973- 7L63 E5Cl432a cop, i -2 The Abraham Lincoln Exhib- it- Group, Century of Pro- gress, Chicago, ! 953-1933. LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY MEMORIAL the Class of 1901 founded by HARLAN HOYT HORNER and HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER The Abraham Lincoln Exhibit Group Century of Progress 1833 to 1933 Chicago Price 25c LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY MEMORIAL the Class of 1901 founded by HARLAN HOYT HORNER and HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER Re-enacting High- Lights in Life of the Great Emancipator Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 ABRAHAM LINCOLN Preceptor of a Century of Progress A LMOST a century and a quarter has passed since the birth of Abraham Lincoln. These years have witnessed the ascent of "honest Abe*', rail-splitter and circuit-riding lawyer, Con- gressman and War President from a secluded Ken- tucky log cabin to an immortal and consecrated place in the annals of the Republic. This is entirely fitting, for without the Great Emancipator and an undissolved Union it is a question whether or not we would be enjoying a Century of Progress Exposition to-day. Without the splendid administration of President Lincoln would our country have become a world power — or a pair of minor republics? Historians can discuss this: but the fame of ""honest Abe" is secure. So it is singularly appropriate that this great Exposition celebrating a century of America's progress, should commemorate Abraham Lincoln by reestablishing some of those buildings that fig- ured prominently in his career. While Chicago cannot claim him as a native son, Illinois was his home state and then Chicago was, after all, sort of an Austerlitz where political vic- tory in the form of the Republican nomination was conferred upon him in 1860. Also, as an interesting association, Chicago was the home and burial-place of Lincoln's doughty antagonist, Stephen A. Douglas, who lies buried under a monument only a short distance from the present exhibit ( at 35th Street and the Illinois Central tracks) . The re-established buildings are as closely au- thentic, structurally and historically, as possible. They are exact replicas (with one or two excep- tions) of original Lincoln buildings still standing. The log cabins are old ones which have been brought up from the Lincoln country downstate. They all date back to the early part of Lincoln's life and are precisely like those Lincoln lived in during his youth. The Rutledge tavern departs somewhat from the original at New Salem and the Wigwam is, of necessity, smaller than the original building; in appearance, however, it is identical. LINCOLN S BIRTHPLACE NEAR HODGENSVILLE, KENTUCKY BUILDINGS mark strides in Lincoln s career THIS, the first building in the Lincoln exhibit, is an exact reproduction of the log cabin still standing near Hodgenville, Ky., in which Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12th, 1809. It is chiefly remarkable for its size — or lack of size. Inside there is scarcely room to change your mind, and the modern cosmopolite can hardly con- ceive of living in such a congested space. But back in those rough-and-tumble frontier days no one — much less a man of the soil like Thomas Lincoln, allowed himself to be mollycoddled. Thomas Lincoln was the father of Abraham Lincoln and was the son of an early settler who came to the "dark and bloody" ground of Kentucky with Dan- iel Boone. While Abraham Lincoln was still a baby his family moved to another cabin in the vicinity where thev were to stay until Abe was seven years old. From the very beginning Lincoln knew the stern discipline and back-breaking toil of the wilder- ness. Even hardly more than a baby countless chores were assigned to him that toughened his sinews and his sense of responsibility. No pam- pering for him though he was only a youngster. But with all of this, his early education despite romantic myths to the contrary, was not entirely neglected. For there were footloose privat-docents and men- dicant pedagogues wandering about the backwoods who lingered here and there when subscriptions and tuition fees were offered to them and who sometimes established temporary schools for back- woods children. Two of these, a Trappist named Zachariah Riney and a Caleb Hazel were the first to initiate young Lincoln in the razzle-dazzle of book larnin'. There is no record of young Abes showing un- usual precosity in these exercises and most likely he was the typical American Barefoot