The Newsletter of the Abraham Lincoln Association, "For the People" Winter 2020,
has an article by Guy Fraker titled "Lincoln's Curious String of New Salem Romances"

https://abrahamlincolnassociation.org/wp...0-2021.pdf page 7


In the article it mentions " Recent research by Kathy Bazzoli of the
Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga, California, suggests a subsequent romance
with another New Salem charmer, Susan Reid. It provides evidence of the
extended reach of the story of Lincoln’s early life.......

"The courtship that ensued included horseback rides, and attendance at
church and Sunday school together. She noted Lincoln’s honesty and lack of guile, but said he was “homely,” “very awkward,” and “very bashful.” She
also called him a “queer fellow,” because he was so “superstitious.” Lincoln proposed to her twice, but she quickly rejected both.

So what's the source of this interesting detail of Lincoln's personal life?
An interview with Susan by the San Francisco Call in May 22, 1897.
She was 82 by that time. The only other newspaper that picked up the news was the Iowa Register on June 4. No other newspaper seemed to reprint the story.
(I'm wrong about the other newspapers - see Steve's post)

And according to Guy Fraker..."Contemporary evidence confirms that
they did know each other. Lincoln and Boyce had fought side-by-side in the
Black Hawk War. Later they joined in signing petitions related to roads in the
area. In July 1837, Lincoln represented Susan’s father, Louis Reed (sic), in the
case of Reed v. Fleming, in which Reed sought money damages. The case ended in a hung jury. Both Susan Boyce and William P. Boyce were listed as witnesses
(Susan had married William on June 18, 1837)
Mr. Fraker does not reveal what the contemporary evidence is.

I was skeptical about this part of his article. How could this important detail about Lincoln's life have remained hidden for so long. So I turned to our New Salem expert, the author of "New Salem - A History of Lincoln's Alma Mater" written by forum member Joe Di Cola. Joe noticed she's not mentioned in 'Herndon's Informants", nor is she mentioned in Benjamin Thomas's book "Lincoln's New Salem." Joe didn't mention her or her parents either in his book.

I checked "Lincoln Day By Day" by William Baringer for July, 1837 and the law case of Reed vs Fleming isn't mentioned. That may not mean much, but it would have been nice had it been listed.

I also noticed the newspaper refers to Susan 'Reid', but Gut Fraker refers to her father as Louis 'Reed (sic)'

So I've gone from being skeptical to highly skeptical.
I'm still open minded to listen to something that might verify the newspaper's story interview.
Maybe someone can find the newspaper article that the researcher Kathy Bazzoli found, the one Guy Fraker refers to.
What's your opinion on this?

Although Fido's death occurred in 1866 I am putting this post here because it is in Springfield where the Fido stories take place. There is a very interesting article on the death of Fido in the current newsletter of the Abraham Lincoln Association (For The People). The article mentions something I had not read before. I had always read that a drunken man (Charles Planck) stabbed Fido purposefully because the dog placed his paws on him. But the article mentions that Planck's stabbing may possibly have been more accidental than purposeful. Congrats to Brian Steenbergen on a very interesting piece.

Steenbergen's source for the possibility of an accidental death is an article in the February 20, 1893, Springfield Journal. Many thanks to anyone who could post this article.

Below is a blog written by George Dekle author of Abraham Lincoln's Most Famous Case: The Almanac Trial
The blog, written over a five year period, provides some interesting information regarding this trial. As the book is a bit more than I usually spend on a book, reading his blog might give you an insight as to whether or not you want to purchase the book, since the least expensive copy is $31.16 for a kindle version.
https://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincolns-...5XPBJKRGEC

What I've read of the blog is fairly interesting. I started reading his oldest entries first.
http://almanac-trial.blogspot.com/2013/0...trial.html

" I learned a lot of interesting details about the trial and its background, so many that I could not get everything to fit within the publisher’s word limit. I began this blog so that I could share these details with the public. When the book comes out in print, I will begin posting periodic stories about the aspects of the trial which I couldn’t fit into the book. Stay tuned for future posts."

Came across this documentary done by Sangamon State University about the Lincoln home. It chronicles the 1980s renovation of the Lincoln home and features Charles Strozier and Jean Baker among others.

There were some things here I didn't know. For example, if I knew that the house had a basement, I had forgotten it. It's definitely worth your time.

Best
Rob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI3gsDeopxY

Nice article from the Sangamon Link web site about the minister who performed the marriage ceremony for Abraham and Mary.

He also sold them the home they lived in up to 1861.

According to this article, the Abraham Lincoln Association is going to build a replica of the home as it appeared when the Lincoln's first purchased it.

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=12248

On this day in history, June 14, Abraham Lincoln closed his accounts as postmaster of New Salem.

More, on Abraham Lincoln Online
http://abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/...uiz696.htm

Mail delivery hasn't been the same in New Salem since.

