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Entertained Cartwright and Lincoln 

Venerable Mrs. Davidson of Lewistown, Ill. 

Recalling the Indian War of 1811
 
Lewistown, Ill., June 29, 1888 

Probably the oldest living settler in Fulton County is Mrs. Sarah A. Davidson of this city. She was born near Springfield, Ky., in 1810. She was a daughter of John Springer, a pioneer Methodist minister, and one of the numerous members of the Springer family, which includes, besides the well-known Congressman of that name, several Methodist divines having charges in different states. 

Mother Davidson, as she is fondly called, has a wonderful history and a wonderful memory. As a girl, she lived in a besieged fort in Bond County, Illinois, during the Indian war of 1811, and recites the horrors of that experience with graphic accuracy. While living in Edwardsville, Madison County, and Petersburg, Menard County, after her marriage, she became well acquainted with Peter Cartwright and many other notable divines of the Methodist church, who made home their home when visiting the circuit. She has often entertained both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas at her hospitable board. 

Mrs. Davidson was among the first settlers of Lewistown. During all the years of her eventful life she has never seen a railroad train and cannot imagine how one would look. She is hale and vigorous and is likely to live many years.