Dates with History Midweeker

The historical joyride for a curious mind

Dates with History Midweeker — Spend a few minutes with me exploring historical snippets and fascinating facts relating to this week. 27th May 2026.

Happy Wednesday!

Not long ago, I wrote about a plucky eleven-year-old girl from Westfield, New York who, in October 1860, wrote to the then-unbearded Abraham Lincoln. Grace Bedell had seen the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign portrait and she had a suggestion for him…

“My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin’s. I am a little girl only eleven 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. ​

… I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you will 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… ​

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 took her advice. On 16 February 1861, as the president-elect’s train rolled east toward Washington for his inauguration, it made an unscheduled stop at Westfield, New York—where Lincoln stepped out and asked the assembled crowd if they could produce the small girl who had sent him the rather specific grooming advice.