Mrs. Lincoln: A Life

[Eva Elisabeth]

...by Catherine Clinton is one book I'm currently enjoy reading - a quite "entertaining" outline with some points, aspects and angles that were new to me. I'd probably less suggest it to a "beginner" with zero "basic" knowledge on Mary Lincoln and her life (as I wouldn't have gotten certain references/statements/etc. then), nor to someone looking for the one-and-only universal bio. This is, of course, my very personal opinion and preference, others might sure disagree. However, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in "more" on Mary Lincoln from a further point of view.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0060760419...ot_redir=1

[RJNorton]

Eva, you said that very well. In my opinion it's not the definitive biography of Mary, but it's a good read nevertheless. I have mentioned before that it's the only book I have that says Abraham Lincoln was armed at Ford's Theatre. (Eva - see p. 314 - "Abraham Lincoln himself was carrying a pistol on the night he died.") I hope some day in the near future research on this possibility will be published and the truth be known.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Roger! As for the gun she only refers to "Louise Taper reminding me of this". (???) Very strange.

In none of the books on Mary I've read her siblings are listed in a way that (to me) provided a good overview, so I once put this (upgradable) list together. I post it here in case someone else is interested in. Any additional info/input is welcome!

Father: Robert Smith Todd (Feb. 25, 1791 - Jul.16, 1849 of cholera)
Mother: Eliza Parker Todd (b. circa 1794, married Nov. 26, 1812, died Jul.6, 1825 at childbirth)
Sister: Elizabeth Parker Todd Edwards (b. 18-Nov.18, 1813 - Feb.22, 1888)
Sister: Frances "Fanny" Jane Todd Wallace (Mar.7, 1815 - Aug.14, 1899)
Brother: Levi Oldham Todd (25-Jun.25, 1817 - Jul.18, 1864)
Sister: Ann Marie Todd Smith (born 1824, died Mar.21, 1891)
Brother: Robert Parker Todd (b. ca. 1820, died Jul. 1822)
Brother: George Rogers Clark Todd (physician, born Jul. 1825, died 1902)

Stepmother: Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys (born ca.1800, married Nov.1, 1826, died 1874)
Stepbrother: Robert Humphreys Todd (b. 1827, d. 1827)
Stepsister: Margaret Todd Kellogg (Dec.14, 1828 - Mar.13, 1904)
Stepbrother: Samuel Brown Todd (Confederate soldier, Mar.25, 1830 - Apr.7, 1862 in CW)
Stepbrother: David Humphreys Todd (prison warden, Mar.25, 1832, died Aug. 1871)
Stepsister: Martha Todd White (Jun.9,1833 - Jul.9, 1868)
Stepsister: Emilie Pariet Todd Helm (Nov.11, 1836 - Feb.20, 1930)
Stepbrother: Alexander Humphreys "Aleck" Todd (Confederate soldier, Feb.18. 1839 - Aug.5, 1862 in CW)
Stepsister: Elodie Breck "Jane" Todd Dawson (?)
Stepsister: Katharine "Kitty" Bodley Todd Herr (Oct.7, 1841 - Apr.17, 1875)

Through her stepmother, Mary was distantly related to John C. Breckinridge.

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Eva! In some source (cannot remember where) I read that Mary was curious regarding whether or not she was related to John F. Parker, the White House policeman. I do not think I have ever seen a definitive answer on this.

[STS Lincolnite]

I have mentioned before that it's the only book I have that says Abraham Lincoln was armed at Ford's Theatre. (Eva - see p. 314 - "Abraham Lincoln himself was carrying a pistol on the night he died.")

What!? I have NEVER heard this before. What was Ms. Clinton's primary source corroboration for this (and who is Louise Tamper) and if true, what happened to the pistol? Strange is right Eva.

[RJNorton]

Louise Taper is in Wikipedia here. I know of at least one other person researching this, but the last time I talked to him he was not yet ready to publish his findings. However, he is convinced Lincoln was indeed armed at Ford's.

[STS Lincolnite]

Louise Taper is in Wikipedia here. I know of at least one other person researching this, but the last time I talked to him he was not yet ready to publish his findings. However, he is convinced Lincoln was indeed armed at Ford's.

Ahh...Taper. I do know her. I got confused by a typo that had "Tamper". Still, I was not familiar with the idea that Lincoln was armed on the night of the assassination (though when being snuck up on from behind and shot in the back of the head I suppose it makes no difference if you are armed or not). I will interested to read about this when published (hopefully soon!)

This theory does bring a couple of other questions to my mind:
Did Lincoln typically care a firearm?
Did Hay/Nicolay (or anyone else for that matter) ever write/discuss him carrying a firearm?
If he did not typically carry a firearm, why did he carry one on April 14, 1865?

Roger, I know you mentioned this in another thread but I have not come across that thread yet in my back reading. I apologize if all this a has been previously discussed.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sorry for the typo! And thanks for the link, Roger! Can't remember ever reading Lincoln carried a firearm.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Lamon was one of the ones who pressed Lincoln the most to improve his security.According to A. Pinkerton, on the Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington leg of the inaugration trip, W. Lamon offered A. Lincoln a pistol and bowie knife, but “I [Pinkerton] at once protested saying that I would not for the world have it said that Mr. Lincoln had to enter the National Capital armed.”

[LincolnToddFan]

Sorry for the typo! And thanks for the link, Roger! Can't remember ever reading Lincoln carried a firearm.

Hi Eva E-

I have only ever skimmed the Clinton book, I've never read it. Thanks for the info!

As for AL packing heat at Ford's I have never, ever heard or read such a thing. Frankly I cannot even imagine it. I think if such an ironic thing were true, it somehow would have seeped out in the aftermath of the tragedy.

[RJNorton]

Hi Toia. I do not know if it is true or not. I can think of a couple mentions of weapons. On June 9, 1863, Lincoln telegraphed Mary, "Think you better put Tad's' pistol away. I had an ugly dream about him." Assuming she did so, what happened to it? Also, of Mary Lincoln in the 1870's, Jason Emerson wrote, "And she started carrying a pistol." Was this the same pistol that was taken away from Tad? Could Lincoln have been carrying it when he attended the play at Ford's? Was it hidden away in Mary's trunks? What happened to it and where is it now? Lots of questions for which I have no answers.

[Donna McCreary]

Onc correction to the list of siblings -- Levi died in October of 1864 - not July. He wrote a letter to Lincoln in September of that year asking for money. In October, Emilie wrote her famous "minnie ball" letter to Lincoln in which she stated that Levi had just died.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks for the correct info, Donna. Strangely July 18 is "online" everywhere, I think I found the date here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi...d=79761722
The site also states about his death: "At the time of his death Levi & his wife were separated & had filed for divorce. He died at the Broadway Hotel in Lexington."

I wonder how it comes that such an exact date is given (by day and month). No doubt that he couldn't have written a letter in September on the basis of this date...

[Donna McCreary]

In the files of the Kentucky Historical Society, there is a note stating Levi died at the Broadway Hotel and was buried ____ (missing word) his father's house."
The note is dated July 18th but there is no year.

The last known letter Levi wrote to Lincoln was dated September 12, 1864.

Apparently, someone did some hasity research, published the incorrect date, and another Todd family myth was born. The problem is that we can not seem to get rid of the myths.
Somewhere in my files is a copy of Levi's obit from the Lexington newspaper -- but I can't find it at the moment.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, Donna, that is an amazing explanation and does make sense!!!