(06-16-2015 11:47 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Kees, try refreshing your browser and see if you can see the photo now. It didn't work at first for me, either, but it does now.

(06-16-2015 11:47 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Kees, try refreshing your browser and see if you can see the photo now. It didn't work at first for me, either, but it does now.

(06-15-2015 05:23 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 03:45 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 02:13 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  The image of Sophie Hanks arrived from the LOC today. Many thanks to the LOC for sharing it with us. Along with the image there is a typed note which says, "Lincoln's (first) cousin, Sophie Hanks, who grew up with him in Indiana. Her son was displeased with this likeness because the photographer had retouched it so as to remove a mole on her face. He stated that this mark was characteristic of the Hanks family, and that in location and appearance it was similar to the mole appearing on likenesses of Abraham Lincoln."

Image credit: Arther E. Morgan Collection - Library of Congress

Thank you Roger for sharing this photo! Indeed the "spittin image" of Honest Abe in my opinion...

Roger (or someone else) do you have a photo of Dr. Lewis A. Warren ? Thanks!

I 100% agree on the resemblance - thanks for ordering and posting, Roger!!! Weren't there also photos of John LeGrand in the Morgan papers? I was hoping they would have sent you a copy of one of those, too.

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 05:23 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 03:45 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 02:13 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  The image of Sophie Hanks arrived from the LOC today. Many thanks to the LOC for sharing it with us. Along with the image there is a typed note which says, "Lincoln's (first) cousin, Sophie Hanks, who grew up with him in Indiana. Her son was displeased with this likeness because the photographer had retouched it so as to remove a mole on her face. He stated that this mark was characteristic of the Hanks family, and that in location and appearance it was similar to the mole appearing on likenesses of Abraham Lincoln."

Image credit: Arther E. Morgan Collection - Library of Congress

Thank you Roger for sharing this photo! Indeed the "spittin image" of Honest Abe in my opinion...

Roger (or someone else) do you have a photo of Dr. Lewis A. Warren ? Thanks!

I 100% agree on the resemblance - thanks for ordering and posting, Roger!!! Weren't there also photos of John LeGrand in the Morgan papers? I was hoping they would have sent you a copy of one of those, too.

I have a photo of Nancy (Lynch) Davison holding one of her sons, from the Morgan collection. She's a daughter of Sophia (Hanks) Lynch-Legrand. It's a pdf file, and I can't attach it here, unless I bother Roger again.

If anyone wants a copy just contact me at ctn59880@centurytel.net.

I have a lot of Legrand information, but no photos of Dr. James LeGrand. However, I have a few associated LeGrand photos, but no serious resemblance to Lincoln there. The attached 1932 letter mentions that there should be a couple of James LeGrand photos in the Morgan collection.

(03-16-2020 06:14 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 05:23 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 03:45 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  [quote='RJNorton' pid='48596' dateline='1434392035']

The photo of Nancy (Lynch) Davison and her son is also in the presentation, as well as the famous photo of Sophia Hanks we have here. As I said there may be several things you haven't seen before. And if all else fails I have a .pdf file of the presentation.

Rich Hileman was one of the five members for the Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtdna study, and has researched her for many years.

I just reviewed my .pdf file and see that Rich refers to the Nancy Davison photo as a possible photo of a young Sophia carrying James Legrand; however, a later photo description reveals it is Nancy Lynch Davison, as does the (attached) poor quality photo of Nancy and her husband John Potter Davison in later years.

---

(03-16-2020 06:14 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  [quote='Steve Whitlock' pid='80502' dateline='1584334592']
[quote='Eva Elisabeth' pid='48603' dateline='1434403400']
[quote='loetar44' pid='48598' dateline='1434397511']
[quote='RJNorton' pid='48596' dateline='1434392035']
The image of Sophie Hanks arrived from the LOC today. Many thanks to the LOC for sharing it with us. Along with the image there is a typed note which says, "Lincoln's (first) cousin, Sophie Hanks, who grew up with him in Indiana. Her son was displeased with this likeness because the photographer had retouched it so as to remove a mole on her face. He stated that this mark was characteristic of the Hanks family, and that in location and appearance it was similar to the mole appearing on likenesses of Abraham Lincoln."

