Volume 7 , Issue 37

1858 - Dr. Wright Heard Lincoln Speak...

[taken from Renfrew's Record, January, 1920, Alva, Okla., concerning Dr. Wright.] -- The late Dr. Wright furnished the following reminiscences of Lincoln and other prominent men of that period for Renfrew's Record, Lincoln Centennial Number, February 12, 1909:
????? "I was one of a company of 100 mounted men who rode out of Lewiston, Illinois, acouple of miles to meet Lincoln when he was coming there in 1858, during the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Some of the young men climbed white oak trees on opposite sides of the road and stretched ropes across from which masses of flags and bunting were suspended, making an arch for Lincoln to pass under. Lincoln's carriage passed under the arch and he tried to stand up in his carriage to make us a talk. The top of the carriage was up and Lincoln being so tall, caused him to take such an awkward attitude that I thought he was one of the most ungainly figures I ever saw.
????? We then went into Lewiston and Lincoln spoke from a temporary platform against one of the stone columns on the court house porch. They did not debate here, Douglas having spoken the day before. I heard Douglas speech and also many of Lincoln's contemporaries; Colonel E. D. Baker, Judge David Davis, General Shilelds and others, and later I often heard Colonel Ingersoll. I belonged to the 15th Iowa, Vol. Infantry."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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