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+--- Thread: Who Said This? (/thread-2480.html)
RE: Who Said This? - Gene C - 09-26-2026
Getting closer. Benjamin Thomas was very familiar with our mystery writer's work.
Our person of interest has been mentioned many times on this forum, and has written many books and articles that are unrelated to Lincoln.
RE: Who Said This? - Steve - 09-27-2026
Paul Angle?
RE: Who Said This? - Gene C - 09-27-2026
A good guess, but he is not the author of the quote in question.
Paul Angle was one of the first to express doubts about the Wilma Minor fake love letters between Lincoln and Ann Rutledge.
Our person of interest however was not so quick to regard the letters as fake.
"In a telegram and a letter, both dated October 19, xxxxxxx expressed reservations on a few specific points but came down firmly on the positive side. “My faith is strong,” xxxxxx declared, “that you have an amazing set of true Lincoln documents—the most extraordinary that have come to us in many, many years. The decisive influence of xxxxxxxx endorsement is revealed in the minutes of an Atlantic staff meeting held on October 19: “As xxxxxxx’s comments … were favorable, Mr. Sedgwick feels justified in going ahead with the magazine articles and with the book.” (American Heritage Magazine)
However our person of interest retreated from this statement as more information came forth.
RE: Who Said This? - Gene C - 09-29-2026
Final clue (maybe)
Our writer, like Lincoln, was over six feet tall - slightly, and born in a log house.
Also one of the first to challenge Hendon's story of the Lincoln's wedding ceremony that he failed to show up for.
Our writer is also featured in Benjamin Thomas's book - Portrait for Posterity, a book about some of the Lincoln biographers prior to 1950, with a full chapter.
RE: Who Said This? - RJNorton - 09-29-2026
William E. Barton?
RE: Who Said This? - Gene C - 09-29-2026
You're getting closer.
Last and final clue.
This person wrote several articles and maybe 6 books about Lincoln as well as a biography on Napoleon and on Madam Roland ( a French revolutionist who lost her head)
This forum has two threads about this writer with their name as the subject
Never married
Forum member - Rob Wick is very familiar with the history and work of this writer
RE: Who Said This? - RJNorton - 09-29-2026
Well, it's got to be Ida Tarbell!
RE: Who Said This? - Rob Wick - 09-29-2026
Gene,
I have to be honest that I would not have known that Tarbell made the quote just from my own reading. Right now, I'm exploring Tarbell's time in Paris.
Best
Rob
RE: Who Said This? - Gene C - 09-30-2026
The quote of Ida Tarbell's is on page 87 of of her book In The Footsteps of the Lincolns (reprinted in 1997 as Abraham Lincoln and His Ancestors)
https://archive.org/details/infootstepsoflin00tarb/page/86/mode/2up
Good job!