Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-16
LiNCoLN'S SHOEMAKER.
How Poor German Cobbicr Won
Sudien Fame and Eprtunp

How Poor German Cobbicr Won
Sudten Fame and Fortune.
Near the city OF Scranton, Pa, at the
outbreak OF the late rebellion, there
lived poor German shoemaker named
Peter Kahler. He had his own ideas
OF how q boot or shoe should be made
TO give the greatest comfort TO tho
wearer, which were far in advance of
his humble condition, but he lacked the
capital necessary to put his ideas into
the shoes, and the shoes before the
public, says the Sunday Post Dispatch.
Shortly after the election OF Abraham
Lincoln to the presidency, the press of
the country was full of the oddities Of
expression, witty sayings and peculiar
tiles of "Obe Abe"
Among the many publications Of that
time there appeared a diagram OF the
foot OF the president, coupled with tho
statement that the presidents foot was
so abnormally large and awkward of
build and covered with corns, bunions,
etc, that it seemed impossible for him
to get shoe which he could wear with
any degree of comfort. The statement
and tho accompanying diagram came
to the notice of the humble
country shoemaker, Peter Kahler,
and he set about the making
vi u plil vi SlOCS uCCOTulUS W HIS lutuS
OF comfort and TO tit the measurements
OF that diagram. In due course the
shoes we're completed and shipped to
Washington, ID. g., addressed to his ex-
cellency Abraham Lincoln, president
OF the United States. accompanied by Il
note signed by the rustic shoemaker,
stating under what circumstances the
shoes had been made, and hoping that
the president would accept the shoes as
a present from humble admirer and
for the good the maker felt sure they
would do him.
The shoes proved to be perfect fit
for the presidential pedal eXtrcmities,
and pleased his eXcellency very much.
Mr.. Lincoln lost no time in sending
Mr.. Kahler an autograph letter of
thanks, which the rustic deciple of st.
Crispin was shrowd enough to have
published. Tho publication of that
letter brought both fame and fortune to
MIR. Kahler. He soon after removed to
New York, where he became known as
the presidential bootmaker and was
patronized by the wealthy, whose car
riages were frequently to be seen in
front of his door. During the war
Kahler took government contract for
furnishing shoes for the army, intro
ducing the now celebrated broad-soed,
low-heeled shoe, known as the gov
ernment shoe.n He made considerable
money from his trade and the contract
and soon established the house of Kah-
Ter e. Son.
Up to the time of his death Mr.. Lin
coin bought all the shoes he wore of
Mr.. Kahler. During the last two years
OF his life Mr.. Kahler spent much of his
time at Harvey lake, the Indian name
of which is Skandara lake, the largest
body of fresh water in Pennsylvania,
and a popular summer resort. 1t was
while at Harvey's lake, in 1888, that
Mr.. Kahlcr conceived the scheme of
establishing what he called the "Kah-
Ter Sanitarlum." This scheme he
thought would bring him much wealth,
and In the fall Of that year he bought of
fifty acres for $4,000 and at once had
survey made, and the portion of the
farm bordering on the lake beautifully
laid out in winding streets and build
ing lots Finding that his land was
not 50 shaped that he could complete
his plans, ne wanted to buy the adjoin-
ing ground, known as the Lake Hotel"
property, owned by the estate of
Caroline Rhoads, deceased, for which
he offered $2O,O00 cash, the offer being
refused. In the spring of the present
year kahler removed ms family from
New York to his, Harvey's Lake farm.
hoping to benefit his health, which had
been failing, with the pure mountain
air. Being q chronic dyspeptic, he
suffered greatly until July last, when
he died. He sunk about $4,000 in his
"Sanitarium," and "Mountain Village"
schemes, but nevertheless left large
estate. He frequently related with
pride that he was Lincoln's shoemaker,
and the autograph letter he always car
ried with him.