Boy more interested in swimming, playing injun and getting into mischief than tarrying in the academic groves. Probably whenever he got the chance he was cultivating that cpiality — quite marked later in life, that Stevenson called "a large and genial idleness." INDIANA CABIN NEAR GENTRYVILLE, INDIANA Reproduction from old print INDIANA LOG CABIN Matrix of an immortal Thomas Lincoln had itching soles. He was a horizon-chaser like all frontiersmen and empire- huilders. Thomas Lincoln liked to blaze the trail and show the way for others; liked to fight toe-to- toe with hostile nature, but once the fight was fairly well won and security assured he somehow seemed to lose interest and was ready to move on. So in 1816 the Lincoln family packed their be- longings in their plain wagon and struck out north- ward toward the Indiana Territory. They crossed the Ohio river and finally settled, some distance back of the river, near the present town of Gentry- ville. Here another log cabin was erected and an ex- tensive clearing made in the virgin forest. Young Abe worked at this with a will and soon became amazingly adept at tree-felling. And by now, as the new homestead settled down to a farm-routine, he was old enough to assist in the real man's work. He learned to plow, seed and harvest. He could swing a "gad" and handle a team with the best of them and frequently drove through the rough forest paths to the mill, the store and the river landing or from the woods with a heavy draft. In the meantime he continued an irregular edu- cation under local private teachers. One of these was Andrew Crawford who, as the story has it. loaned Lincoln his copy of Weems Life of Wash- ington which Lincoln left in the window one day where it was ruined by a rainstorm. In settlement Lincoln hauled fodder two days for Mr. Crawford. All of which is a nice story and at least proves that books were more highly esteemed in those days than they are to-day. Living near the Ohio river gave Lincoln his first real glimpse of the outside world. The horizons on the river, the waters eddying to strange places, must have held a touch of drama for young Lin- coln. There were colorful people here, new im- pressions, foils for his insistent curiosity that were a liberal education in themselves. And, indeed, he now grew rapidly both mentally and physically. Before long he had made a reputation for him- self with his muscular prowess and swift dexterity with what we now term the "wise-crack." His wit, which was later to hamstring more sophisticated statesmen, came from a natural intelligence quick- ened by early contact with this vital, untamed river life. He could sense the hurdy-gurdy life outside the wilderness in the rushing river waters, the boats from above and below, the explosive chinwagging of river characters. During the thirteen years in Indiana Lincoln had grown to a height of six feet three, very lanky but made of "cat-gut, raw-hide and whipcord, and able to "lick his weight in wild cats." There were few youths to dispute his physical or mental su- premacy. He was still relatively uneducated but the Lincoln genius had but little concern with mere books. NEW SALEM STORE NEW SALEM STORE A Business and Political Job The nomadic Lincolns came to Illinois in 1830 and settled on a farm along the Sangamon river, about ten miles from Decatur. Here were the mak- ings of a luxurious farm, with the rich bottom lands and all, so Thomas Lincoln and Abe assisted by John Hanks, a distant relation of the first Mrs. Lincoln, set to work on it. It was here that Lincoln won undying fame as a rail-splitter; according to John Hanks, Abe split almost three thousand rails for use as fence posts to mark off the new home- stead. But for some reason or other, prosperous as this new home seemed to be, Thomas Lincoln moved on within a vear. In the spring of 1831 he set out for Coles County, sixty or seventy miles eastward on the upper waters of the Kaskaskia and Embar- rass. But young Abe stayed behind; new vistas were opening to him; there was more in the world than he had ever suspected. It was not long before a gentleman turned up who wanted hands for a flat-boat he was taking to New Orleans. This gentleman was favorably im- pressed with Lincoln and offered him a job which Abe was not slow in accepting. This jaunt to New Orleans was still another eye- opener to young Lincoln. The picturesque and dramatic city in the Delta stirred all his latent am- bitions and upon the return to New Salem Abe was ready to enter a new phase of his life. His