528

418. Henry Clark (William H. Herndon Interview).

[1866]

Henry Clark aged 61

I came here in 1825 — lived in Bakers Praire — Bakers Praire is opposite Salem — ie North East — Knew Lincoln in 1831 — Keeping Store for Offut. I had a fight in 1832 Lincoln my Second — I was Lincolns frend: he was my frind — : When he was Presdt. he Sent me his respects: Jas & Rowan Herndon had a store — a kind of grocery store in Salem — probably Blankenship had something to do with the goods — Radford had some goods — groceries — whiskey. The Clary boys gutted the concern — It is Said Bill Green bought out Radford & Sold to Berry & Lincoln. I have got things now I bought of Lincoln who was clerk for Offutt. Offutt sold out his remnant of goods to Warburton — Lincoln was a good fellow — humorous — Saw Jack Armstrong & Lincoln once wrestle — Jack took the advantage of Lincoln — threw him — good humored. Never saw or knew any evil of Lincoln — Never heard a man say a word of wrong in my life. Politically he has been cursed — privately no man can utter a word against him — never heard a man whisper aught Evil of Lincoln — Couldn't if they told the truth —

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2585; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:381 — 82

nts

Notes.

1. AL reportedly asked William Greene during the 1864 presidential campaign to remind Clark, a critic of the war, that "when he had a hard fight on his hands I stood by him, and now that I have a hard fight on I want him to stand by me" (Reep, 29). See also §282.