Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Thomas Turnham?

Lincoln took the grain to Gordon's grist mill. When the horse kicked him, two people came to his aid. One was Noah Gorden the owner of the mill. He picked up Abraham who was bleeding and unconscious. Dave Turnham who had come to the mill with Abraham ran to get Thomas Lincoln. Thomas Lincoln hauled his son home in the wagon and placed him in the bed to recovery. Several neighbors came to visit as young Abe was near death.

Dave Turnham was the son of Thomas Turnham. There is a historical marker in Spencer County Indiana which states that the Turnham family moved to Spencer County, Indiana in 1819. Since the horse incident was supposes to have happened in 1818, it is doubtful that Dave or Thomas Turnham were at the gristmill that day. In all of the letters Dave Turnham wrote to W. H. Herndon, I can not find any mention of the horse kicking incident.

If I recall correctly, at least according to Carl Sandburg, young Lincoln was kicked by the animal while verbalizing something-which he didn't finish verbalizing until he "came to" the next day. Funny story-not sure if true.

Yes, Thomas Turnham is correct. According to my source he had served under Lafayette at Brandywine (where he was wounded) and also fought at Yorktown.

Donna, I think the historical marker is correct. In an interview with Herndon, Dave Turnham said the family came to Indiana in 1819. Most books, including Louis A. Warren's, put the horse kicking incident in 1818. Writing of himself, Lincoln wrote, "In his tenth year he was kicked by a horse, and apparantly (sic) killed for a time." That would also put it in 1818.

(01-08-2013 01:22 PM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, Thomas Turnham is correct. According to my source he had served under Lafayette at Brandywine (where he was wounded) and also fought at Yorktown.

Donna, I think the historical marker is correct. In an interview with Herndon, Dave Turnham said the family came to Indiana in 1819. Most books, including Louis A. Warren's, put the horse kicking incident in 1818. Writing of himself, Lincoln wrote, "In his tenth year he was kicked by a horse, and apparantly (sic) killed for a time." That would also put it in 1818.

Other than Noah Gorden, I wonder who else was really at the mill that day? All versions of the story claim that Lincoln had to "wait his turn." So there must have been several others.

" . . . you ole' hussy" were the words uttered by Lincoln upon waking. At the meal he had claimed that his dog could eat meal faster than the mill could produce it, and his goal was to make the horse move faster in order to grind the grain faster.

This gentleman was important to Lincoln's pre-presidential years. Who is it?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Best
Rob

Jesse W. Fell?

Great job Roger. I noticed his picture in a book written by William E. Barton on Lincoln biographers.

Best
Rob

Since Roger got that one, I'm going to try again. Hopefully this is a little more difficult.

Who is this?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Best
Rob

First clue:

He was a Lincoln biographer.

Best
Rob

Looks like Billy Herndon to me! (I actually recognized him before the clue!)

Sorry Liz, but as much as it looks like Herndon, it isn't him.

Best
Rob

You're kiddin'! But it really looks like him! I guess in those days, everybody looked like everybody else. Except for Lincoln, of course.

Second clue:

His name is still known in media circles today.

Best
Rob

John Locke Scripps?