Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-29
Robert Todd Lincoln.


and only surviving son of the martyred
President. Mr.. Lincoln was born
August IL, 1S43, in Springfield, Illinois.
His parents at that time owned no
home, and he first saw the light OF day
in Globe Tavern, famous old-time
hostelry, where his parents boarded.
When Robert was about year old the
family moved into the house which
continued to be their home until the
father became President of the United
States. Robert went to school at
Springfield, and after getting through
his primary studies, was sent to Illi-
nois State University. He went East
in 1859, and in 1860 entered the Phil
lips Academy of Exeter. After brief
attendance ut this school he was ad-
mitted to Harvard University as menu
oe' - the class of ga. Graduating in
que time, Ito uttered tho Ian. e.l.~-i &c
the University, from which he retired
after brief stay to accept commits
sion as captain Of the United States
army and Assistant Adjutant General
on the staff Of General Grant. This
modest rank the son OF the President
himself suggested, as he did not desire
TO rank any Of the officers then on
Grants staff. He witnessed the fall of
Petersburg and the pursuit and Cap
ture of Lees army. After Petersburg
was evacuated he was sent back with
an escort to bring his father, the Presi-
dent, up to the front. He was at Apo
matox and witnessed the surrender of
Lee. The next day he started with
General Grant for City Point. The
railroads were destroyed and the roads
very bad, SO that the party made slow
progress. Arriving at the James river
they took a steamer for Washington
and reached that city April 14th, the
day of the assassination. Robert made
haste To reach the White House, and
was the first to give the President per-
sonal news OF the surrender of the
Confederate army. The murder of his
father threw on young Lincoln the re-
sponsibility'f the management Of the
affairs OF the family. After the funeral
he left Washington with his mother,
without waiting to witness the grand
review, and hastened to Chicago, where
he was admitted to the bar in 1867.
He was an elector ON the Republican
ticket Of Illinois aud was appointed
trustee OF the Illinois Central Rail-
road by the Governor. He was at
Springfield, in the office Of Governor
Cullom in 1881 when he received the
news Of his selection rs Secretary Of
War. There had been correspond
ence between Garfield and him on the
subject and the information WAS con-
veyed to him in a letter containing
less than dozen words besides the
address and signature. 1t read as
follows: al PROPOSE, il you consent,
to nominate you for Secretary OF
War;" Mr.. Lincoln was naturally
astonished ut the communication
His first impulse was to decline the
honor. He was entirely contented
and happy in his life and work as a
lawyeran dreaded to break it up and
enter an untried field. He hardly
felt at liberty to decline, however, be-
cause the Cabinet was to be an
nounced in day or two and he knew
that for him to refuse the position
would be to disarrange the whole plan
of the President He determined to
sleep on the question one night and
the next morning he telegraphed
his acceptance. His administration
OF the War Department was eminent
ly successful. He remained in Office
through the Arthur administration.
He was married in 1868 to Mary
Harlan, daughter of Ex-senator
Harlan, of Iowa. He has three chill
dren, girl born in 1869, boy in
1873 and girl in 1875.