Muscles of Iron
Strength, Health, Physical Development, Inspiration, and Know-How
Selected Post
Lincoln after taking down “champion” Jack Armstrong at the general store in New Salem. Public domain image.
In the spring of 1831, Abraham Lincoln was 22 years old, and he ventured on his own for the first time. Upon coming to Springfield, the current capital of Illinois, Denton Offutt hired the young man to help him and his team move a load of cargo from Springfield to New Orleans.
While sailing their cargo boat down the Sangamon River, the team stopped at New Salem, a small village just 20 miles from Springfield. Offutt was impressed with the growing town, and he thought it would be a good place to open a general store.
After discharging their cargo in New Orleans, Offutt and his crew returned to New Salem, and the businessman was quick to get a general store established. He also hired Lincoln as a clerk for his new store, having been impressed with his character, wit, intelligence, and strength.
So impressed was Offutt of Lincoln’s abilities, he often bragged to anybody who was willing to listen that his employee could run faster, jump higher, throw farther, and wrestle better than any other man he knew. Offutt also proclaimed that his employee was “smart enough to be President.”
Shortly after establishing his general store, Offutt took a dislike for a group of local villains who called themselves the “Clary Grove Boys.” These hoodlums, who resided in a town just seven or eight miles from New Salem, loved to strike up terror and trouble in the region. Sometimes, they would ride through a local town during the dark of night and startle women and children. Other times, they would visit a bar, drink heavily, and become utterly obnoxious to the poor souls who happened to be near them. And, for fun, they loved to start a fight, especially finding pleasure in picking on a stranger or somebody who they perceived to be weak and easy prey. The “Boys” also were known to have forced many an unlucky man into a cask, after which they rolled it down a hill.
In due time, the “Clary Grove Boys” got word of Offutt’s claim that Lincoln was the strongest and best wrestler in town. Upon hearing this, Jack Armstrong, who was the leader of the gang and their champion fighter, paid Lincoln a visit at the general store and challenged him to a public wrestling match. Lincoln refused, stating that he had no interest in such a match.
Filled with disdain for the “Clary Grove Boys,” Offutt later urged Lincoln to teach them and their leader a lesson. “They are a bunch of bullies, and I want you to take them down,” cried the boss.
After insistence from Offutt, Lincoln reconsidered his position, and a wrestling match between Armstrong and the future president was scheduled. News of the scheduled match, which was arranged to take place in New Salem, spread throughout the village and other nearby towns. And, before long, wagers among the local men were plentiful. One member of the “Clary Grove Boys” offered Offutt a ten-dollar bet, choosing Jack Armstrong as the winner. The store owner responded by saying, “I’ll take that bet, and as much more as you and your gang will put up.” Numerous other bets were placed, some staking their money on Armstrong, others risking that Lincoln would prevail.
Prior to the big match, one member of the “Boys” declared, “Jack Armstrong will put Offutt’s clerk on his back.” The store owner fired back, “I’ll bet that Lincoln will use him [Armstrong] to wipe his feet on.”
The day of the big match, all of the the “Clary Grove Boys” and numerous other spectators from the region arrived at the general store on horseback. The horses were tied to trees, and soon afterwards a ring was established outside of the store.
Armstrong and Lincoln entered the ring, and they engaged in a friendly handshake before the action began. The fight was then underway, and the leader of the “Boys,” having been a champion wrestler in the region, figured that he would have no trouble at all making his tall opponent fall fast and hard. But, he would soon be in for the surprise of his life.
As the big match got underway, Armstrong and Lincoln grappled and twisted for several minutes, but neither man went down. This frustrated the “champion,” for his barrage of “tricks” had never failed him with previous opponents. Lincoln, in contrast, almost seemed to be playing with Armstrong, like a wolf having a bit of fun with a deer before going in for the kill.
As the fight progressed, Armstrong began to wear down and Lincoln began to establish dominance. This angered and worried the “Clary Grove Boys.” Fearful that they would lose their money and face humiliation, several members of Armstrong’s gang crowded in on Lincoln in an attempt to give their leader an edge. This encroachment infuriated the clerk, and he retaliated by grabbing Armstrong by the neck, holding him straight out at arm’s length, and shaking him with a mighty force.
Shocked and amazed by Lincoln’s display of strength and dominance, several members of Armstrong’s gang started to back the tall man against the Offutt’s store in disgust, and it looked like they may all attack him at once. However, Lincoln used his charisma to starve off a mad rush, and he offered to fight each member of the gang one at a time.
But, before anybody could take Lincoln up on his offer, Jack Armstrong yelled out, “Boys, Abe Lincoln is the best fellow that ever broke into this settlement. He shall be one of us.” Then, with a touch of dignity and class, Armstrong held his hand out to Lincoln and congratulated him for his victory. This was the beginning of a special friendship between these two powerful men, a friendship that would last until Lincoln’s death.
As a side note I should mention that on occasions after their wrestling match, Jack Armstrong and his wife, Hannah, invited Lincoln to stay in their home when he was out of work. Several years later, in 1858, the tall man returned the favor. Duff Armstrong, the son of Jack and Hannah, was accused of murder. Lincoln, then a defense attorney, defended Duff, and he was acquitted by the jury. And, later when Duff inquired about his legal fees, Lincoln replied, “Anything I can do for you I will do willingly and without charges.”
Thanks for visiting, and please stay tuned for Part Three.
Rob