What did Mr. Lincoln enjoy doing?

[Gene C]

I find it interesting that history records the name of three of Mr. Lincoln's dogs (Jip, Honey and yours truly), but no mention of a cats name.
This doesn't answer your question, I just found the following interesting. At least the title was, I took a nap during the rest of it.
Please notice the sub title of the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2490933775001...1078438001

Fido

[RJNorton]

Abraham Lincoln fed the White House cat, Tabby, at the table using a gold fork. I do not recall reading that Fido ever was allowed to eat at the table in Springfield. I also have not read that Jip was allowed to eat at the table in the White House.

[Gene C]

I stand corrected.
What is the source for that?

You never tasted Mary's cooking. Some things didn't appeal to my sensitive palate.
As for Jip, he was a little weak on his table manners. When he was finished eating, he would lick his plate.

[RJNorton]

I stand corrected.
What is the source for that?

It's here in Michael Burlingame's Abraham Lincoln: A Life.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Lincoln did love and care about animals, as Eva said, but he seemed to have a special affinity for cats.

I agree, but I do have a question for anyone who might have an answer.
"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."
Has anyone ever seen a source for this quote?

Sorry, I have no answer, but there's an interesting article on:
http://www.mikehudak.com/Articles/Lincol...90930.html

[LincolnMan]

That is a very interesting article. Never pictured Lincoln eating a possum dinner. Have you ever seen a possum? Kind of scary they are. I know the popular idea is that possum is a southern dish, but my Tennessee folks never had it that I know of.

[Donna McCreary]

I have never eaten opossum, but I live down the way from a road called Opossum Trot. Do I get points for that?
I have dined on raccoon. It does not taste like chicken.

---

I find it interesting that history records the name of three of Mr. Lincoln's dogs (Jip, Honey and yours truly), but no mention of a cats name.
This doesn't answer your question, I just found the following interesting. At least the title was, I took a nap during the rest of it.
Please notice the sub title of the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2490933775001...1078438001

Fido

The Lincoln Home historian sent me a list of the Lincoln family pets and their names. Listed were the names for two of the female cats, but none of the males. I was somewhat surprised to learn the Lincolns kept chickens.

[Gene C]

I have never eaten opossum, but I live down the way from a road called Opossum Trot. Do I get points for that?

---

I find it interesting that history records the name of three of Mr. Lincoln's dogs (Jip, Honey and yours truly), but no mention of a cats name.
This doesn't answer your question, I just found the following interesting. At least the title was, I took a nap during the rest of it.
Please notice the sub title of the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2490933775001...1078438001

Fido

The Lincoln Home historian sent me a list of the Lincoln family pets and their names. Listed were the names for two of the female cats, but none of the males. I was somewhat surprised to learn the Lincolns kept chickens.

You get points from me, because not far from where I live is a small comminity called Possum Trot.

Based upon what you and Roger have mentioned, it's going to be a while before I let Fido post again.

[RJNorton]

Please don't be too harsh on poor Fido. I heard he's still in therapy because he wasn't allowed on the train to Washington. That broke his heart. Donna, can you recall the names of those two cats? Didn't the Lincolns have a cow, too? Did the cow have a name?

[LincolnMan]

I have never eaten opossum, but I live down the way from a road called Opossum Trot. Do I get points for that?
I have dined on raccoon. It does not taste like chicken.

---

I find it interesting that history records the name of three of Mr. Lincoln's dogs (Jip, Honey and yours truly), but no mention of a cats name.
This doesn't answer your question, I just found the following interesting. At least the title was, I took a nap during the rest of it.
Please notice the sub title of the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2490933775001...1078438001

Fido

Donna: yes, you certainly get points for that!

The Lincoln Home historian sent me a list of the Lincoln family pets and their names. Listed were the names for two of the female cats, but none of the males. I was somewhat surprised to learn the Lincolns kept chickens.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Donna, is it true they had a cow which Lincoln milked himself?

[Liz Rosenthal]

Just a note on Mr. Bennett: I am a member of the board of advisers for The Lincoln Forum and also served as such for the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. A number of years ago, Lerone Bennett was invited to be a presenter at the annual conference of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg. There had been some undercurrents from members of the Forum as to why he had been invited to speak, but it was felt that all sides of public thought on Lincoln deserved to be aired.

While I am not a proponent of Mr. Bennett, I will say that he was a dynamic (and often convincing) speaker and delivered his thoughts carefully for maximum effect. It was obvious that he had done his homework and could cite reasons for his statements. He had also anticipated audience reactions and questions that were likely to come up. He was prepared.

I doubt that he changed any opinions of Lincoln among the 300+ members of the audience, but he certainly did not come across as someone venting his spleen about being hoodwinked about Lincoln in his childhood.

Perhaps your spleen-venting radar was a little off.

Or maybe I'm just more tolerant of opposing views.

Now I think you're Funny Bone isn't working. Have you checked your Funny Bone's batteries lately?

[Donna McCreary]

My next book has a list of pets known to have been in the Lincolns' Springfield home and in Washington. The two female cats were Susan and Jane. Betsy was the cow that Lincoln milked when he was home.
I realize Betsy is a common name for a female cow, but I chuckle everytime I read it since it was also the name of Mary's step-mother.

---

I have never eaten opossum, but I live down the way from a road called Opossum Trot. Do I get points for that?

---

I find it interesting that history records the name of three of Mr. Lincoln's dogs (Jip, Honey and yours truly), but no mention of a cats name.
This doesn't answer your question, I just found the following interesting. At least the title was, I took a nap during the rest of it.
Please notice the sub title of the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2490933775001...1078438001

Fido

The Lincoln Home historian sent me a list of the Lincoln family pets and their names. Listed were the names for two of the female cats, but none of the males. I was somewhat surprised to learn the Lincolns kept chickens.

You get points from me, because not far from where I live is a small comminity called Possum Trot.

Based upon what you and Roger have mentioned, it's going to be a while before I let Fido post again.

I find it interesting that in my area the road is spelled "Opossum Trot" and in your area the community is spelled "Possum Trot."

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Donna. Here is a preliminary summary of the animals associated with the Lincolns:

Cats: Susan, Jane, and Tabby
Dogs: Honey, Fido, and Jip
Cow: Betsy
Horse: Old Bob
Turkey: Jack
Goats: Nanny and Nanko

There were other animals, such as Tad's pony, for which I have not seen the names.

Sorry, Fido, but my wife forced me to list the cats first...

[LincolnMan]

Roger, I was going to common to your assistance and point out that you alphabetized the list- and hence "cats" before "dogs" but you messed up with placing "turkeys" before "goats."