Mary Lincoln Extra Credit Questions

[RJNorton]

Nice try, Laurie, but kudos to Donna. It was Patrick Henry.

Mary visited her uncle in Columbia, Missouri, in the summer of 1840. She wrote a letter to her friend, Merce Levering, and included the following:

"If you conclude to settle in Missouri, I will do so too, [there] is one being here, who cannot brook the mention of my return, an agreeable lawyer & grandson of Patrick Henry—what an honor! Shall never survive it—I wish you could see him, the most perfect original I had ever met, my beaux have always been hard bargains at any rate, Uncle and others think, he surpasses his noble ancestor in talents, yet Merce I love him not, & my hand will never be given when my heart is not—"

[Gene C]

That extra credit question reminds me of a song.

Dear Future Husband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShlW5plD_40

[RJNorton]

According to Katherine Helm, Mary once said, "I wish I could go to Washington and live in the White House."

Whom was Mary talking to?

[Steve]

Henry Clay

[RJNorton]

Right, Steve. Kudos. Katherine Helm wrote that 13-year-old Mary Todd rode her pony to Henry Clay's home, and she mentioned her wish in a conversation with him.

[Anita]

Neither Mary or Lincoln were into landscape gardening at their home in Springfield. Name the person who helped fill this void.

[L Verge]

Neither Mary or Lincoln were into landscape gardening at their home in Springfield. Name the person who helped fill this void.

I don't know her name, but I think it was one of Mary's sisters??

[Susan Higginbotham]

I believe it was Frances Wallace.

[Anita]

Good job Laurie and Susan. I find it strange that Mary who cared so much for decorating the interior of the home and loved flowers, should take no interest in the outside landscaping, especially when she could have hired a gardener to beautify the outside "curb appeal."

"Although Mary loved flowers, neither she or her husband were known as gardeners or devoted much effort to landscaping the grounds. A long-time neighbor said they never planted trees and only kept a garden one year. Mary's sister, Frances Todd Wallace, apparently was eager to fill this horticultural vacuum, for she often came over to plant flowers in the front yard."
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/linc...s/home.htm

Mr nor Mrs Lincoln loved the beautiful — I have planted flowers in their front yard myself to hide nakedness — ugliness &c. &c. have done it often — and often — Mrs L never planted trees — Roses — never made a garden, at least not more than once or twice — http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/islandora/obj...ln%3A38074

[AussieMick]

I'll guess at Mercy Conkling ... woops, not only wrong but 18 minutes late

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[AussieMick]

Tad Lincoln was born April 4 1853. Not long after, he didnt always have Mary's full attention. With whom was he soon required to share her?

[RJNorton]

The Lincolns acquired Fido c.1855-1856, so I'll guess Fido.

[AussieMick]

The Lincolns acquired Fido c.1855-1856, so I'll guess Fido.

No, sorry Roger. Sorry for delay in responding ... I was thinking of someone who became known to them earlier, closer to Tad's birth.
This person was not (often) in the Lincoln household .... and not as tall as Lincoln. His parents were English.

[AussieMick]

The Lincolns acquired Fido c.1855-1856, so I'll guess Fido.

No, sorry Roger. Sorry for delay in responding ... I was thinking of someone who became known to them earlier, closer to Tad's birth.
This person was not (often) in the Lincoln household .... and not as tall as Lincoln. His parents were English.

And he did not say, write or do, anything of real significance. He did though I'm sure make his presence known.

[RJNorton]

Charles Dallman, Jr?