I am sharing an email I received today:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hello,

My name is Suzanne Hallstrom, administrator of the Hanks DNA Project at FTDNA where the results of the Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study were announced in 2015. A new website, Genetic Lincoln has just been launched to expand our knowledge of the genetic ancestry of Abraham Lincoln.

The website will include additional detailed information about the Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study, as well as a discussion of the results of Y chromosome testing of paternally-linked Hanks participants. Descendants of Abraham Lincoln’s extended maternal family are being encouraged to participate in autosomal DNA studies.

Genetic Lincoln will maintain a comprehensive repository of factual, fully footnoted Hanks (and related families) research reports for the free, non-profit use of our readers.

Although some sections of the website are still under construction, I decided to go ahead and launch early so our readers can help it grow. All comments and questions are welcome.

https://geneticlincoln.com/

Sincerely,
Suzanne W Hallstrom
GeneticLincoln.com
Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study

Here is an unusual story published in 1936, you just have to read it for yourself.

AN OLD SLAVE'S TESTIMONY
Some years ago there lived in Washington County in the neighborhood of Beechland, an honourable and respected colored minister. He
had the following to say respecting the Lincolns:
"Many years ago when I went to Beechland to serve the church there, I heard my own people as well as the white folks talk about President Lincoln being born there. I remember one day when I was called to the home of a very old colored lady who lived near Simpsonville to pray for her when she was sick. She was near 100 years old. She told me many things about the early days. I distinctly re- member her saying with considerable feeling that when President Lincoln was born in a cabin near the Beech Fork she was sent by her mistress to nurse him. 'Little did I think/
she said, 'as I held that scrawny little babe in my arms, that one day he would set me free!

source - Lincoln in His Parents Home County
https://archive.org/stream/lincolninhisp...1/mode/2up

(the Beech Fork, is a small, 112 mile long rambling river that never gets closer to Lincoln's Birth site than 15 miles)

Strange how these stories get started.

This 1952 article in Pennsylvania History tells the story of Newton Strong and his bride Matilda Edwards, claimed by some to have been a rival with Mary Todd for Lincoln's affections.

https://journals.psu.edu/phj/article/view/22207

I hope everyone who has access to the Surratt Courier reads Roger's wonderful piece, "The Day Miss Todd Became Mrs. Lincoln." A delightful, detail-filled story.

I came across these two articles about Lincoln's trip to Janesville, Wisconsin in 1859, staying with the Tallman family and meeting a young man named Lucien Hanks; who's accounts I thought were humorous, interesting and worth sharing.

1918 article from the Madison Democrat:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records...er/BA15682

and 1926 article from the Dearborn Independent:

https://archive.org/stream/lincolncenten...3/mode/2up

Kerry's mention of an interview with Mary Edwards Brown made me look for the interview, which can be found in the February 9, 1959, Life magazine, along with other recollections of the Lincolns. Some great photographs here (as you would expect):

https://books.google.com/books?id=4EUEAA...&q&f=false

The Mary Edwards Brown piece:

https://books.google.com/books?id=4EUEAA...&q&f=false

In trying to sort out the relationships among the Todd family, one that does not get mentioned often is the relationship between Abraham and his father-in-law, Robert Smith Todd. When Todd came to visit his new grandson, he arranged for Mary to receive $120 per year, gave the Lincolns some land, and turned business over to Lincoln telling him to keep any money he may collected from the debts owed.

My question is, what was the relationship between the two men? Did Todd have an opinion of Lincoln before they met? They seem to have gotten along well when the Lincolns came to Lexington, but what about before then? Why did he help the Lincolns when he did not help his other children? Did he favor Mary? or did he feel sorry for her because she married "beneath her station in society."

I just came across this YouTube video about Lincoln's patent that I thought was interesting:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WuY0nIkt7lE

After Robert was born, the Lincolns left the Globe Tavern in the fall of 1843. And in May of 1844, they moved to their home at 8th and Jackson. Where were they in the meantime? Although it's now a parking lot--think of Joni Mitchell: "Pave paradise, put up a parking lot"--the site is marked. Read Mike Kienzler's article in Sangamon Link: http://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=10377.

The Lincoln Country in pictures by Carl and Rosalie Frazier.

This is a short book, copyright 1963, of about 95, high quality, black and white photo's ranging from Lincoln's birthplace to his house in Springfield.
Nothing new here, but I did enjoy looking at the photo of Thomas Lincoln's last home on page 20-21.
Most of the pictures I've seen, it looked in a more dilapidated condition.
A majority of the photo's in this book are from New Salem.

Join us for this years Springfield Tour, May 4-6 and see how things have changed in the past 55 years.

https://archive.org/stream/lincolncountr...3/mode/2up

The world of black and white photographs is explained here
http://calvin-and-hobbes-comic-strips.bl...k-and.html