Recently I read a posting on MSN.com that lists little-known facts about all of the Presidents of the United States. The little-known fact that was listed about Abraham Lincoln said that he "was a licensed bartender. He was the part owner of a saloon in Springfield, Illinois, called Berry and Lincoln."
There is only one correct fact in that "little-known fact:" Abraham Lincoln was co-owner of an establishment called Berry and Lincoln. He was not a bartender, the establishment he bought was not a saloon, and it wasn't in Springfield, Illinois.
In 1833, Lincoln opened a general store with his business partner, William F. Berry, in New Salem, Illinois, selling items that were typically found in a general store, including liquor. At that time, stores could sell alcohol in quantities greater than a pint for off-premises consumption, but it was illegal to sell single drinks to consume in the store without a license. Lincoln and Berry purchased a tavern (liquor) license, which cost 7.00.
Somehow those true facts were interpreted by someone with MSN to mean that Lincoln was a bartender. It would definitely be interesting, but it is untrue.
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