Lincoln Discussion Symposium

That is a very logical guess, Eva, but he was not a lawyer.

Roland Diller, druggist. Looks a like him.

Another very logical guess, Joe, but it's not Roland Diller.

(And the gentleman in the photo was not a druggist.)

1. Teacher?
2. Tavern-keeper?

I am sorry, Eva, but it's neither one.

(11-27-2016 10:04 AM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]This man was a Springfield resident at the same time as the Lincolns.

What was his profession?

This is my last attempt. I think you got me stumped. Is it John Roll, plasterer and mason?

Hint #1: A recent post by Gene gave me the idea to try to find a photo of this man. I was successful in finding one in a book I own.

Joe, I am sorry, but it's not John Roll. Good try, though!

(And the gentleman in the photo was not a plasterer/mason.)

I know it's wrong because to my knowledge the one I recall Gene mentioning (Taylor) wasn't from Springfield- poet?

Hint #2: The answer is not in Gene's post itself; rather it is in a link Gene posted.

(not a poet)

Don't know the answer, but what's left? Preacher or undertaker?

I am sorry, Laurie, but it's neither of those professions.

Think of a profession which you might not like to visit.

Physician or dentist?

Excellent, Eva!! He was a dentist in Springfield.

Gene made a post here.

The link in his post is here.

On that page is artwork by Lloyd Ostendorf depicting Abraham Lincoln and his dentist, Amos French.

I could not recall seeing a photo of Amos French so I started looking through my Lincoln books to see if I could locate one. And I found a photo of French on page 14 of Bryon Andreasen's Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield.

Andreasen writes that both men studied German together. But Lincoln kept telling stories that made the class laugh. This kept the class in turmoil.

French's office was in the Bunn Building on the southwest corner of the public square.

Eva, you win a wonderful Holiday Season. You posted you were now in Vienna, and I hope for a warm December there.

Fascinating - I didn't expect a photo of French to exist. Also I didn't know they studied German together (while I found other references of Abraham Lincoln learning the language).

Thanks for the prize, most appreciated. (And I'm glad I didn't win a dentist appointment!)