Springfield Tour

[Rob Wick]

Henry B. Rankin was definitely one of the "characters" that seems to infiltrate Lincolniana studies throughout history. Of course, William E. Barton calling Rankin a fraud is ironic, given that Barton once told the Lincoln bibliographer Daniel Fish, who had declined Barton's gift of a book he unashamedly admitted to stealing from the Lane Theological Seminary, "Believe me, if you are going to have any scruples about stealing from a Theological Seminary, you will never make a Collector." Here is a letter written by Tarbell about Rankin that explains her interest in Rankin. Here is a picture that Rankin sent to Tarbell with his autograph. Rankin had no problems in spite of the illness Tarbell mentions in her letter in making sure his will was obeyed, even going so far as suing family members for payment of debts. Most people in Springfield doubted Rankin's veracity when it came to Lincoln, but by that point Rankin had angered so many people, his reputation was pretty much soiled.

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Rob