flat-boat employer opened a store in New Salem and hired Lincoln as clerk; and it was while he was in this tiny little river-bank store that Lincoln steps from the shadows and begins to take definite form. Many pleasant legends and anecdotes linger about this period of Lincoln's life. We learn that he was an expert wrestler, a sparkling wit, amusing story-teller and an all 'round good fellow. At first a gang of New Salem hoodlums called the Clary Grove Boys wanted to badger the new- comer but one day Lincoln took on their champion in a catch-as-catch-can wrestling match and routed him ignominiously. Whereupon the Clary Grove Boys gave three fraternal cheers for Abe and ac- cepted him as "one of the gang." Later in the year Lincoln was appointed post- master in New Salem but the pay was so beggarly that he was at times near despondency. During his leisure hours he studied surveying from a bat- tered text-book on the subject, and this knowledge he was able to put to good use later on. 11 LIBRARY "^ .. UNIVERSITY 0F ILIWOtS THE WIGWAM Reproduction from u photograph of I860 1831-60 The Laurels Come Now Lincoln was quite thoroughly divorced from his backwoods and farm experiences — men- tally at least; his appearance was still angular and uncouth for all the splendid qualities it concealed, and he still wore homespun Kentucky jeans. But fashion-plates were not needed in New Salem at that time and Abe's liberality, humor, honesty and wit were winning new friends for him every day. At this time he stepped out of civilian life to campaign some months in pursuit of the war- painted Black Hawk. His comrades elected him a Captain and, when the belligerent Sacs and Pot- tawotamies were finally quelled, Lincoln returned to New Salem a personage indeed. He was immediately named as candidate for the state Legislature but his political allegiance to Henry Clay in a locality solid for Andrew Jackson was fatal to this maiden effort. But in 1834 his personal popularity had become so great that notwithstanding party affiliations, he was sent to the Legislature where he was to serve four consecutive terms until 1842. The much rhapsodized romance with Anne Rut- ledge took place during these last New Salem days. Anne Rutledge was a daughter of the New Salem Inn keeper and died in 1835. During the years in the Legislature Lincoln's political influence gradually spread throughout the State until he became the recognized leader of the Illinois Whig party and was referred to as the "Sangamon Chief." It was Lincoln's friend John T. Stuart who per- suaded him to study law and in 1836 Lincoln was licensed to practice. In 1837 he moved to Springfield and in 1842 married Mary Todd by whom he had four chil- dren. In 1847 came a term in Congress, and after that five years of quiet law practice in and about Springfield (1849-54). He was instrumental in organizing the Repub- lican party which formallv adopted its platform in 1856. In 1857 Lincoln made a dramatic speech in Springfield, replying to a speech two weeks before by Stephen A. Douglas, in which the "Little Giant" had endorsed the Lecompton Constitution. This speech by Lincoln was brilliant and well- timed, squarely facing the Slavery Question, and was directly responsible for the seven joint de- bates with Douglas the following year which brought Lincoln's name to national prominence. 13 INTERIOR OF "WIGWAM" IN 1860 Although Douglas was returned to the Senate Lincoln was "made" politically, and two years later (1860) was a Republican candidate for the Presidency at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. THE WIGWAM Lincoln is Nominated The original Wigwam stood at the corner of Lake and Market Streets and was a hastily-built clapboard tabernacle considerably larger than the replica shown in this exhibit. On May 12th, 1860, twelve thousand goggling, panting and excited Republicans thronged inside to select the party nominee. It was an emotional stampede. Men and women yelled, cheered and pounded. Red, white and blue bunting was wound about every pillar and post in the building. Star spangled decorations everywhere; flags, banners, badges, screaming slogans. The Republican party was new and unbaptised; the world was watching on; its candidate must be a paragon. There could be no mistake about that. The country faced a serious situation. Question: would they select the suave, veteran New York politician William Seward or the ex- circuit riding lawyer from downstate — the strange, elongated Abraham Lincoln? When an expectant lull fell on the