Image credit: Arther E. Morgan Collection - Library of Congress

Thank you Roger for sharing this photo! Indeed the "spittin image" of Honest Abe in my opinion...

Roger (or someone else) do you have a photo of Dr. Lewis A. Warren ? Thanks!

I 100% agree on the resemblance - thanks for ordering and posting, Roger!!! Weren't there also photos of John LeGrand in the Morgan papers? I was hoping they would have sent you a copy of one of those, too.

I have a photo of Nancy (Lynch) Davison holding one of her sons, from the Morgan collection. She's a daughter of Sophia (Hanks) Lynch-Legrand. It's a pdf file, and I can't attach it here, unless I bother Roger again.

If anyone wants a copy just contact me at ctn59880@centurytel.net.

I have a lot of Legrand information, but no photos of Dr. James LeGrand. However, I have a few associated LeGrand photos, but no serious resemblance to Lincoln there. The attached 1932 letter mentions that there should be a couple of James LeGrand photos in the Morgan collection.

(03-16-2020 06:14 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 05:23 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 03:45 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  [quote='RJNorton' pid='48596' dateline='1434392035']

The photo of Nancy (Lynch) Davison and her son is also in the presentation, as well as the famous photo of Sophia Hanks we have here. As I said there may be several things you haven't seen before. And if all else fails I have a .pdf file of the presentation.

Rich Hileman was one of the five members for the Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtdna study, and has researched her for many years.

I just reviewed my .pdf file and see that Rich refers to the Nancy Davison photo as a possible photo of a young Sophia carrying James Legrand; however, a later photo description reveals it is Nancy Lynch Davison, as does the (attached) poor quality photo of Nancy and her husband John Potter Davison in later years.

---

I just reviewed my .pdf file and see that Rich refers to the Nancy Davison photo as a possible photo of a young Sophia carrying James Legrand; however, a later photo description reveals it is Nancy Lynch Davison, as does the (attached) poor quality photo of Nancy and her husband John Potter Davison in later years.

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  Rich also has a copy of the letter Sophia (Hanks) Lynch-Legrand, who was still living in MO at the time, wrote to Dennis Hanks asking him if it was true that the Abraham Lincoln she knew was really the President. Dennis referred to that exchange with Sophie in a letter he wrote to President Lincoln.

(03-17-2020 12:14 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  Rich also has a copy of the letter Sophia (Hanks) Lynch-Legrand, who was still living in MO at the time, wrote to Dennis Hanks asking him if it was true that the Abraham Lincoln she knew was really the President. Dennis referred to that exchange with Sophie in a letter he wrote to President Lincoln.

I tried to find the text of the letter I believe Steve is referring to, and I am posting what I think is the correct one:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Apreel 5th 64

Dere Abe I Receivd your Little Check for 50.00 I shoed it to mother She cried Like a child Abe She is Mity Childish heep of truble to us Betsy is very feble and has to wait on hir which ort to have Sum person to wait on hir we are getting old We have a great Many to wait on of our Conncetions they will ***** to See us while we Live Abe Charles has Reinlested a gain for three years or Dureing the war this is hard to his Mother Abe we had a horible time on Munday of Court it Brok up got in to a fuss By a Drunkin Soldier I Never Saw Such a time thare was 8 or 10 Killed in the fight one you no Doct yorke of paris Edgar County young E winkler was wounded Abe I Received a Letter from Sophia Lynch now John Lagrand is hir Last husband She wants to no whether you are that Abe Lincoln hir cusin or Not is this not Strange to you it was to me hir Boys all in the army younion Boys at VixBurg Abe you never have Seen as Strong a youning Boy as Charles Hanks I am Mity afraid that Theophilus will gaw into army with Charles he is 15 years old a very Staut Boy he can Shoot as well as I Can Abe Remember My Boys if you Can I Dont ask any thing

(03-17-2020 01:41 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(03-17-2020 12:14 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(03-16-2020 12:56 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  Rich also has a copy of the letter Sophia (Hanks) Lynch-Legrand, who was still living in MO at the time, wrote to Dennis Hanks asking him if it was true that the Abraham Lincoln she knew was really the President. Dennis referred to that exchange with Sophie in a letter he wrote to President Lincoln.

