Extra Credit Questions

[RJNorton]

No googling please.

What Lincoln-related event happened in this house?

[mbgross]

Don't recognize it. Interested to find out. A stab in the dark, is it where Lincoln's granddaughter got married by a justice of the peace?

[AussieMick]

The house in which Henry Rathbone shot his wife ?

(Not so much a stab in the dark by me as a pin pointed into a black hole)

[Juan Marrero]

Another stab in the dark: the asylum in Illinois where Mary Lincoln was a resident for a few months.

[RJNorton]

Wow, what wonderful guesses, but I am sorry to report none is correct.

[RJNorton]

Hint #1: The house in the question is not in Illinois.

[RJNorton]

Hint #2: The event involves a person who only makes the history books for one thing. The person has been previously mentioned on this forum.

[Anita]

Was the event before or after Lincoln became president?

[RJNorton]

It happened shortly before he was elected President.

[Gene C]

(05-27-2023 04:48 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hint #2: The event involves a person who only makes the history books for one thing. The person has been previously mentioned on this forum.

There you have it.
Q. Want to make it to the history books?
A. Be mentioned on this forum.

[Juan Marrero]

Grace Bedell's home in New York?

[RJNorton]

Yes, Juan! Kudos! It is indeed the home of Grace Bedell. Grace, an 11-year-old girl from Westfield, New York, wrote the letter that urged Lincoln to grow a beard.

Unedited, Miss Bedell's letter of October 15th, 1860, read:

Hon A B Lincoln...

Dear Sir
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin's. I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brother's and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husband's to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try to get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter direct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chatauque County New York

I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye

Grace Bedell

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lincoln responded on October 19th. His letter to Grace Bedell read:

Private

Miss Grace Bedell

My dear little Miss

Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received - I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters - I have three sons - one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age - They, with their mother, constitute my whole family - As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now?

Your very sincere well wisher
A. Lincoln

[RJNorton]

No googling please.

Something of note happened in this building. Where was it located, and what was the event?

[Rob Wick]

Is that the building in Bloomington, Illinois, where Lincoln gave his "lost speech?"

Best
Rob

[mbgross]

Springfield telegraph office, Lincoln hears word of his election to the presidency.