Abigail Powers Fillmore*

President Millard Fillmore*

First Lady - 1850 - 1853
Quote from Abigail - On selecting the contents of the first presidential library, she said, "I do not recollect when I had such a mental treat."
Factoids -

• Abigail was the first wife of a President to work and have a salary.  She was a school teacher.
• She established the first library in the White House.
• The first cast iron cook stove was installed in the White House while Abigail was First Lady.   No one knew how to use it, so Willard went to the U.S. Patent Office and read the instructions. Then he returned and showed everyone how to use it.

Bio -

• Abigail Powers grew up in poverty in the frontier area of New York after her father died.  Her mother educated Abigail at home and she went to work as a school teacher.  Millard Fillmore became one of her students.  She tutored him and encouraged his interest in law and politics.  They eventually married, but Abigail continued to teach.

• As First Lady, Abigail established the first White House library in the Yellow Oval Room.  Congress appropriated funds and Abigail spent many hours selecting books. It became a perfect place for small group meetings.

• Abigail was skilled at hosting state events, but a permanently injured ankle prohibited her from some events.  At those times, she relied on her daughter Abby for help.  
• Sadly, Abigail caught pneumonia at President Pierce's inauguration nd passed away not long afterward.  For her funeral, it was the first time Congress adjourned for the death of a First Lady.  

Cookie Dough Ingredients
1 & 3/4 cups flour
7 tablespoons of COLD butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder (added in modern times)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
Apple Filling Ingredients
2 apples - peeled and cut into small cubes
2 tablespoons brown sugar (or mix white sugar and molasses together)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon