Lincoln's First Dog

[RJNorton]

On Monday morning, March 8, 1830, during the Lincolns' move from Indiana to Illinois, at Vincennes they headed for Haines' ferry, drove the caravan onto the ferry, and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois. Here, the Lincolns' dog jumped overboard, landed on a thin sheet of ice, was about to drown, but Abraham, seeing the crisis, jumped into the icy water and saved the dog's life.

What was the dog's name?

[Gene C]

I'll try famous dog's for $1, Roger

Who was "Honey"?

[Joe Di Cola]

On Monday morning, March 8, 1830, during the Lincolns' move from Indiana to Illinois, at Vincennes they headed for Haines' ferry, drove the caravan onto the ferry, and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois. Here, the Lincolns' dog jumped overboard, landed on a thin sheet of ice, was about to drown, but Abraham, seeing the crisis, jumped into the icy water and saved the dog's life.

What was the dog's name?

I give up, Roger,

After consulting Louis Warren (the best(?) source on the Indiana years and looking over Tarbell's Early Life of Lincoln, I can find no name for the dog. In fact, the dog incident is not mentioned by either. Is this another Sandburg invention (vol. 1, p. 104 --The Prairie Years--also no name mentioned)?

[RJNorton]

I'll try famous dog's for $1, Roger

Who was "Honey"?

You got it, Gene. The money's in the mail.

[RJNorton]

On Monday morning, March 8, 1830, during the Lincolns' move from Indiana to Illinois, at Vincennes they headed for Haines' ferry, drove the caravan onto the ferry, and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois. Here, the Lincolns' dog jumped overboard, landed on a thin sheet of ice, was about to drown, but Abraham, seeing the crisis, jumped into the icy water and saved the dog's life.

What was the dog's name?

I give up, Roger,

After consulting Louis Warren (the best(?) source on the Indiana years and looking over Tarbell's Early Life of Lincoln, I can find no name for the dog. In fact, the dog incident is not mentioned by either. Is this another Sandburg invention (vol. 1, p. 104 --The Prairie Years--also no name mentioned)?

Joe, do you have a copy of "Lincoln's Boyhood" by Francis Marion Van Natter? If so, go to p. 159. The story is on that page.

[Joe Di Cola]

On Monday morning, March 8, 1830, during the Lincolns' move from Indiana to Illinois, at Vincennes they headed for Haines' ferry, drove the caravan onto the ferry, and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois. Here, the Lincolns' dog jumped overboard, landed on a thin sheet of ice, was about to drown, but Abraham, seeing the crisis, jumped into the icy water and saved the dog's life.

What was the dog's name?

I give up, Roger,

After consulting Louis Warren (the best(?) source on the Indiana years and looking over Tarbell's Early Life of Lincoln, I can find no name for the dog. In fact, the dog incident is not mentioned by either. Is this another Sandburg invention (vol. 1, p. 104 --The Prairie Years--also no name mentioned)?

Joe, do you have a copy of "Lincoln's Boyhood" by Francis Marion Van Natter? If so, go to p. 159. The story is on that page.

Thanks, Roger,

I figured, since you brought it up, it had to be in some source--unfortunately one I do not own--HaHa.

[Joe Di Cola]

On Monday morning, March 8, 1830, during the Lincolns' move from Indiana to Illinois, at Vincennes they headed for Haines' ferry, drove the caravan onto the ferry, and crossed the Wabash River into Illinois. Here, the Lincolns' dog jumped overboard, landed on a thin sheet of ice, was about to drown, but Abraham, seeing the crisis, jumped into the icy water and saved the dog's life.

What was the dog's name?

I give up, Roger,

After consulting Louis Warren (the best(?) source on the Indiana years and looking over Tarbell's Early Life of Lincoln, I can find no name for the dog. In fact, the dog incident is not mentioned by either. Is this another Sandburg invention (vol. 1, p. 104 --The Prairie Years--also no name mentioned)?

Joe, do you have a copy of "Lincoln's Boyhood" by Francis Marion Van Natter? If so, go to p. 159. The story is on that page.

Thanks, Roger,

I figured, since you brought it up, it had to be in some source--unfortunately one I do not own--HaHa.

I neglected to consult Herndon where the dog story is found as a postscript at the end of Ch 3, vol. 1, but still with no name. My apologies to Carl Sandburg who evidently did not make this one up.

[LincolnMan]

It's also a curious story in that Lincoln was possibly a non-swimmer? In the the we called them "rocks." if that is true, Lincoln's affection for the mutt outweighed his own safety needs. Even if he could swim that was risky. Then again-how deep was the water?

[Gene C]

I don't know how deep the water was, but it was deeper for the dog than it was for Abraham. And if the ice was to thin to support the weight of the dog, it would not support Abraham either. It's almost imposible to tell how fast the current is moving under the ice. It's very dangerous.......just my perspective......Fido

[LincolnMan]

Fido: appreciate your perspective. Wonder if young Abraham could at least "doggy-paddle?"