A.K. McClure

[Craig Hipkins]

Hello All,
I just found a nice copy of A.K. McClure's Abraham Lincoln & Men of War-Times at a used bookstore. I have never read it and was wondering if anyone here has and what their opinions might be.

Craig

[RJNorton]

I have a copy of a 1906 book titled Abraham Lincoln's Stories and Speeches by a J.B. McClure. These are two different McClures?

[Craig Hipkins]

I have a copy of a 1906 book titled Abraham Lincoln's Stories and Speeches by a J.B. McClure. These are two different McClures?

That's a good question Roger. The book I found is titled Abraham Lincoln And Men Of War-Times Some Personal Recollections Of War And Politics During The Lincoln Administration. It appears that McClure lived from 1828-1909. First published in 1892. Might be the same guy?

Craig

[RJNorton]

Craig, I honestly do not know. The McClure book I have is a series of Lincoln stories with no footnotes, sources, index, or bibliography.

Here's an example. I have no clue as to its source or truthfulness:

"An amusing incident occurred in connection with 'riding the circuit,' which gives a pleasant glimpse into the good lawyer's heart. He was riding by a deep slough, in which, to his exceeding pain, he saw a pig struggling, and with such faint efforts that it was evident that he could not extricate himself from the mud. Mr. Lincoln looked at the pig and the mud which enveloped him, and then looked at some new clothes with which he had but a short time before enveloped himself. Deciding against the claims of the pig, he rode on, but he could not get rid of the vision of the poor brute, and, at last, after riding two miles, he turned back, determined to rescue the animal at the expense of his new clothes. Arrived at the spot, he tied his horse, and coolly went to work to build of old rails a passage to the bottom of the hole. Descending on these rails, he seized the pig and dragged him out, but not without serious damage to the clothes he wore. Washing his hands in the nearest brook, and wiping them on on the grass, he mounted his gig and rode along. He then fell to examining the motive that sent him back to the release of the pig. At the first thought, it seemed to be pure benevolence, but, at length, he came to the conclusion that it was selfishness, for he certainly went to the pig's relief in order (as he said to the friend to whom he related the incident) to "take a pain out of his mind." This is certainly a new view of the nature of sympathy, and one which it will be well for the casuist to examine."

I am an animal lover, and I enjoy stories like this, but I question their veracity.

[LincolnMan]

Roger. I've heard that story over the years but never knew its source. I'm like you- I like the story but have doubts about it.

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

There is a book on Google called The McClure Family. I'm at work, so I haven't had an opportunity to look at it closely, but I think that A.K. and J.B. were two different people. I wonder if either man was related either distantly or closely to S.S. McClure, owner of McClure's Magazine? I would have to think it likely somewhere down the line.

Best
Rob

[J. Beckert]

Then there's also the story of Lincoln stopping, again, while riding the circuit, to climb a tree and return a fledgling to it's nest.

[RJNorton]

Joe, I am aware of that one as I have been contacted in the past by a variety of animal rights organizations asking if Lincoln really said, "I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."

I have researched that quote about animal rights, never have found an authentic source, tell the folks that, yet many still use it as legitimate. So much for trying!

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Rob. The McClure book I have contains stories that would make even our good friend, Emanuel Hertz, look good.

[Craig Hipkins]

Apparently this A.K. McClure had served as an attorney for one of John Brown's men. In the introduction of the book written by James A. Rawley it states that the McClure was the source for the famous
lincoln saying "It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all the people all the time,"
Looks like I will have to read it!

Craig

[Gene C]

Craig, have you had a chance to read it yet, and is this the same book?
Looks interesting

http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincoln-wa...K.+McClure

I purchased Lincoln's Own Yarns and Stories by the same author back in Feb of this year, but I have a few books ahead of it in my reading stack. Mine is an older copy, but no print date. It looks interesting with several illustrations.

Both books have been reprinted a few times over the years, my luck with the recent reprints has been 50-50, with poor quality copying, especially photos and the occasional missing pages.