I tried to find the text of the letter I believe Steve is referring to, and I am posting what I think is the correct one:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Apreel 5th 64

Dere Abe I Receivd your Little Check for 50.00 I shoed it to mother She cried Like a child Abe She is Mity Childish heep of truble to us Betsy is very feble and has to wait on hir which ort to have Sum person to wait on hir we are getting old We have a great Many to wait on of our Conncetions they will ***** to See us while we Live Abe Charles has Reinlested a gain for three years or Dureing the war this is hard to his Mother Abe we had a horible time on Munday of Court it Brok up got in to a fuss By a Drunkin Soldier I Never Saw Such a time thare was 8 or 10 Killed in the fight one you no Doct yorke of paris Edgar County young E winkler was wounded Abe I Received a Letter from Sophia Lynch now John Lagrand is hir Last husband She wants to no whether you are that Abe Lincoln hir cusin or Not is this not Strange to you it was to me hir Boys all in the army younion Boys at VixBurg Abe you never have Seen as Strong a youning Boy as Charles Hanks I am Mity afraid that Theophilus will gaw into army with Charles he is 15 years old a very Staut Boy he can Shoot as well as I Can Abe Remember My Boys if you Can I Dont ask any thing

Yes, that's it! Thank you Roger!! I couldn't find my copy of the letter yesterday, but I was having a tough day, as you can tell by my posts. And yes, I do know I should have written Louis A. Warren, rather than Lewis Warren. No one home in Whitlockville yesterday. Only a little better today. And no, I don't have the virus. Just a bit run down worrying about my daughters and grandchildren in CA. I live in rural MO, not too far from where Sarah Hanks is buried. Margaret (Hanks) Legrand, Sarah's daughter, Sophia's sister, is buried even closer.

(03-24-2020 03:41 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  "I have a lot of Legrand information, but no photos of Dr. James LeGrand. However, I have a few associated LeGrand photos, but no serious resemblance to Lincoln there. The attached 1932 letter mentions that there should be a couple of James LeGrand photos in the Morgan collection."

I LIED, in regard to photos of Dr James Legrand! I forgot a trove of photos that Richard G. Hileman Jr shared with me from the Morgan Collection.

Sophia (Hanks)Lynch-LeGrand's daughter is found as both Nancy (Lynch) Davidson and Davison.

I have more photos to follow for this journey back thru the years.

(04-25-2020 07:50 PM)Anita Wrote:  Welcome Gene!

Thanks you for sharing some of your Hanks family history. Hope you'll share more.
Do you still live in Illinois?

I did a quick search of Decatur Harristown and here's what topped the list on Google. It's a story in the Herald and Review, Sept. 13, 2016.
https://herald-review.com/news/local/hanks-home-still-standing/article_71fd34d6-1a5e-52fa-92e8-50ae6cf34d99.html

Here's a bit of the story. Gene, do you know this house?

"DECATUR -- In 1866, the man who brought Abraham Lincoln to Illinois and later helped label him the “Railsplitter Candidate” built a brick house in Hickory Point Township.

This was John Hanks, and the house he built still stands -- it’s at 3496 Betzer Ave. Other than peeling white paint, a different porch and a general state of disrepair, it doesn’t look much different than when it was erected."

"John Hanks isn’t a household name among nonhistorians, but he was first cousins with Lincoln’s mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln. He not only brought Lincoln to Decatur, but was also a major figure in Macon County history.

The house in question was built in 1866, but John Hanks’ history on the property dates back to 1829. Like Lincoln, Hanks came to Illinois from Indiana: He lived with the Lincolns awhile before moving west to Macon County in 1828. He originally settled near Harristown along the Sangamon River, and sent word to the Lincolns that there was rich farmland under the prairie and to “pull up stakes and come to Illinois.”

