Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Bale, Esther Summers. 'Esther Summers Bale (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon527.html

[1866]

Mrs Bale — wife of Hardin Bail

Knew Mr. Lincoln well — Maiden name Summers — Cousin to Miss Owens — Knew her well — is blue Eyed — dark hair — handsome — not pretty — is rather large & tall — is handsome — truly handsome — matron looking — over ordinary size in height & weight of a standard woman — She is fair tolerably fair complexion — is smart. sharp — quick & strong minded — Knew Miss Rutledge well — had auburn hair — blue Eyes — fair Complexion — slim — pretty — Kind — tender good hearted woman — height about 5 feet 3 in — weighed about 120 pounds — was beloved by all who Knew her. McNamar — Hill & Lincoln all Courted her near the same time — died as it were of grief — Miss Rutledge was beautiful — Miss Owens was handsome — that is to say was noble looking — matronly seeming.

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3836 — 37; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:383 — 84