"Phantoms" at Lincoln's deathbed

[loetar44]

I use the word "phantoms" to indicate persons who said they witnessed the death of Lincoln, or who were made a witness by others, but in reality were not there (in the death chamber at Petersen's) at all. What to think about the following three individuals?

(1) James Wormley (owner and operater of the Wormley Hotel in D.C.) was widely reported in 1865 to be at the bedside of Abraham Lincoln when he died. His presence at Lincoln's deathbed was cited in numerous obituaries and articles , however, I did not find any corroborating documentation of this presence.

(2) "Tributes to Abraham Lincoln", a compilation of newspaper articles, says: Gen. O'Beirne is the only man living who was present at the death of Lincoln. He waa sent to the house as provost-marshal by Secretary of War Stanton. Also here I did not find any corroborating documentation.

(3) Salmon P. Chase is pictured on a lot of deathbed scenes as witness but I doubt he was ever there at all. I thought he was only included so that beside family all branches (executive, legislative and judicial) might be represented.

I'm searching for a list of all (proven) persons who were at Lincoln's deathbed. Persons who are not mentioned once but at least twice in seperate documentations. Is such a list existing? And where can I retrieve (or download) that list? Or have someone such a list and willing to share? Thanks.

[RJNorton]

(09-02-2014 08:32 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  (1) James Wormley (owner and operater of the Wormley Hotel in D.C.) was widely reported in 1865 to be at the bedside of Abraham Lincoln when he died. His presence at Lincoln's deathbed was cited in numerous obituaries and articles , however, I did not find any corroborating documentation of this presence.

(2) "Tributes to Abraham Lincoln", a compilation of newspaper articles, says: Gen. O'Beirne is the only man living who was present at the death of Lincoln. He waa sent to the house as provost-marshal by Secretary of War Stanton. Also here I did not find any corroborating documentation.

(3) Salmon P. Chase is pictured on a lot of deathbed scenes as witness but I doubt he was ever there at all. I thought he was only included so that beside family all branches (executive, legislative and judicial) might be represented.

Kees, do you have W. Emerson Reck's book? IMO it is one of the best sources for trying to determine who was/was not there.

Regarding Chase, he wrote in his diary that he was not present. Wormley is not mentioned at all in Reck's book, but I have seen the claim he was there. Linda once posted an article on this. O'Beirne is mentioned as having been there earlier but (unless I am missing it) not at the time of death.

[LincolnToddFan]

Hi Kees,

Salmon Chase most definitely was not at the Petersen House. He arrived the next morning just after the president's body had been taken back to the White House("Team of Rivals" Doris Kearns-Goodwin)

[Linda Anderson]

(09-02-2014 09:23 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 08:32 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  (1) James Wormley (owner and operater of the Wormley Hotel in D.C.) was widely reported in 1865 to be at the bedside of Abraham Lincoln when he died. His presence at Lincoln's deathbed was cited in numerous obituaries and articles , however, I did not find any corroborating documentation of this presence.

(2) "Tributes to Abraham Lincoln", a compilation of newspaper articles, says: Gen. O'Beirne is the only man living who was present at the death of Lincoln. He waa sent to the house as provost-marshal by Secretary of War Stanton. Also here I did not find any corroborating documentation.

(3) Salmon P. Chase is pictured on a lot of deathbed scenes as witness but I doubt he was ever there at all. I thought he was only included so that beside family all branches (executive, legislative and judicial) might be represented.

Kees, do you have W. Emerson Reck's book? IMO it is one of the best sources for trying to determine who was/was not there.

Regarding Chase, he wrote in his diary that he was not present. Wormley is not mentioned at all in Reck's book, but I have seen the claim he was there. Linda once posted an article on this. O'Beirne is mentioned as having been there earlier but (unless I am missing it) not at the time of death.

Here's my post.

E: Mary Lincoln's presence at Abraham's death-bed
James Wormley, "the celebrated hotel proprietor," was reported as being present at Lincoln's deathbed. Critic-Record, "James Wormley's Death," October 20, 1884

"Mr. Wormley was present at the death bed of Lincoln, and he appears as the only colored man in Littlefield's picture of the death of the President. He was also present at the deathbed of Sumner."

Wormley started his career as a hack driver, worked his way to owning his own livery service and went on to become the steward of the Washington Club in the same house where Seward was later attacked. He opened Wormley's Hotel in 1871.