I'd have posted this earlier, but my email is running a bit slow.

We know that AL didn't like the farm work and would rather had spent more time in a classroom.
We know that during his first Legislature campaign, he spoke endorsing public instruction as large as possible.
But what were his wiews regarding child labor? Did he wanted to reform it, or did he accepted the fact people got illiterate their whole life as an unchallengable necessity to deal with ? Do you have any documentation about that? Since he was obviously sollicitous to kids, his own and others, I'm wondering.

Thank You.

Émilie.

Greetings,

Impressed by the knowledge viewed in everybody's postings, I came to the conclusion that this would be a great place to request some help in my quest to discover the location of a cane that has piqued my curiosity.

While doing some research pertaining to my County the following transcription of a news item in the February 12th 1861 edition of the Nevada Democrat caught my eye:

"CANE PRESENTATION-- A Springfield, Ill., correspondent, writing January 11th states that Lincoln was presented that day with an elegant gold-headed rosewood cane, valued at $250 by Jas. Churchman of Nevada, and Samuel Gamage of San Francisco, in the name of CW young of Nevada. It was a manzanita cane not Rosewood."

Whoa, I've never heard tell of this hereabouts before, and just to let you know, hereabouts equals Nevada County, California. James Churchman and C. W. Young were Pioneer citizens of this County, more precisely of Nevada City, California. Churchman had earlier on been a friend of Lincoln, back in his own days in Illinois. Charles William Young was found to have been the first person to establish a jewelry store in Nevada City.

Further research revealed other mentions of the cane, the date of presentation changing slightly, as well as how it is engraved. Following is a sample of one transcription from the book: Sixteenth President-in-Waiting: Abraham Lincoln and the Springfield Dispatches of Henry Villard, 1860 - 1861 ~ Edited by Michael Burlingame.

To ABRAHAM LINCOLN
First Republican President of the United States
From C. W. Young, Nevada City, Cal.

It was also discovered that this cane was handed down beyond Lincoln's death, to Ninian Wirt Edwards – from him it went to his son Charles - - and from Charles to his brother, Albert.

Albert Edwards was the custodian of the Lincoln Home in Springfield, and records indicate that he left items in his estate that were to go to the Lincoln Home. Beyond Albert's death, his daughters were custodians of the Lincoln Home. I would imagine that to some of you the Edwards information might already be known.

In an effort to see if the cane might possibly be at the Lincoln home, I sent an email there, but as you can no doubt guess, the current predicament we are in has erected a roadblock from learning anything via this route.

So, I'm hoping that someone might have knowledge of this cane and its present whereabouts, or a tip to where else I might obtain more clues to where the cane is now.

It is my belief that this story would be a fascinating read, to not only those in my local, but to people who have an interest in Abraham Lincoln everywhere. Thus, the present location from which I hope to obtain a picture of the cane, along with seeing precisely how it is engraved to accompany my story is the goal I have in mind.

Thanks to everyone in advance, and here's hoping this finds you well.

P.S. I should let you know that my postings might be somewhat delayed. I usually do my research from our local library, which of course is closed. The use of a touch screen tablet I am just learning to use is creating fits and ties. So, please bear with me. Thanks again.

I was reading Katherine Helm's book, "True Story of Mary, Wife of Lincoln" and I came across this on page 106-107.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln went to a large party at the
Ridgleys leaving everything apparently secure at home
with a maid to watch the children. The party was very
delightful, but Mary grew restless and anxious, and
finally said 'Mr. Lincoln, we must go home.' (Mary
never called her husband by his first name, Abraham
or Abr'am, but always formally 'Mr. Lincoln.' I never
heard her speak to him in any other way except in talking
to her children, when she would say, 'Father said'
thus and so.) We must go home, Mr. Lincoln,' she
repeated, but he was reluctant and suggested that they
stay a while longer. She insisted, however, that she
must go and told him she would get someone to take her
home that he might stay and enjoy himself. With his
unfailing kindness, he said, 'I will take you home. We
will find everything all right and then we can come
back and enjoy the rest of the evening.' They did not
come back, however, as they found the house on fire,
the maid fast asleep, and the children's lives in danger.
Mr. Lincoln said he was glad he had a wife who could
'sniff fire a quarter of a mile away.'
https://archive.org/details/truestoryofm...m/mode/2up

I've never heard of this before, so I wrote Joe Di Cola and Dave Grimm about it.
Joe says it's not in "By Square & Compass" by Wayne Temple, and nothing in Lincoln Day By Day. Dave has never heard of it before either.

Any one ever heard of this?

They say he was born in Puzzle Creek near Bostic in Rutherford County in North Carolina. They have plaques and all!

Was Abraham Lincoln actually born in NC? One local group claims they can prove it

This is video of a news (?) report, March 20th.