--he acted the peacemaker without suffering the
peacemaker's usual fate. Such was his reputation with the "Clary's
Grove Boys," after three months in New Salem, that when the fall
muster came off he was elected captain.
[Illustration: NANCY GREEN.
Nancy Green was the wife of "Squire" Bowling Green. Her maiden
name was Nancy Potter. She was born in North Carolina in 1797, and
married Bowling Green in 1818. She removed with him to New Salem
in 1820, and lived in that vicinity until her death in 1864. Lincoln was a

constant visitor in Nancy Green's home.]
Lincoln showed soon that if he was unwilling to indulge in "woolling
and pulling" for amusement, he did not object to it in a case of honor. A
man came into the store one day who used profane language in the
presence of ladies. Lincoln asked him to stop; but the man persisted,
swearing that nobody should prevent his saying what he wanted to. The
women gone, the man began to abuse Lincoln so hotly that the latter
finally said, coolly: "Well, if you