words

[RJNorton]

Hi Kees. As far as I know there is no specific source for what Richard E. Hart said. Have you been able to determine where he received that information? At this point I lean to Arnold's discussion with Mary in 1874 regarding Abraham's wishes to be buried "in some quiet place like this." (in other words...like the quaint, rural cemetery along the James River.) What I am saying is that I think we have a specific, footnoted source for the "James River" discussion, but we have no specific, footnoted source for Lincoln's reaction to Conkling's speech. I would think the 1865 conversation would most likely be more fresh in her mind than what may have been said in 1860. So I am currently thinking Mary was probably going by what Abraham told her in 1865 rather than something he might have said in 1860. I realize we are in somewhat of a "gray area" here when we try to decide for certain why Mary was so adamant about Oak Ridge. Another influencing factor, according to Jean Baker, was that all of Mary's Springfield relatives had already purchased lots at Oak Ridge.