"Stump the Yankee"

[J. Beckert]

Good afternoon and welcome back to what should be a fun filled and rousing round of "Stump the Yankee". The first round didn't go as planned. I was picked off by the first Rebel shot fired. If it wasn't Betty, I'd be embarrassed. This time, this Yankee has done some homework. Put your thinking kepi's on, Rebels. No pictures for you devious "right clickers" who look for encrypted messages I know nothing about, either. And no clues. Good luck! Here's the question -

Not unlike my own situation with Mrs. Beckert and my Visa Gold acct., Mary Lincoln ran up debts for "flub dubs" that chapped Abe's hide. When he died, he left an estate valued between $85,000 and $110,000. Mary, for the rest of her life, cried poverty. After Lincoln's demise, a wealthy entrepreneur supposedly presented Mary with a large sum. How much was it and who was he?

Today's VERY COOL prize has been graciously donated by the Divine Ms. O herself. Betty sent our prize procurement department an original piece of wood and a cut nail from Fort McNair, the sight of the conspirator's trial. Circa 1830 -1860, this wood was there when they were. I wish it could talk. Was it in the trial room itself? Could be!! Good luck!!