Trivia Advent Calendar

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good job, Joe, this is correct!!! Anita lately posted the link to an article where you could read that "...three of Lincoln’s political acquaintances...told...that sometime in the 1850s, Lincoln, then still a lawyer in Springfield, brought Robert to Indiana for a madstone cure.  Father and son stayed at 'The Prairie House' at 7th and Wabash, an earlier incarnation of the famous hotel." 

The house has a most interesting history, including Al Capone staying there:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terre_Haute_House

Since you answered both questions (what+where) the score results as follows:

Roger 9
Thomas 6
Laurie 3
Dave 4
Joe 4

[J. Beckert]

Welcome back to Day 19 of the Trivia Advent Calendar and the final week. Roger has the lead spot and young Thomas is right on his heels. Can the politest man on the internet best the young'un? This week will tell.

It's time for something new. We've done buildings, statues and a few other things. Welcome to the debut of "Who is this dude?"

This man's name has been mentioned here before. He's known for one thing and one thing only.

Who is this dude????

   

[Eva Elisabeth]

Alexander Stephens?

[RJNorton]

Harry Hawk?

[J. Beckert]

No to both.

[Gene C]

Horace Greeley,
(it's probably not him)

I notice our person in question seems to have a neck beard, a fashion that seems to have gone out of style (if it ever was in)

Mr Greeley had one of the most luxuriant ones I seen.
https://gonzomeetsthepress.files.wordpre...reeley.jpg

Is our mystery man known for being a politician?

[J. Beckert]

He is not a politician. He was a business man. I can't say much about the neck beard or if he even had one. In later life he didn't as that picture is much clearer.

I think the neck beard was like the man bun of today - it didn't get a whole lot of traction.

[RJNorton]

He was a business man.

Richard Mitchell Smoot.

[J. Beckert]

No, sir.

Hint #1 - he was a businessman in Washington, D.C.

---

Hint # 1.5 - he did a lot of business with Ford's Theater.

[RJNorton]

Hint # 1.5 - he did a lot of business with Ford's Theater.

Dave Taylor has written about Henry Polkinhorn. He was a Washington printer who printed the playbills for Our American Cousin. So I will guess Polkinhorn.

[J. Beckert]

You've guessed right, Roger! Polkinhorn did a lot of business with the Ford's and his work from April 14th is one of the most prized relics of that night. I don't think too many are in private hands. I don't think much of his work survived and what did is apparently worthless. As I found out when I bought one.

You now have a comfortable lead, Roger.

Roger 10
Thomas 6
Dave 4
Joe 4
Laurie 3

[L Verge]

As an aside, Polkinhorn's son or grandson (not sure which) was a well-known "ear doctor" in DC during the early-20th century and my grandmother was a patient of his.

[J. Beckert]

I was working off my phone today, so forgive me for not updating. He's the photo of Polkinhorn and one from Dave Taylor's site.

   

   

[J. Beckert]

Welcome back to Day 20 of the Trivia Advent Calendar fun. "Who is this dude?", was kinda fun, wasn't it? Let's try a round of "Who is this gal?" and see if anything changes on the race to the finish to be this year's TAC Champ. Roger has a strong lead and Laurie seems to be MIA this year. If any of you are close to Surrattsville, please stop in and check on her. I'm worried the Yankees may have finally caught up with her....

Who is this gal????



   

[Dave Taylor]

Mary McVicker, Edwin Booth's second wife