Did Lincoln not want to attend the theater that night?

[John Stanton]

"Dr Todd" Some years ago, Loudon Park Cem.in Baltimore, had a big program to "bring the boys home", so they went out and got veterans intered elsewhere. It was considered a huge honor. Is there any possibility that he was involved in that program?

[Dr. Todd Descendant]

Hello Todd decendent.
I am curious about Geo. B. Todd and his two markers. The doctor had two children who are both buried at Loundon Park including most of their children. One of Dr. Frederick Perine Todd's children George B. Todd (1900 - 1937) (George Brainard Todd's grandson) is buried at Loundon. Could that be the listing or is there another?

I can see you've discovered what I haven't looked at in a long time. I've been so busy with my branch of the family that I hadn't remembered Fred P.'s son. I'm usually good about sourcing the info. I have, and had cited Dr. GB Todd's widow's pension application. I'll need to check that source again, and may even follow that up with a call to Loudon Park Cemetery on Monday re: burial date. That should help. Thanks for pointing me back to my own family tree...blush...lol

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"Dr Todd" Some years ago, Loudon Park Cem.in Baltimore, had a big program to "bring the boys home", so they went out and got veterans intered elsewhere. It was considered a huge honor. Is there any possibility that he was involved in that program?

I wasn't aware of that program. I suppose that's a possibility. How do you know about that program?

[Jim Garrett]

Do you all think that Joseph Clark (son of Virginia Clark) was moved to Loudon Park? He died in the Sykesville State Asylum in Sykesville, Md., which is about 20 miles west of Baltimore.

[Dr. Todd Descendant]

"Dr Todd" Some years ago, Loudon Park Cem.in Baltimore, had a big program to "bring the boys home", so they went out and got veterans intered elsewhere. It was considered a huge honor. Is there any possibility that he was involved in that program?

I wasn't aware of that program. I suppose that's a possibility. How do you know about that program?

[John Stanton]

"Dr. Todd" Some time ago, I researched a man from St. Mary's, MD. named Hebb. He was one of the original Confederate Navy Partisans. He mentions that he had a relative that died and was buried in the Western part of VA. Later he was exhumed and buried in Baltimore, under this Louden Cem. program. (Do you want me to find a cite for the program?)

[Dr. Todd Descendant]

"Dr. Todd" Some time ago, I researched a man from St. Mary's, MD. named Hebb. He was one of the original Confederate Navy Partisans. He mentions that he had a relative that died and was buried in the Western part of VA. Later he was exhumed and buried in Baltimore, under this Louden Cem. program. (Do you want me to find a cite for the program?)

Surely. I think it's difficult to understand digging up a loved one's remains and replanting them today. I have one line in my family where one of my great aunts puchased a family plot in Loudon Park Cemetery, and she moved about five family members from Carroll County, Md. to it. Perhaps she figured it would be easier to find each other when the resurrection she hoped for took place.

[Jim Garrett]

I knew the funeral director who handled F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. He reburied F. Scott twice and Zelda once.

[Gene C]

It's hard to keep a good man down

[LincolnMan]

F. Scott F. is buried in Hollywood, isn't he? I think the same cemetery as Miss Monroe.

[Jim Page]

F. Scott F. is buried in Hollywood, isn't he? I think the same cemetery as Miss Monroe.

I thought he and Zelda were buried out in Rockville, Maryland, right where the Rockville Pike crosses Viers Mill Road.

--Jim

[Laurie Verge]

The last thing I knew, the Fitzgeralds were still in the churchyard in Rockville. He descended through the Scott family of that area, as did the wife of John Surratt, Jr.

[Donna McCreary]

In a letter to Francis Bicknell Carpenter (Nov. 15, 1865), Mary wrote: "In the evening, his mind, was fixed upon having some relaxation & bent on the theater."
Perhaps someone remembered it was Mary who wished to go simply because the couple was running late, and Mary may have been the one who was trying to get AL out the door. Afterall, if Lincoln wanted to go and had made plans to go, it would be logical that his wife had to remind him to leave.
When the Lincolns returned from a carriage ride (between six and seven p.m.), they found Illinois Governor Richard J. Oglesby and other friends from their home state waiting for them at the White House. Lincoln relaxed while he spoke with his friends and read some of the writings of Thomas Nast. After a brief visit and a quick supper, the President and Mary were ready to see the play and enjoy the remainder of the evening.

[RJNorton]

After a brief visit and a quick supper, the President and Mary were ready to see the play and enjoy the remainder of the evening.

And then nearly all books say the Lincolns picked up Clara Harris and Henry Rathbone on their way to Ford's. But did they? For an interesting discussion of this please see forum member John Fazio's third article here.

[Jim Garrett]

The last thing I knew, the Fitzgeralds were still in the churchyard in Rockville. He descended through the Scott family of that area, as did the wife of John Surratt, Jr.

Bob Pumphrey of Pumphrey's funeral home, handled the Fitzgeralds. F. Scott was originally in Ca. He was brought east and both he and Zelda were put in the Union Cemetery in Rockville (final resting place of baseball great Walter Johnson). The Catholic church initially would not allow them to be buried on sacred ground but eventually relented. Bob handled the arrangements at Union and St. Mary's. Laurie, you are correct. St. Mary's in downtown Rockville at Rockville Pike and Viers Mill Rd.

[LincolnMan]

An item found while reading With Malice Toward Noneby Stephen Oates- concerning the evening of April 14th:

"Between six and seven they returned to the White House for dinner. Afterward Mary complained of a headache and may have changed her mind about attending the theater now. Lincoln was a little tired himself, but said he needed to "have a laugh over the country cousin" and didn't want to go to Ford's alone. Besides, he would get no rest if he remained in the White House-visitors would pester him all evening. Seeing how much he wanted to go out, Mary relented. And anyway she'd never "felt so unwilling to be away from him."

Amazing were all the "might have beens" that made up what led to the eventual outcome of that evening. If only Mary had insisted on staying home-or if only Lincoln was simply "too tired" to go-or a dozen other little decisions that were made by them and others...