Who is this person?

[RJNorton]

This trivia question is from Joe Di Cola. He sent me the photo to upload to my server.

Here is Joe's question:

Who is this? Hint: he had a role in an important event in Lincoln's life.

[Laurie Verge]

Minister who married Abraham and Mary?

[Joe Di Cola]

No, Laurie, it was not the Rev. Charles Dresser; however, you are in the right time period of Lincoln's life!

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Thanks for your help, Roger.

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(08-20-2012 12:30 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  This trivia question is from Joe Di Cola. He sent me the photo to upload to my server.

Here is Joe's question:

Who is this? Hint: he had a role in an important event in Lincoln's life.

Thanks, Roger -- Joe

[Craig Hipkins]

Is it Judge David Davis, Lincoln's old buddy on the circuit?

Craig

[Joe Di Cola]

No, Craig, but a good guess since the man in the photo is rather stocky. The photo shows this person later in life, years after he had a role in the important event in Lincoln's life.

[RJNorton]

Is it Judge Thomas C. Browne who had an outburst during Mary and Abraham's wedding ceremony? I have read that he was heavyset.

[Joe Di Cola]

Oh, and that outburst was very funny, too--but it was noit the judge. The one I am thinking of was present at the wedding.

[Gene C]

What outburst?

[RJNorton]

Joe, I think i have only seen a picture of a young James Matheny - never have seen him as an older man - but he's my next guess.

Gene-

During the Lincolns' wedding, standing behind Abraham during the ceremony, was heavyset Judge Thomas C. Browne of the Illinois Supreme Court. Browne was a blunt man not accustomed to weddings. As Abraham was putting the wedding ring on Mary's hand and repeating the words, "With this ring I thee endow with all my goods, chattels, lands, and tenements," Browne impatiently blurted out, "God Almighty, Lincoln, the statute fixes all that." After a brief delay following Browne's interruption, the ceremony was completed as rain poured outside.

[Joe Di Cola]

While Rev. Dresser was going through the rubrics of the marriage ceremony, the judge in question, perhaps anxious to get to some refreshments, shouted out "God almighty, Lincoln, the statute fixes all that!"

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Oops, I posted before I read! Thanks, Roger. And, Roger, you are right! It is an older James Matheny, Lincoln's best man at the wedding. The image is from a very old volume in my collection: MENARD SALEM LINCOLN SOUVENIR ALBUM (1893).

[RJNorton]

Wow, Joe, here's the only photo of him I had seen previously:

[Joe Di Cola]

Yes, Roger, that was about the only imafe I had ever seen of Matheny until I added the 1893 Menard album to my collection.

[RJNorton]

Joe, thanks for a wonderful question and for sharing a photo rarely seen.

I tried to find Matheny's description of the wedding, and I came across this in an 1888 letter he wrote:

"Marriages in Springfield up to that time had been rather commonplace affairs. Lincoln's was perhaps the first one ever performed with all the requirements of the Episcopal ceremony. A goodly number of friends had gathered, and while witnessing the ceremony one of the most amusing incidents imaginable occurred. No description on paper can do it justice. Among those present was Thomas C. Brown, one of the judges of the Supreme Court. He was in truth an” old-timer, “and had the virtue of saying just what he thought, without regard to place or surroundings. He had been on the bench for many years and was not less rough than quaint and curious. There was, of course, a perfect hush in the room as the ceremony progressed. Brown was standing just behind Lincoln. Old Parson Dresser, in canonical robes, with much and impressive solemnity recited the Episcopal service. He handed Lincoln the ring, who, placing it on the bride's finger, repeated the Church formula, ‘With this ring I thee endow with all my goods and chattels, lands and tenements.’ Brown, who had never witnessed such a proceeding, was struck with its utter absurdity. ‘God Almighty! Lincoln,’ he ejaculated, loud enough to be heard by all, ‘the statute fixes all that!’ This unlooked — for interruption almost upset the old parson; he had a keen sense of the ridiculous, and for the moment it seemed as if he would break down; but presently recovering his gravity, he hastily pronounced them husband and wife."

[Joe Di Cola]

Roger, thanks for sharing Matheny's memories of the wedding. I always love the Judge Brown episode, too!

[Laurie Verge]

OK, time to edumacate me: Was Mary Todd raised in the Episcopal faith since she was obviously married with an Episcopal ceremony? If so, why and when did the Lincolns "convert" to the Presbyterian church? While in the White House, they could have walked across the street to St. John's Episcopal Church (Church of the Presidents).