Lincoln's Dog Fido

[LincolnMan]

Besides, I'm sure Fido was housed-trained-aren't you Fido?

[Gene C]

Any time someone when out to use the privy, I went out too!

[LincolnMan]

Fido- your name means "faithful"- and I'm sure you were- er- are!

[RJNorton]

(08-30-2013 06:57 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Fido- your name means "faithful"- and I'm sure you were- er- are!

Did he try to change his name after the family he loved left him in Springfield and departed for Washington without him? Or did he like the Rolls just as well?

[Gene C]

A. Sometimes the things that are best for you, don't seem that way at the time.
B. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade
C. There's a rainbow at the end of every storm

All of the above.

(I always liked the name "Astro")

[LincolnMan]

Astro? Was t that the name of the dog in the Jetsons?

[Steenbeb]

Thanks for the great comments.

Is the home still standing or is the location of the Roll Family home where Fido was taken when the Lincoln Family left for Washington in 1860 known?

I see a reference on the Lincoln home site regarding the Cook home having been built by Roll and that Lincoln and Roll were friends.

I just speculating that Fido was buried in the Roll family yard after the poor fella was stabbed by a drunk after Fido put his dirty paws on his lap.

[Gene C]

Great questions. Come join us in Springfield, one month from now and find out. The suspense is killing me.

[RJNorton]

Brian, I do not know if the original home is still standing, but when the Lincolns moved to Washington the Roll family home was at the southeast corner of Second and Cook Streets. Fido passed away at the corner of Fifth and Cook Streets. I bet Gene will be able to remember Cook Street.

Brian, you are correct. Lincoln first met John Eddy Roll at Sangamo Town in the early 1830's. Roll described the young Lincoln this way:

"He was tall, gaunt and bony and as homely as he has ever been pictured to be. He was the rawest, most primitive looking specimen of humanity I ever saw, his clothing all too scant for him. His trousers lacked four or five inches of reaching his feet, usually with legs stuffed in big cowhide boots. At this time he wore an old 'round about' far too short for him, so that when he stooped over he showed four or five inches of his suspenders. His hat, drab in color, small crowned and broad brim, was well worn. He was a general favorite of all with whom he came in contact, and with his story telling and genial spirit he soon made friends and became the life of the village."

[Donna McCreary]

Which date is most often attached to the photos of Fido -- 1861 or 1865. Can anyone make an argument for either one being the correct date?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Donna, the photos of Fido were made as keepsakes because the Lincolns couldn't take him with them to Washington, they were taken in Springfield before their departure in February 1861. (Maybe someone else knows the exact date?)

[RJNorton]

IMO Eva is right. Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt wrote an in-depth article about Fido for the February 15, 1954, Life magazine. She doesn't give an exact date for the photo but hints it was on or close to January 30, 1861. About this time she says Willie and Tad realized they had no picture of Fido to take to Washington. The author writes, "So Fido had one last excursion with his young masters. They trooped over to F. W. Ingmire's studio on the west side of the square. Mr. Ingmire draped a piece of fancy material over a washstand and put Fido on top of it as if on a royal couch. Willie and Tad watched but did not get into the picture(s)."

I cannot recall where but I did once read a book that dated the photo 1865. However, Dorothy Kunhardt's account seems credible IMO. Additionally, Lance Ingmire, family historian and a great-great-nephew of F.W. Ingmire, has stated the photos of Fido were taken before the Lincolns departed for Washington.

[Eva Elisabeth]

In "Father Abraham and his Sons", Harold Holzer, too, writes the photos were taken before the departure to be taken to Washington.
In "The Lincoln Family Album", there's (I think) a CDV with the photo of Gene's avatar, and the text reads: "This carte by F. G. Ingmire, labeled 'President Lincoln's Dog', is likely one of the many comercially reproduced copies published after the assassination sparked demand for souvenirs." Most likely this is the reason that some pictures (copies of the 1861 originals) are dated 1865.

[Donna McCreary]

The problem with the Kunhardt story is that there is nothing to suggest that Ingmire was a photographer before 1863, and may not even have been in Springfield in 1860-61. The curator of the ALPL is currently working to establish a date for these photos. He is looking for concrete information such as a city directory or something that says a different photographer took the photos. I have read different accounts each using a difference date - and each story has elements which seem accurate. However, only one is correct. I am hopeful that Dr. Cornelius can find the evidence he needs.
Personally, I have always leaned towards the 1865 date. It was not a common practice for people to photograph their pets in the 19th century. However, once Lincoln died, anything and everything connected to him was photographed.

[Donna McCreary]

(03-04-2014 05:03 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  IMO Eva is right. Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt wrote an in-depth article about Fido for the February 15, 1954, Life magazine. She doesn't give an exact date for the photo but hints it was on or close to January 30, 1861. About this time she says Willie and Tad realized they had no picture of Fido to take to Washington. The author writes, "So Fido had one last excursion with his young masters. They trooped over to F. W. Ingmire's studio on the west side of the square. Mr. Ingmire draped a piece of fancy material over a washstand and put Fido on top of it as if on a royal couch. Willie and Tad watched but did not get into the picture(s)."

I cannot recall where but I did once read a book that dated the photo 1865. However, Dorothy Kunhardt's account seems credible IMO. Additionally, Lance Ingmire, family historian and a great-great-nephew of F.W. Ingmire, has stated the photos of Fido were taken before the Lincolns departed for Washington.

I do not have Kunhardt's book. Can you tell me what source she used for the 1861 date?