11. Rutledge Tavern
IIn 1828 James Rutledge, a town founder from South Carolina, built a home he later converted to a tavern (inn). Rutledge organized the debating society where Lincoln practiced public speaking. After the family left the village in 1833, the building changed hands several times.Abraham Lincoln boarded briefly at the tavern and apparently had a romantic interest in Ann, one of the nine Rutledge children. Ann became engaged to John McNamar, also a boarder, who later left the village for a few years. Before he returned Ann had died, probably of typhoid fever.
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