Laura Needham, Rachel Edson’s (3G Grandmother) sister, was being courted by Abraham Lincoln. This courtship lasted several months or until (Elijah Elias Gibbs’ brother) Homer, appeared. Homer Gibbs “cut Lincoln out” and married Laura on July 18, 1833. Some of the Needham family said Mr. Lincoln and Laura were engaged, others said they had talked of marriage. Laura and Homer Gibbs lived in Sullivan (IL) and in Mattoon, Illinois. She died near the close of the Civil War and he immigrated to Missouri.171