Literary Subject. She was the subject of one of Edgar Lee Master's poems in his book "Spoon River Anthology." She was the wife of Jack Armstrong, who challenged Abraham Lincoln to a wrestling match in New Salem, Illinois. Lincoln won the match and the two men became such good friends that Lincoln stayed in their home when he was periodically out of work. The sign next to monument says "Hannah Armstrong," but tombstone says "Hannah Wilcox" because after Jack Armstrong's death in 1857, she and her family moved to Mason county. In 1862, she married a Samuel Wilcox and moved to Iowa. She died there in 1890, but was buried back in Menard County.
Literary Subject. She was the subject of one of Edgar Lee Master's poems in his book "Spoon River Anthology." She was the wife of Jack Armstrong, who challenged Abraham Lincoln to a wrestling match in New Salem, Illinois. Lincoln won the match and the two men became such good friends that Lincoln stayed in their home when he was periodically out of work. The sign next to monument says "Hannah Armstrong," but tombstone says "Hannah Wilcox" because after Jack Armstrong's death in 1857, she and her family moved to Mason county. In 1862, she married a Samuel Wilcox and moved to Iowa. She died there in 1890, but was buried back in Menard County.
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
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