McClures Magazine, Volume VI, No. 3. February 1896 | Page 9

This
map, which, as here reproduced, is about one-half the size of the
original, accompanied Lincoln's report of the survey of a part of the
road between Athens and Sangamon town. For making this map,
Lincoln received fifty cents. The road evidently was located "on good
ground," and was "necessary and proper," as the report says, for it is
still the main travelled highway leading into the country south of
Athens, Menard County.]
BERRY AND LINCOLN GET A TAVERN LICENSE.
But all this was fatal to business, and by spring it was evident that
something must be done to stimulate the grocery sales.
On the 6th of March, 1833, the County Commissioners' Court of
Sangamon County granted the firm of Berry and Lincoln a license to
keep a tavern at New Salem. A copy of this license is here given:
Ordered that William F. Berry, in the name of Berry and Lincoln, have
a license to keep a tavern in New Salem to continue 12 months from
this date, and that they pay one dollar in addition to the six dollars
heretofore paid as per Treasurer's receipt, and that they be allowed the
following rates (viz.):
French Brandy per 1/2 pt. 25 Peach " " " . 18-3/4 Apple " " " . 12

Holland Gin " " . 18-3/4 Domestic " " . 12-1/2 Wine " " . 25 Rum " " .
18-3/4 Whisky " " . 12-1/2 Breakfast, din'r or supper 25 Lodging per
night........ 12-1/2 Horse per night.......... 25 Single feed.............. 12-1/2
Breakfast, dinner or supper for Stage Passengers..... 37-1/2
who gave bond as required by law.
It is probable that the license was procured to enable the firm to retail
the liquors which they had in stock, and not for keeping a tavern. In a
community in which liquor-drinking was practically universal, at a time
when whiskey was as legitimate an article of merchandise as coffee or
calico, when no family was without a jug, when the minister of the
gospel could take his "dram" without any breach of propriety, it is not
surprising that a reputable young man should have been found selling
whiskey. Liquor was sold at all groceries, but it could not be lawfully
sold in a smaller quantity than one quart. The law, however, was not
always rigidly observed, and it was the custom of store-keepers to "set
up" the drinks to their patrons. Each of the three groceries which Berry
and Lincoln acquired had the usual supply of liquors, and the combined
stock must have amounted almost to a superabundance. It was only
good business that they should seek a way to dispose of the surplus
quickly and profitably--an end which could be best accomplished by
selling it over the counter by the glass. Lawfully to do this required a
tavern license; and it is a warrantable conclusion that such was the
chief aim of Berry and Lincoln in procuring a franchise of this
character. We are fortified in this conclusion by the coincidence that
three other grocers of New Salem--William Clary, Henry Sincoe, and
George Warberton--were among those who took out tavern licenses. To
secure the lawful privilege of selling whiskey by the "dram" was no
doubt their purpose; for their "taverns" were as mythical as the inn of
Berry and Lincoln.
At the granting of a tavern license, the applicants therefor were
required by law to file a bond. The bond given in the case of Berry and
Lincoln was as follows:
Know all men by these presents, we, William F. Berry, Abraham
Lincoln and John Bowling Green, are held and firmly bound unto the
County Commissioners of Sangamon County in the full sum of three
hundred dollars to which payment well and truly to be made we bind
ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these

presents, sealed with our seal and dated this 6th day of March A.D.
1833. Now the condition of this obligation is such that Whereas the
said Berry & Lincoln has obtained a license from the County
Commissioners Court to keep a tavern in the Town of New Salem to
continue one year. Now if the said Berry & Lincoln shall be of good
behavior and observe all the laws of this State relative to tavern
keepers--then this obligation to be void or otherwise remain in full
force.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN [Seal] WM. F. BERRY [Seal] BOWLING
GREEN [Seal]
This bond appears to have been written by the clerk of the
Commissioners' Court; and Lincoln's name was signed by some one
other than himself, very likely by his partner Berry.
[Illustration: A WAYSIDE WELL NEAR NEW SALEM, KNOWN
AS "ANN RUTLEDGE'S WELL."]
THE FIRM HIRES A CLERK.
The license seems to have stimulated the business, for the firm
concluded to hire a clerk. The