Grace Bedell

Grace Bedell Billings (1849–1936) was an American woman, notable as the person who, as an eleven-year-old, influenced Abraham Lincoln to grow his now-famous beard.

On October 15, 1860, a few weeks before Lincoln was elected President of the United States, Grace Bedell sent him a letter from Westfield, New York, urging him to grow a beard to improve his appearance. Lincoln responded in a letter on October 19, 1860, making no promises. However, within a month, he grew a full beard. He later met with her.

This anecdote became a popular children's story following Lincoln's assassination. A statue depicting a meeting between Lincoln and Bedell is located in the center of the village of Westfield, at the intersection of US 20 and NY 394.

Bedell later married a Union veteran and moved to Delphos, Kansas, where she died in 1936. [ [http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/2004/020504/04plains.htm http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/2004/020504/04plains.htm] "Ext.nodak.edu" ]

Text of Grace Bedell'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 got 4 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"

Text of 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, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?"

:"Your very sincere well wisher"

:"A. Lincoln"

econd Letter

Bedell wrote a second letter to Lincoln in 1864 when she was 15. She asked for Lincoln's help gaining a job with the Treasury so that she could financially support her parents. This letter was discovered by a researcher in 2007. [Citation | last = Hadsall | first = Joe | title = Writing to President Lincoln w/ Grace Bedell letters and photos | newspaper = Joplin Globe | year = 2007 | date = November 5 | url = http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_309205053.html]

References

External links

* Original Letter: [http://www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/LincolnCollection/lincoln_collection/bh005001.html Detroit Public Library]
* Picture History: [http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/2800/mcms.html Grace Bedell]
* Kunhardt, Philip B. "Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography" (1992), p.13.