Nancy Hanks' lineage

[Steve Whitlock]

Here is my transcription of the entire letter written by Mrs Schafer:

Dear M. Warren-

Yours received some time ago and have just neglected to answer sooner as has been to warm to do anything, and I have been having so much trouble with my eyes.

I have talked to a number of people and they say why don't I write to his grandson and see if he has a picture of him. I don't know his address or would. All photographers I have talked to say it is a coppied picture from a daguerrotype and coppied later on as during the civil war but was not taken on paper as I told you that it was during the war that my father obtained it. Lots of people have wanted me to give it to them but if it is worth something to them it is to me. I have that several times I would have it anounced over the radio asking if there was any one lising [listening] who ever saw him or his picture.

I was told one time by a young lawyer who lived here said he had a friend in the city who had one but I did not learn his name and the lawyer is dead now.

Surely some one has one some place. I would lend it to you if it would do you any good but would want it back if I did not care to sell it.

Yours respectfully,
Mrs F. J. Schafer

Franklin Ind
161 Banta Place
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Mention of a young lawyer saying he had a friend in the city who had a copy of the Thomas Lincoln photo then implies that other copies were made, and somewhere there was an original daguerreotype plate, probably in IL, but not necessarily so. In any case nothing is said to establish whether the photo is really Thomas Lincoln.

IF it can be established somehow that someone from the Johnston family is the Lincoln relative who sold the copied photo I think that would enhance the likelihood of the photo really being Thomas Lincoln, in spite of what Robert Todd Lincoln and John J. Hall have maintained to the contrary. On the other hand Sarah Bush Johnston-Lincoln would have known if there was a photo available of her husband, and surely would have had a copy herself if one were in existence.

After reading the letters of Mrs Schafer I get the feeling there was no con job in play, and the photo was actually thought to be of Thomas Lincoln. If the Lincoln relative was trying to put one over on O.V. Flora I would think he might have sold a photo with more value. At the time I seriously doubt anyone realized how important a photo of Thomas Lincoln could be. I didn't find any mention so far of how much was paid for the photo. I do wish other Flora family members had been interviewed for further input.