Legends That Libel Lincoln

[Gene C]

Written by Montgomery Lewis, published in 1946, 205 pages not including notes and bibliography. As far as I can tell, this is the only book Mr. Lewis has written.

The author is critical of Herndon for creating and/or perpetuating three myths about Abraham Lincoln.

From the book cover -
"It was Herndon who first gave life to legends that
still persist. He first pictured Thomas Lincoln as an illiterate,
poverty-stricken rover who never paid for a single
piece of land upon which he lived and who sometimes
abused his son. He was the first to impress upon the
world the legend of Ann Rutledge. He was the first to
create the picture of Mary Todd Lincoln that has become
so firmly implanted in our minds, who called her a
"tigress" and a "she-wolf" and told the world that Lincoln's
home life was a veritable hell. Consequently, our
debt to Herndon has been reduced by the manner in
which he has led us astray in several instances, and by
the great wrong he has done to Lincoln's father and wife
in his efforts to build up his hero. "

Mr. Lewis gives convincing arguments regarding these "myths" about Thomas Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and the Lincoln - Rutledge romance. Since this book was written over 70 years ago, new information may have come to light that weakens the authors arguments in certain areas. But overall, the information is factual and accurate.

Well written and enjoyable to read. For the Lincoln enthusiast, this is a "should read - must read" book, I can highly recommend it. Available at internet book stores. I read it through Internet Archives.

https://archive.org/stream/legendsthatli...0/mode/2up

[Thomas Kearney]

I always enjoy it when you share these rare treasures!

[kerry]

I thought the book was extremely well written given the materials available at that time. It raises good questions and makes good points. I read it so long ago that I can't remember if I found the actual conclusions persuasive, but I remember admiring the effort.

[Gene C]

One of the "myths" pointed out in this book is the alleged poor character of Thomas Lincoln.

The author points out this is an untrue characterization of Lincoln's father, quoting from Louis Warren's, the Lincoln Kinsman

I didn't locate the exact article quoted in "Legends that Libel Lincoln", but below is from a different article by Louis Warren in the Lincoln Kinsman regarding Herndon

"The Source of the Myth
There can be no question about the origin of the "shiftless father" fable, as it can be traced directly to William
Herndon. It is closely aligned with the paternity myth, and its primary objective is to present the putative
father of the President in such an ignominious roll that the observer will immediately draw the conclusion
that there could be no real kinship between Thomas and Abraham Lincoln.

It is always a delicate task to as- scribe motives for the abuse heaped
upon an individual, but there can be no mistake about the reason why
Herndon gave Thomas Lincoln such a bad reputation. Herndon urged
Weik on many occasions to start the President down just as low as possible
to make the contrast between his early surroundings and White
House atmosphere stand out in bold relief. He wanted Lincoln to "rise from the ashes,"
so his first offering on the sacrificial altar was Lincoln's own mother whom he portrayed as a fallen woman,
then he sacrificed the father of the President whom he characterized as "embodied listlessness."

https://archive.org/stream/lincolnkinsma...1/mode/2up

[LincolnMan]

Thomas Lincoln was anything but lazy, I think. He worked his farm (and had to do everything to keep food in his mouth-and his family), moved his family westward to realize new opportunites, and engaged in carpentry on the side. Life was not easy in those days. A lazy man could not have kept life and family together like he did.

[RJNorton]

"According to Haaff, Thomas Lincoln was a master craftsman. “His inlay work was incredible,” he enthuses."

https://www.duboiscountyfreepress.com/li...n-indiana/

[L Verge]

The Lincoln Herald, Summer 2017 issue (publishing is always late) arrived this week and has a similar unique theme in a short article by Jason Silverman, who comments on a 1943 publication. William F. Petersen was the author of Lincoln-Douglas: The Weather as Destiny, and the theme is focused on weather affecting human beings to the point where it shapes their future and the course of history -- for good or ill.

Petersen theorized that humans must adjust to heat and cold, wet and dry, wind and calm conditions that demand an ever-changing adjustment of heart, nerves, and blood vessels according to their body type. This proclivity can actually start in the wound.

He then compares the short and stocky Stephen Douglas with the tall and gaunt Abraham Lincoln. Douglas was born to a calm, comfortable mother, and was conceived in a gentle Vermont summer. He weighed 12 pounds or more at birth. He was raised in a peaceful environment with a warm and cozy home, plentiful food, friendly neighbors, and plenty of stimulating books, and a church background. Such people are not as affected by harsh weather, have a smaller body so less buffeting by elements, but therefore not toughened to life. They die younger than others - Douglas was 48.

Lincoln, on the other hand, was conceived during an especially cold and rainy season at the end of a hard Kentucky winter. His mother was exhausted from the weather, from nursing her young daughter, and enduring the hardships of her meager home. As he grew up in the wilderness of Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, Abraham became hardened, moody, and mercurial and prone to bouts of depression. However, the harsh conditions led to his greatness. Had he not died at 56, the doctors' comments at his "autopsy" would indicate that he was strong enough to live more years.

Just the four pages of this article is intriguing in its theory. Has anyone ever read the original 1943 publication by Petersen? It seems to be another example of how authors have used and abused Mr. Lincoln over the years in order to advance their theories.

P.S. February 12, 1809, was also the birthday of Charles Darwin; and Tennyson and Gladstone were born that same year.

[Gene C]

Consider this

Evidently Mr. Silverman has never spent much time in Vermont during the winter. brrr.
Since Lincoln was 6'4" and weighed around 180 lbs as a young man, he probably had plentiful food, he also had a church background and friendly neighbors.
Lincoln liked to read, and found stimulating books, passages from the Bible and Aesop Fables were found in his speeches and conversations.
Some writers have indicated Douglas was a heavy consumer of alcoholic beverages.
Lincoln was not.
I wouldn't consider a 12 lb baby as having a smaller body.

Lincoln born in Feb was probably conceived in May. How does the author know his mother was exhausted and the weather played a factor?
I would think Douglas's mother was more exhausted from delivering a 12 lb baby. Ouch.

I conclude that had Lincoln not died at the age of 56, he might have lived a little longer.

I agree with you Laurie, it seems to be another example of how authors have used and abused Mr. Lincoln over the years in order to advance their theories.

[L Verge]

(07-17-2018 10:56 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Consider this

Evidently Mr. Silverman has never spent much time in Vermont during the winter. brrr.
Since Lincoln was 6'4" and weighed around 180 lbs as a young man, he probably had plentiful food, he also had a church background and friendly neighbors.
Lincoln liked to read, and found stimulating books, passages from the Bible and Aesop Fables were found in his speeches and conversations.
Some writers have indicated Douglas was a heavy consumer of alcoholic beverages.
Lincoln was not.
I wouldn't consider a 12 lb baby as having a smaller body.

Lincoln born in Feb was probably conceived in May. How does the author know his mother was exhausted and the weather played a factor?
I would think Douglas's mother was more exhausted from delivering a 12 lb baby. Ouch.

I conclude that had Lincoln not died at the age of 56, he might have lived a little longer.

I agree with you Laurie, it seems to be another example of how authors have used and abused Mr. Lincoln over the years in order to advance their theories.

Good points, Gene, but Jason Silverman is only printing what William Petersen had published in 1943. We must put the onus on Petersen for those assumptions.