Extra Credit Questions

[Eva Elisabeth]

Somewhere on the circuit?

---

Or related to the Black Hawk War?

[Rob Wick]

I didn't see any prohibition in using the internet for research, so I found out this marks the land that Lincoln owned in Iowa that he received for fighting in the Black Hawk War.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Eva, you were on the right track, and Rob got it. Kudos, Rob.

[RJNorton]

Thank you to Rob for posting Abraham Lincoln's famous Thanksgiving Day Proclamation of October 3, 1863.

This was not Lincoln's only proclamation. In all, how many proclamations of prayer, fasting, or thanksgiving did Lincoln issue during his time in the White House?

[RJNorton]

This was a tough one, so I'll just give the answer.

The answer is 9.

SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Encyclopedia by Mark E. Neely, Jr.

[RJNorton]

Let's see if anyone can answer this correctly without any research (googling, using books, etc.).

A person arrived in Springfield on January 1, 1843. Lincoln Day-by-Day says the person "arrived Saturday and is today's sensation in Springfield."

Who was the person?

[Dennis Urban]

Andrew Jackson?? Just a wild guess.

[Rob Wick]

Joe Di Cola? Wait, Joe isn't quite that old.

Seriously, Ralph Waldo Emerson?

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Henry Clay - ?

[RJNorton]

Excellent guesses, gentlemen, but all are incorrect.

Hint #1: Most all American history textbooks would include this person's name and some information about him.

[David Lockmiller]

I believe that the answer to your question is Daniel Webster, but I am not absolutely certain.

I am not able to check Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote in order to confirm.

Therein was a story about a little boy asking an older man about what all the excitement was about in downtown Springfield. And, the man answered that the "biggest man in the country" was in town.

So, the little boy went down the street to see this person for himself.

A short time later, the little boy returned with a very disappointed look on his face.

The man asked why he was so sad. And, the boy responded that the person he saw "wasn't half as big as Ol' _______."

[RJNorton]

Excellent guess, David, but it's not Daniel Webster.

[David Lockmiller]

Excellent guess, David, but it's not Daniel Webster.

I thought that I would share the "wrong" answer.

"Great men, said Mr. Lincoln, "have various estimates. When Daniel Webster made his tour through the West years ago, he visited Springfield among other places, where great preparations had been made to receive him. As the procession was going through the town, a barefooted little darky boy pulled the sleeve of a man named T., and asked: 'What the folks were doing down the street?'

"'Why, Jack,' was the reply, 'the biggest man in the world is coming.'

"Now, there lived in Springfield a man by the name of G.-a very corpulent man. Jack darted off down the street, but presently returned, with a very disappointed air.

" 'Well, did you see him?' inquired T.

" 'Yes,' returned Jack; 'but laws-he ain't half as big as old G.' "

cited sources in Lincoln Talks at page 155: R. D. Wordsworth; J. B. McClure

[Rob Wick]

Was he involved in politics or some other field?

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Rob, he was certainly involved in politics, but IMO he was more well-known for his belief and dedication to something else.