Elizabeth (Tuley) Hesson (1811 - 1896)

Born 12 Sep 1811 in Mercer, Kentucky, United States

Wife of Benjamin H. Hesson — married 5 Mar 1831 in Spencer, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died Jan 1896 at age 84 in Spencer, Indiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Glenn Tuley [send private message] and Gary Biermann [send private message]

Biography

Father is John Tuley and mother is Rachael Stephens.

The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana) 07 Dec 1895, Sat • Page 9 Elizabeth Tuley Hesson talking about courtship with Abe Lincoln

Correspondence of Indianapolis News.

Rockport, Ind., December 6. - Although sixty years have elapsed since Abraham Lincoln left Indiana for Illinois, there are yet a few persons living in this county who associated wit him here and remember his departure. Among these is Mrs. Elizabeth Hesson. She lives about fifteen miles north of Rockport on the old State road. Mrs. Hesson was born in 1811 in Mercer County, Kentucky. Her maiden name was Tuley. In 1830 she was married to Benjamn Hesson and is the mother of ten children. Her husband died in 1888. Although eighty-four, she is sprightly and intelligent. When called on by The News reporter she seemed in the best of spirits and talked freely of recollections of Lincoln. She said:

"We attened a Baptist church known as Old Pigeon. The first time I saw Lincoln was at this church when I was about fifteen. As he was with a crowd of boy I took no particular notice of him, but the impression was not favorable, because he was so homely. He was tall and gawky and very commonly dressed. I saw him often after that, but had no conversation with him."

"One Sunday morning two years after I first saw him he asked permission to accompany me home which was granted. With a crowd of young people we started home afoot. There were horses then and young people had to walk to church and other public gatherings. It was only three miles to our house and we had a good time on the way, laughting and talking."

"When we reached home Lincoln staid a while and talked to me, and on leaving, aksed permission to call again. This given, he set out for home, six miles away. His visits were repeated. Often his step-brother, John Johnson, came with him to see my sister. After a while his company did not prove agreeable to me and I would not let him call on me anymore."

"Mrs. Hesson, did Mr. Lincoln ever propose to you?"

"No; he never proposed, but I could tell from his chat that he wanted to marry me."

"Did Lincoln ever dance?"

"Yes, we once had a Valentine-drawing dance at our house The names of the boys were deposited in one hat and names of the girls in another. Then a name was drawn from each and the boy and girl whose names were thus drawn were partners. The popular dance then was the reel, and I, as well as the other girls danced many a reel with Abe. Nearly the whole neighborhood was there, and we had a fine time.

"Abe was full of fun, and always playing jokes. He wrote some verses ridiculing a young man who was the laughing stock of the neighborhood and dropped the manuscript at the dance, and caused a great deal of merriment."

"Sometimes at school Lincoln would mount a convenient stump and make political speeches to his schoolmates. Although he attended church, I do not think he ever had any inclination of joining, but I heard him say the he believed everyone would go to heaven."

Elizabeth was born in 1811. She was the daughter of John Tuley and Rachel Stephens.

There were a couple variations of the stories about why they broke up. The common event was that Abraham Lincoln was drunk on hard cider. The differences in the story were about whether it was Elizabeth or her father that found him drunk. It could have been both.

Name: Elizabeth TULEY. Given Name: Elizabeth. Surname: TULEY. HESSON. married Surname: HESSON. CRE 02 MAR 2022. Time: 21:30:51. Found multiple versions of name. Using Elizabeth TULEY.

Born 12 Sep 1811. , Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. Format: City,County,State,Country. Map: Longitude: W84.843056. Latitude: N37.762222. ^[1]

Died Jan 1896. , Spencer County, Indiana, United States. Format: City,County,State,Country. Map: Longitude: W87.030278. Latitude: N38.108889. ^[1]

Note: (N96797243).

File @20334816@.

PEG @G14666844@.

CRE 16 NOV 2013. Time: 22:47:40.

FID KN6H-6Y5.

Marriage Marriage 05 Mar 1831. , Spencer County, Indiana,. Format: City,County,State,Country. Map: Longitude: W86.764167. Latitude: N39.286944. ^{[2] [3] [4]} Note: (69317244). Husband @I3735529@. Wife @I67567679@. Child: @I47235519@. Child: @I77819184@. Child: @I52062336@. Child: @I59063160@. Child: @I46361081@. Child: @I98313745@. Child: @I96885857@. Child: @I94917806@. Child: @I11787213@.

Notes

Note N96797243 Elizabeth met Abraham Lincoln at church and their courtship lasted several months. There were a couple variations of the stories about why they broke up. The common event was that Abraham Lincoln was drunk on hard cider. The differences in the story were about whether it was Elizabeth or her father that found him drunk. It could have been both. CHAN 09 MAY 2019. Time: 23:41:54.

External Files

• File 20334816 File: 20334816.png Format: PNG. eliztulhes CRE 29 DEC 2017. Time: 12:46:18. SIF SMC 1 Note: (95052337)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Source: 55803860
2. ↑ Source: S73820467
3. ↑ Source: 2834170
4. ↑ Source: S92474816 62

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43978526/Elizabeth-Hesson
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 04 December 2017), memorial page for Elizabeth Tuley Hesson (12 Sep 1811–Jan 1896), Find A Grave Memorial no. 43978526, citing Hesson Cemetery, Spencer County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by Tamara McDaniel Kincaide (contributor 46811256) .
• William Floyd Tuley, "The Tuley Family Memoirs: An Historical, Biographical and Genealogical Story", page 62, 1906.

• E-Mail from Harold "Hal" Simms.
• Source: 55803860 STE @T0@ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43978526/elizabeth-hesson 09 MAY 2019 Time: 23:32:02 CRE 09 MAY 2019 Time: 23:31:57

• Source: S38489588 STE @T0@ Edited by Dr. Louis A. Warren, "Sixteen Traditional Lincoln Sweethearts 16 NOV 2013 Time: 22:48:00 CRE 16 NOV 2013 Time: 22:47:41

• Source: S44086428 STE @T0@ Thomas James de la Hunt, "The Pocket Periscope", The Evansville Courier & J Note: #N35190816 16 NOV 2013 Time: 22:48:00 CRE 16 NOV 2013 Time: 22:47:41

Note N35190816. John Tuley only live to be 82, so he could not have been "over 85". Note the "Tulley" and "Tuley" in the same paragraph!. CHAN 16 NOV 2013. Time: 22:47:51.