The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-21
FATHER OF THE GREENBACK.
Death of the Man Who Made the Sug
pestIon To Lincoln

Death of the Man Who Made the Sue-
gestion to Lincoln.
There was recently buried at Chicago one
of Americas most notable characters,
Colonel Edmond Dick Taylor, the man to
whom President Lincoln gave the credit Of
originating the greenback currency idea.
Colonel TaylOr's death has brought to light
many important facts heretofore unpub.
lished or little known. He it was who in
duced- Lincoln to leave the country store at
Salem and 60 to Springfield TO study law.
The story of his relations with Lincoln is a
remarkable one. Colonel Taylor was born
at Fairfield Court House, Va. October IS,
1902 He was a cousin of President Zach
airy Taylor, and lis father was a captain in
the Revolutionary war. At an early age he
left his home and went to Springfield, ILL.,,
where he opened a general store and Indian
trading post. Whle engaged in this buSi-
ness he became acquainted with Lincoln,
who was then clerk at Salem, Ill, and
with Stephen A. Douglas, who was teach
ing a country school. He was much i'm
pressed with their ability and told them
they should study law. Lincoln replied
that he had no money with which to buy
books.
"Come to Springfield and will see that
you are supplied" was the ColonePs reply.
Lincoln came, and for long time made
his home with Colonel and Mrs. Taylor.
Through Colonel TaylOr's influence Lincoln
was taken into Judge Logau's office, where
he made himself useful. keeping up fires,
sweeping out the office aud doing clerical
work for the privilege OF using the Judges
law library. About this time Lincoln
bought several yards of jeans for pair of
trousers. He had not enough money to get
them made and Mrs. Taylor volunteered to
make them for him. In after years when
he became President he told Mrs. Taylor
that he had never had pair of trousers
that gave him much satisfaction and as
good wear as the pair she made him when
he was a law student unknown to the world.
Colonel Taylor rapidly prospered in busi-
ness, and was connected with many bank
ing institutions in his day. During the
civil war, at time when the Governments
credit with Europe was exhausted, and the
soldiers we're crying for money and the
Treasury was empty, Lincoln sent for
Colonel Taylor. When the scheme evolved
by them became pronounced success,
Lincoln wrote Colonel Taylor the following
letter:
Ny Dear Colonel Dick: have long deter.
mined TO make public the origin OF he green
back and tell the world il Is one OF Dick Taylor's
creations. You had always been friendly to me,
and when tr0ublouS tunes fell on us, and my
shoulders, though broad aud willing, were weak,
and myself surrounded by such circumstances
and such people that knew not whom TO trust,
then said l iu my extremity: l Will send for
Colonel Taylor; he will Know what to do. 1
16tn that l did so. You came and said to
you, "What can we do?" Said you, "Why, issue
Treasury notes bearing no interest, printed on
the best banking paper. Issue enough 10 pay
of the army expenses and declared legal ten
der" Chase thought 1t hazardous thing, but
we finally accomplished II, and gave to the peo-
pie of this republic the greatest blessing they
had-their own paper TO pay their own debts. Ii
Is due TO you. thr father oil the present green-
back, that the people should know IT, and take
great pleasure In making IL known. How many
times have laughed at you telling me plainly
A. LINCOLN.
Taylor was a warm friend OF General
Grant as well as of Lincoln and carried
many dispatches between the two. St.
Louis Globe Democrat,