The most famous beard in American History almost did not come about. Prior to the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was clean-shaven and frankly, ugly. Or, as more charitable observers put it, homely. Lincoln, ever the jokester, made light of his visage. He liked to tell audiences this story: I met a lady the other day. “Well, for the land’s sake, you are the homeliest man I ever saw!” Man: “Yes ma’am, but I can’t help that.” Woman: “No, I suppose not, but you might stay at home.” It must have been hurtful to hear all the remarks, however. But it took a little girl to change that.
In October, 1860, an eleven-year-old girl in Westfield, NY, was shown a campaign picture of the Republican ticket for President. Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin were depicted. Grace had an immediate reaction to Lincoln’s visage. She told her mother he would look better with whiskers. Her mother suggested she write him a letter. So, she did. The letter was posted Oct. 15, 1860.
Here is how she described why she wrote the letter:
“You are familiar with Mr. Lincoln’s physiognomy, and remember the high forehead over those sadly pathetic eyes, the angular lower face with the deep cut lines about the mouth. As I regarded the picture, I said to my mother, “He would look better if he wore whiskers, and I mean to write and tell him so.”
Here is the letter:
Hon A B Lincoln
Dear Sir My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr.Hamlin. 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 yet got four 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
Lincoln made no promise in his reply to Bedell’s letter:
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. 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 silly affectation if I were to begin it now? Your very sincere well wishes.
- Lincoln
He made no promise, but within a few weeks, he had started a beard. On his inaugural trip, he made a side trip to Westfield to meet Grace. According to Grace: “‘Gracie,’ he said, ‘look at my whiskers. I have been growing them for you.’ Then he kissed me.”
When she was 17, she married a Civil War veteran and they moved to Kansas to farm. She died in 1936 at age 87.
In 1999, the city of Westfield put up statues commemorating the meeting.
Later on the trip, his security chief (this was before the Secret Service was created), the famous detective Allan Pinckerton, learned of a plot in Baltimore to kidnap the President-elect. Lincoln disguised himself with a different hat and hunched over when he walked. The new whiskers might have also helped in disguising his identity. (It is not true that he wore a shawl.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Bedell
https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2013/03/grace-bedell.html
Note the flowers Grace was carrying. She was so overwhelmed by the meeting and the crowd cheering, she forgot to give him the flowers.
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