Shake Hands With Lincoln

[Donna McCreary]

Yes, I am familar with the name Weldon Petz!
Here's my "Lincoln" connection story . . . . In the late 1990's, I became friends with Mary G. Townsend Murphy. She was the daughter of William Townsend - a Lincoln scholar, collector, and the attorney for the family of Emilie Todd Helm. Mrs. Murphy had known Emilie (she was 14 years old when Emilie died) and all of the Helm children. Mrs. Murhpy even lived with Elodie Helm Lewis after all of the other Helms had passed away. The first time, I was hugged by Mrs. Murhpy, I realized that I had just been hugged by the woman who was hugged by Emilie Todd Helm - who was a member of, and embraced by the entire Lincoln family.