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336. Wesley Elliott (William H. Herndon Interview).

[1865 — 66]

Wesly Elliott — aged about 46 years of age —

Says my Father moved into the County 1 Mile north of the city on the Athens road in the Spring of 1831. He was the owner & Keeper of a two story log Cabin and for a tavern — had a passage between East & west room — was on the south side of Jefferson Street fronting north opposite Capps grocery — west of the Chicago and St Rail Road depot about 300 yards — The Tavern had a porch in front of it up & down — ie to each story — The Sign was a fine fat buck with fine horns pointed: he was painted proudly Standing & as it were Stamping: the deer looked north East — at as appeared at your fathers Indian Queen — a tavern Sign. The boys one night shot the deer full of bullet holes — he looked as if he ought to be dead yet he Stood on the Sign and Swung — My father about 1832 Sold the old

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tavern to Morris — who lived out in the Country — Mrs. Abrams — Mrs Johnson — sometimes Called Kept a Similar tavern during the Same years just west of my fathers about 100, just opposite your present house where you live. It was in my fathers Tavern that Lincoln Stopt in 1831 — if he Stopt at the Buck horn — South Side of West Jefferson, between 1 & 2 Street

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3874; Huntington Library: LN2408, 2:251 — 52

nts

Notes.

1. The presence of this interview in the Springer transcriptions (1866) and Elliott's birth date (1822) indicate a discrepancy in the testimony about his age.