Wife vs Widow

[Donna McCreary]

Robert Lincoln was ticked off about more than the photo of JWB.
Osborn Oldroyd was a Civil War veteran who moved to Springfield around 1880. In 1884, the Lincoln Home became available to rent, and Oldroyd moved in before the previous tendants were completely moved out. Oldroyd had begun collecting Lincoln artifacts several years prior to moving to Springfield. So, he set up a musuem on the first floor of the home and lived on the second flood. He paid Robert $25.00 per month to live in the home.
Trouble soon followed his arrival into the home. First he charged people 25 cents to tour the house. Then, he created boxes of Lincoln relics which he sold for 75 cents. These boxes contained pieces of brick, shingles, ceiling plaster, Elm tree, apple tree, lath joist, and pieces of the floor. Yes, he was stripping the house. Then, he angered Robert by refusing to pay rent. Robert did not want a public scandal, so Oldroyd managed to live in the house for two years without paying any rent.
To anger Robert even more, Oldroyd began to lobby the Illinois legislators asking them to purchase the Lincoln Home and allow him to maintain his museum. When Robert did agree to turn over the home to the state, Oldroyd was appointed custodian, did not have to pay any rent, and was paid $1,000 per year while he continued to strip the house for items to put in the relic boxes. With a change of state government in 1893, Oldroyd was out and a new custodian was named. He moved to Washington and moved his "museum" into the Peterson House. Before leaving Springfield, he stripped the house of many items which had belonged to the Lincolns. According to Susan Haake (curator of the Lincoln Home) Oldroyd stole 25 items from the house including Mary's cooking stove and the boys' cradle. These items were later returned. The house had been greatly damaged under his care.

So, Robert had every right to be mad at Oldroyd.
One good thing did come from his "museum." He took good care of his items (even if they were stolen) and we have them today because of his "museum."