"Mr. Wormley's patrons numbered among them some of the most gentlemen and ladies of this and other countries. He was a master of diplomacy as well as the art of cuisine. New York Globe October 25, 1884.

"It has been learned since his death that for a number of years he has been supporting three white families, the heads of which were once counted as the most wealthy and aristocratic of the Virginians." Boston Journal. October 21, 1884,

It would be great if he had kept a diary but somehow I don't think he did.

---

James Wormley is included in African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary. There is a list of secondary sources about Wormley on p. 711. The article mentions that he was an honorary pallbearer at Lincoln's funeral.

http://books.google.com/books?id=TTha3Na...22&f=false

[L Verge]

Please read the last link that Linda posted here on James Wormley. He is a very interesting part of Washington, D.C. history. A number of years ago, Surratt House did an exhibit on "From Village to City: Washington Grows Up." One portion of the exhibit was devoted to Mr. Wormley.

[LincolnToddFan]

Thank you Laurie. I can't believe I have never heard or read a thing about this man until now. He sounds like a very interesting-not to mention generous-individual.

[Linda Anderson]

Here's an article from the Streets of Washington.com titled, "The Talented Mr. James Wormley."

http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2012/...rmley.html

[loetar44]

(09-02-2014 09:23 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Kees, do you have W. Emerson Reck's book? IMO it is one of the best sources for trying to determine who was/was not there.

Roger, no I haven't, but just ordered the paperback at Amazon.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Linda for both your posts, most interesting!!! Kees, you won't regret this purchase, I promise!!!

[L Verge]

Dr. Reck deserved much more credit for his book than he ever received, IMO. Very nice gentleman to boot!

Mr. Wormley was a very distinguished looking gentleman, and you can see that the comment someone made about him respecting himself as well as others was very likely true. He has that sort of bearing about him.

If you are the least bit interested in Washington, D.C. history, I would also recommend joining the Streets of Washington site. You will receive frequent emails with articles of historical interest. Mr. DeFerrari, who runs the site, will be the speaker at the upcoming Fall Dinner of the Surratt Society on September 21. He is speaking on the growth of the city between the end of the Civil War and WWI. He has a personal collection of D.C. postcards and memorabilia that is outstanding also.

[LincolnToddFan]

(09-02-2014 03:24 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Thanks, Linda for both your posts, most interesting!!! Kees, you won't regret this purchase, I promise!!!

So true..I have the Reck book and finished it in two days!

[RickBeaver]

I've often wondered what would have happened in the Peterson house if there had been a conspirator rooming there. What if Henry Safford would have been connected to it? So many high government officials in one place! Yikes!

[loetar44]

(09-02-2014 10:27 PM)RickBeaver Wrote:  I've often wondered what would have happened in the Peterson house if there had been a conspirator rooming there. What if Henry Safford would have been connected to it? So many high government officials in one place! Yikes!

James Tanner, a disabled soldier who was a War Department clerk, lived in the house next door to the Petersen home. He wrote that the house was strictly guarded. Soldiers stood guard at the front door and were posted on the roof to keep the growing crowds at bay. While doctors cared for the president the Petersen family and some of the boarders spent the night in the basement.

[Jim Garrett]

(09-02-2014 05:57 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Dr. Reck deserved much more credit for his book than he ever received, IMO. Very nice gentleman to boot!

Mr. Wormley was a very distinguished looking gentleman, and you can see that the comment someone made about him respecting himself as well as others was very likely true. He has that sort of bearing about him.

If you are the least bit interested in Washington, D.C. history, I would also recommend joining the Streets of Washington site. You will receive frequent emails with articles of historical interest. Mr. DeFerrari, who runs the site, will be the speaker at the upcoming Fall Dinner of the Surratt Society on September 21. He is speaking on the growth of the city between the end of the Civil War and WWI. He has a personal collection of D.C. postcards and memorabilia that is outstanding also.

Laurie, didn't you also know James Wormley?

[L Verge]

Now, just a minute, you young whipper-snapper. Let's have a little respect for your elders.

Some of the Petersen children were put to work bringing fresh towels and water and even comforting Mrs. Lincoln, I believe. Kathy Canavan of this forum has done a great deal of work on the Petersens and others on Tenth Street. I have already lined her up as a speaker for the 2016 Surratt conference. John Elliott is already on that list too.