Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Hannah, William H. 'William H. Hannah (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=herndon458.html

[1865 — 66]

W. H. Hannah — of Bloomington

Says that Since 1856 Mr Lincoln told him he was a Kind of universalist — That he never Could bring himself to the belief in Eternal punishment — That men lived but a little while here & that if eternal punishment were man's doom that he should spend that little life in vigilant & ceaseless preperation — by never Ending prayer —

That on one occasion he Hannah — Supposing Lincoln poor — Lincoln then running for U.S. Senator Said to Lincoln — if you want money draw on me for $500. — Lincoln said I am not so poor as you suppose — don't want any money — don't know how to use money on such occasions — Can't do it & never will — though much obliged to you.

H Said Saw Lincoln about 1849 — Came to Court at Bloomington — went to See him — was Social agreeabel — & made me think I was forty years old — forgot my boyhood — Supposed I was a man — was so treated &c — loved him after that

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3914; Huntington Library: LN2408, 2:157 — 58