Lincoln Part 91

150 "of such law": Ibid., p. 68.

150 held as contempt: WHH to Jesse W. Weik, Nov. 20, 1885, HWC.

150 "and defies deceit": "Cog," in Danville Illinois Citizen, May 29, 1850, photostat, David Davis MSS, Chicago Historical Society.

151 credibility was demolished: The fullest account of this celebrated trial is Duff, A. Lincoln, pp. 350359. So successful, and unexpected, was Lincoln's demolition of Allen's testimony that a story later gained circulation that Lincoln played a trick on the jury by reading from an 1856, rather than an 1857, almanac. The story was inherently improbable, because it was wholly out of character for Lincoln, who valued his reputation for integrity above all else, and it was vigorously denied by two members of the jury who examined the almanac during the trial-as did the judge and the prosecuting attorney. Astronomers have recently proved that there would have been no reason for Lincoln to subst.i.tute another almanac, since in 1857 at the time of the murder the moon was very low and near to setting. Donald W. Olson and Russell L. Doescher, "Lincoln and the Almanac Trial," Sky and Telescope 80 (Aug. 1990): 184188.

151 "find his superior": "Cog," in Danville Illinois Citizen, May 29, 1850, photostat, David Davis MSS, Chicago Historical Society.

151 Armstrong was acquitted: J. Henry Shaw to WHH, Aug. 22, 1866, and Sept. 5, 1866, copies in Lamon MSS, HEH.

151 "upon the mind": "Cog," in Danville Illinois Citizen, May 29, 1850, photostat, David Davis MSS, Chicago Historical Society.

151 remained with the court: By one calculation Lincoln in 1850 spent 125 days on the circuit (not including Sangamon County), with 26 additional days, largely on legal business, in Chicago; he was in Springfield only 190 days. In 1852 he was away from home, attending to business or traveling from one court to another, 156 days and was in Springfield 210 days. Richard F. Lufkin, "Mr. Lincoln's Light from Under a Bushel-1850," LH 52 (Dec. 1950): 5, and Lufkin, "Mr. Lincoln's Light from Under a Bushel-1852," LH 54 (Winter 1952): 9.

152 estate of $12,000: Wayne C. Temple, "Lincoln in the Census," LH 68 (Fall 1966): 139.

152 in failing health: Charles H. Coleman, Abraham Lincoln and Coles County, Illinois (New Brunswick, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1955), offers the fullest account of Thomas Lincoln's later years and doc.u.ments Lincoln's repeated financial a.s.sistance to his father.

152 in modest comfort: Too much has been made of the failure to invite Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln to their son's wedding. That ceremony was a hastily arranged, almost impromptu affair. Even the best man and the maid of honor were selected on the day of the wedding.

152 John D. Johnston: See Marilyn G. Ames, "Lincoln's Stepbrother: John D. Johnston," LH 82 (Spring 1980): 302311.

152 for so long: This correspondence is most readily accessible in Coleman, Abraham Lincoln in Coles County, pp. 7376. Thomas Lincoln's letter-his only extant letter-was written for him by John D. Johnston, who added an appeal of his own for an additional $80. Lincoln refused, on the ground that his stepbrother had the "habit of uselessly wasting time." "You are not lazy," he wrote, "and still you are an idler."

152 "to see you": John D. Johnston to AL, May 25, 1849, Lincoln MSS, LC.

152 "truly Heart-Rendering" cries: Augustus H. Chapman to AL, May 24, 1849, Lincoln MSS, LC.

153 "in a Short time": Augustus H. Chapman to AL, May 28, 1849, Lincoln MSS, LC.

153 with "baby-sickness": CW, 2:9697.

153 an uncomfortable decision: For Lincoln's schedule during his father's final days, see Lincoln Day by Day, 2:4647. Charles B. Strozier, Lincoln's Quest for Union: Public and Private Meanings (New York: Basic Books, 1982), pp. 5355, shows that Lincoln's excuses were not insurmountable.

153 "to join them": CW, 2:9697.

153 became seriously sick: Harry E. Pratt, "Little Eddie Lincoln-'We Miss Him Very Much,'" JISHS 47 (Autumn 1954): 300305.

153 no known cure: Wayne C. Temple, "Government Records as Historical Sources," Illinois Libraries 52 (Feb. 1970): 169170. For informed medical opinion, see Baker, Mary Todd Lincoln, pp. 125126.

153 "him very much": CW, 2:77.

154 "to our loss": Mary Lincoln to "My Dear Friend," July 23, 1853, photostat, ISHL.

154 "a womanly nature": Randall, Mary Lincoln, p. 148.

154 was gradually changing: John W. Starr, Jr., Lincoln & the Railroads (New York: Arno Press, 1981), offers good general treatment of Lincoln's railroad cases.