ECBrowning

Born near Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky, in October of 1807, Eliza Caldwell lived about 25 miles south of Lexington until marrying Orville Browning in 1836 and moving to Quincy. The friendship between Eliza and Abraham Lincoln spanned nearly thirty years. They first met at the start of O.H. Browning’s Senate term in 1836 in Vandalia. From 1836 to 1840 especially, when the Brownings boarded with Lincoln at the same house during the legislative session, Lincoln spent “most of his spare time” visiting with Eliza. The friendship lasted through the years leading to the White House and until Lincoln’s death in 1865. It may well have been the longest female friendship in Lincoln’s life.

When Eliza is mentioned in Lincoln histories, it is concerning the well known 1838 letter to her from Lincoln in which he satirized his peculiar and unsuccessful courtship with Kentuckian Mary Owens. The nature of the relationship is reflected in this highly personal letter, suggesting an easy familiarity between the cultured and politically astute Mrs. Browning and Lincoln. Both shared a love of poetry, humor and wit, and an intellectual passion.

Quincy Friends

Eliza Caldwell Browning

At the close of the Owens letter Lincoln adds, “Write me a long yarn about something to amuse me.” Eliza very much enjoyed Lincoln’s stories and once drew a crayon drawing of him entitled “Lincoln, the Storyteller.”

The Brownings visited the Lincolns in Springfield on an informal basis, unlike any other friends. Following the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Eliza hosted Lincoln and held a Republican reception at the Browning home while Orville was in Carthage on court business. The Brownings were called to the White House when Willie died of typhoid fever. The Lincolns “would not consent” to Eliza leaving; she stayed for a week to care for young Tad and Mary.

Eliza Browning is buried in Woodland Cemetery beside her husband.
– Iris Nelson

City of Quincy Lincoln Bicentennial Commission 706 Maine Quincy, Illinois 62301