jamboree a throaty announcer proclaimed the names of the candidates. William H. Seward, New York; Abraham Lin- coln, Illinois; William L. Dayton, New Jersey; Simon Cameron, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and John McLean. Seven names in all. Seward and Lincoln were the popular favorites. On the first ballot Mr. Seward received 173 votes, Mr. Lincoln 102, Mr. Cameron 50, Mr. Chase 49, Mr. Bates 43, Mr. Dayton 14, Mr. McLean 12 and 16 votes were scattered. On the second ballot Lincoln drew up almost even and on the third received the necessary ma- jority when several Ohio delegates went over to him to avert a deadlock. Thus was the miracle achieved. The nomination meant the Presidency, for Lincoln won in a land- slide the general election some months later. It was a miracle, all of it. Lincoln's spectacular rise from log cabin to the Presidency; above all his selection as executive just at this critical time in our history when only the wisest counsel and the most unflinching courage could hope to un- tangle a social and economic snarl unprecedented in the annals of the nation. 15 EXHIBITS INSIDE THE WIGWAM No attempt has been made to reproduce the in- terior of the Wigwam as it actually appeared in 1860. In the original building the space was so broken up with balconies, platforms and stanch- ions that it would be inconvenient for present pur- poses. In the southeastern corner of the Wigwam is a replica of the parlor from Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, 111., which has been carefully reestablished, with appointments typically Victor- ian. In connection with this room is much Lincoln matter in the form of lithographs, letters, pictures, documents, broadsides, photographs and other me- mentoes. This is the room in which Lincoln received news of his nomination. Also, a large collection of Chicagoana with many unduplicated items. All phases of the social, political and economic history of Chicago from earliest days are represented. Next to the Lake is the Anne Rutledge Tavern, constructed of old logs, with an hospitable, pioneer interior where refreshments are served. Along the east wall of the Wigwam is an inter- esting assemblage of American antiques represent- ing many periods. It includes furniture, glass, china, pewter, litho- graphs, iron, utensils, paintings, fabrics and other articles. The builder wishes to acknowledge aid of the following for their sincere work in helping to create the Lincoln Memorial Group. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Fort Wayne, Indiana Dr. L. A. Warren, Fort Wayne, Indiana A. Fletcher Marsh, Chicago Ho-Ho Shop, Chicago Carl Nilsson, Chicago W. H. S. Lloyd Co., Chicago L. A. Dicke 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank the members of the Miami County Historical Society of Peru, Indiana, for the loan of their Lincoln relics Donor Rose E. Gallehan Martha J. Wright Chas. Statesman W. H. MeGrew Margaret and Martha M tllov, Mrs. Mary Young Alhert Ault Mrs. H. E. Nestleroad Chas. Gerhart James P. Binkerd William Austin William H. Bish (Caroline Phelps Hal C. Phelps Lee Coppock Emil Schram Cora Mahley Miss Anna B. Rose Ulysses Shaf'er Corwin W. Harding Hal Maus Upton Friend Edgar Lewis Mrs. Ira Eikenberry C. D. Clingaman Pleasant Bell Frank Wilson Joseph Marhurger Cecil Jordan, M.l). Donor Rex Earlywine Joseph W. Tillett Ralph Nickelson S. M. Charters Samantha Wiese (Mrs.) Hal Henton Glen Shively Frances Kling (Mrs.) Ora E. Mote Samuel P. Ellars Charles Schilling Charles Miller Lewis Gustin Michael Murphy J. M. Endicott W. H. Bailey Noah Coppe William Stuher Henry S. Hammer Pearl M. File Elmer Fite Ulysses R. Marlow Eli Bunton Amelia Spacht Alhert Rassner Earl Collins John and Eliza Ault George Church Andrew Porter Donor L. S. E. Edwards George Eby John Fisher Joseph Stehelton L. S. E. Edwards Truman J. Hartzler Mrs. A. J. Hunter Marion L. Myers William C. Beecher Frances M. Clark Alhert Wright Mr. Carfrae Joseph Stehelton George Ehy James Miller Clarence A-.penwald Ford Wallick George Ehy Chas. Mullican William Kling Eikenherry Charles Keener Walter W. Childers Hal C. Phelps Mrs. Samantha Wiese Alhert P. Lucas Victor Whittenhurger C. C. Fike 17 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 973 7L63E5C432A C001 THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN EXHIBIT GROUP. CENTU 3 0112 031813725 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 973 7L63E5C432A C002 THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN EXHIBIT GROUP, CENTU 3 0112 031813733