John, though, moved to Bull Point -- now called Hickory Point Township, about a half-mile east of Boiling Springs. He built a cabin there and began farming. When the Lincolns arrived in 1830, he helped them build a cabin, smokehouse and barn near Harristown where John had originally settled. John and Lincoln -- then 21 years old -- split the rails used to build the cabin, and later split more than 3,000 logs in the employ of Macon County Sheriff William Warnick, who lived near there."

(04-25-2020 09:48 PM)Anita Wrote:  Thanks Steve. I'd like to see that article by Charles Hanks.

(04-25-2020 11:01 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(04-25-2020 09:48 PM)Anita Wrote:  Thanks Steve. I'd like to see that article by Charles Hanks.

Here you are. Abe must have really ticked Charles Hanks off at some point. If I remember correctly Abe wrote a letter to John recalling the little sod busting he had done with Charles, but not much else, after the nasty letter by Charles was printed. Not positive when Abe wrote to John about Charles, and I'm not finding it readily in my files; however, here is a letter attributed as from John to Abe about the Charles Hanks letter. John didn't write that letter either. I think it was Richard Oglesby who wrote the John Hanks letters. Top of my head for that last bit.

---

Here is another article with testimonials for the veracity of the Charles Hanks letter.

(04-25-2020 07:50 PM)Anita Wrote:  Welcome Gene!

Thanks you for sharing some of your Hanks family history. Hope you'll share more.
Do you still live in Illinois?

I did a quick search of Decatur Harristown and here's what topped the list on Google. It's a story in the Herald and Review, Sept. 13, 2016.
https://herald-review.com/news/local/hanks-home-still-standing/article_71fd34d6-1a5e-52fa-92e8-50ae6cf34d99.html

Here's a bit of the story. Gene, do you know this house?

"DECATUR -- In 1866, the man who brought Abraham Lincoln to Illinois and later helped label him the “Railsplitter Candidate” built a brick house in Hickory Point Township.

This was John Hanks, and the house he built still stands -- it’s at 3496 Betzer Ave. Other than peeling white paint, a different porch and a general state of disrepair, it doesn’t look much different than when it was erected."

"John Hanks isn’t a household name among nonhistorians, but he was first cousins with Lincoln’s mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln. He not only brought Lincoln to Decatur, but was also a major figure in Macon County history.

The house in question was built in 1866, but John Hanks’ history on the property dates back to 1829. Like Lincoln, Hanks came to Illinois from Indiana: He lived with the Lincolns awhile before moving west to Macon County in 1828. He originally settled near Harristown along the Sangamon River, and sent word to the Lincolns that there was rich farmland under the prairie and to “pull up stakes and come to Illinois.”

John, though, moved to Bull Point -- now called Hickory Point Township, about a half-mile east of Boiling Springs. He built a cabin there and began farming. When the Lincolns arrived in 1830, he helped them build a cabin, smokehouse and barn near Harristown where John had originally settled. John and Lincoln -- then 21 years old -- split the rails used to build the cabin, and later split more than 3,000 logs in the employ of Macon County Sheriff William Warnick, who lived near there."

(04-26-2020 09:49 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(04-25-2020 11:01 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(04-25-2020 09:48 PM)Anita Wrote:  Thanks Steve. I'd like to see that article by Charles Hanks.

Here you are. Abe must have really ticked Charles Hanks off at some point. If I remember correctly Abe wrote a letter to John recalling the little sod busting he had done with Charles, but not much else, after the nasty letter by Charles was printed. Not positive when Abe wrote to John about Charles, and I'm not finding it readily in my files; however, here is a letter attributed as from John to Abe about the Charles Hanks letter. John didn't write that letter either. I think it was Richard Oglesby who wrote the John Hanks letters. Top of my head for that last bit.

---

Here is another article with testimonials for the veracity of the Charles Hanks letter.

It only took me three rereads, after I posted the Charles Hanks letter clipping, to notice the article just below it with the header "Land for the Landless" and the discussion of the Homestead Bill voting. This clipping would fit right in for another recent thread. Always glad to help folks out.

That aside, I notice the Charles Hanks letter left out Mr Lincoln's many accomplishments, including his law practice. I don't know if Charles was a jilted Whig, along with those in the testimonials, but there seems to be a foul whiff of political animus present.