The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-22
A PEN WITH A HISTORY
WAS IN THREE PRESIDENTS HANDS
AND s1,75O REFUSED FOR Ir.
Almost Priceless Relic Extending
from the Mayfower to Washing
ton, to Lincoln and Grant.

sor of some rare souvenirs. which are close
ly entwined with our national history, from
colonial times to the days of the civil war
Mr.. Reeds ancestors came over with Miles
Standish, and he is q lineal descendant OF
Uzal Knapp, the last survivor of Washing
toms old body guard, who. as the inscrip-
ton on his monument at Newburg tells US,
departed this life in 1856, at the ripe old age
of 1Oe.
Mr.. Reed was an intimate friend of Gen.
John A. Dix, and at the outbreak of the war
secured, through General Dix, an introduce
ton to Salmon p. Chase, with whom he
negotiated the printing of the United States
bonds. by a New York bank note company.
Mr.. Chase expressed to Mr.. Reed his belief
that it would be difficult to dispose of the
bonds as he feared war loan would not be
a popular one and asked him what he
would do in the case if he were secretary
of the treasury
II should merely give them a little more
interest," said Mr. Reed. "You just give
them $40 per cent. interest, in stead of Z,
and you will see the public scramble for
them"
The idea of giving 7.30 per cent. interest,
so that ACQUIRED interest per day could read
lily be computed-7.SO being just twice S65
days-struck Secretary Chase as being a
bright one, and was adopted Some years
afterward, during the last of the business
relations which Mr.. Reed had with the gov
eminent regarding the printing of bonds,
Secretary Chase took him to President
Lincoln, and said, Mr. President. l wish
to introduce to you the father of the 7.SO
bonds" and he told Mr.. Lincoln how the
idea had been suggested by Mr.. Reed.
Mr.. Reed having expressed desire to
visit the different government departments,
President Lincoln wrote on slip of paper:
please extend to the bearer every pos
sible courtesy in visiting the depar rn
AS he handed this note to Mr.. Reed the
President said: Mr.. Reed. if there is any
favor I can do for you, now is the time to
ask for it,
MIR. President, you have been very kind
to me-" responded Mr.. Reed, land there is
no favor / can think Of unless l might be
bold enough to ask you to make me pres
ent of that pen which 1 saw you sign this
paper with.
Mr.. LINCOLN HESITATED.
Mr.. Lincoln did not accept the suggestion
| kindly. With a serious and hesitating air,
he replied: Il hardly think you realize the
nature of your request. That pen is SOU
| venir with quite history, and was pre-
| scented to me in such a way that 1 can
| hardly part with it. In his early days
! Washington was a civil engineer and sur
| veyor, and when he was elected President
of the United States patriotic women's So
| ciety of Virginia presented him with
quantity carved box for holding the lenses
| of his surveying instruments. 1t was duly
set forth and authenticated that this box
was made from the lid OF the captains
After the death of Washington part of
| this lens box found its way back into the
hands of the patriotic women of Virginia,
| and upon my election they presented me
| with two pens, accompanied by certain PRE-
amble and complimentary resolutions. show
| ing that these pens were carved from a
| portion of that lens box which belonged to
! George Washington"
Il was so overcome by the, Presidents
| earnest manner" Mr. Reed said in telling
| the story, that I felt had made an un-
| seemy and extravagantly outrageous re-
| gies and excuses that the President became
| more embarrassed than ever, and really
must have supposed i was offended by his
| refusal, as / was so anxious to get away
" See here he suddenly exclaimed, with
one of his characteristic outbursts of good
nature, you are an exceedingly nice young
man. and as ''the father of the 7.3O bonds
| l think you are entitled to one of those
| pens. You see, the ladies of Virginia gave
me two. This ONE is for black ink, and that
! one with the gold tip is for red ink. Now
| you take the one l wrote that paper with
| and keep it, and the next time you come
| l will give you all the facts concerning it's
| history
| IT was embarrassed and panied by the
turn affairs had taken. and would gladly
man was happy over the solution of the
| difficulty and presented it in a way which
| permitted of no refusal"
| Mr.. Reed received the gift on Tuesday,
| April II, 1865 and the next time he at
Fords Theater, April ID, on the night Of
the assassination. AS a. memento of that
sad event he wears ring which contains
! cut off by the surgeon who probed the
| wound. 1t was presented to Mr.. Reed by
| Colonel Shadwick under circumstances
| which made it a priceless gift.
During General Grants last Illness sew
| eral of the horses he gave to Mrs. Frederick
| D. Grant were given to me to sell. and in
| the settlement for the same the story of the
| pen occurs once more, continued Mr.. Reed.
GRANTS LAST AUTOGRAPH.
at had sold his Butcher Boy at auction
for Mrs. Frederick Grant and. wishing to
see the general once more. called at his
house a few days before his removal to
Mount McGregor, and when told him that
came to turn over the funds received at
the sale he said: Mrs Frederick Grant is
not in, but will receipt for it,
81 handed him the money and the receipt
for the same, saying as did so, Now, gen
eral. do me the favor to sign the receipt
ington-L Lincoln pen.
+" All right he said, as he returned it,
but what is the joke?
&c No joke. general replied, but l am
now the proud possessor of a pen which has
been used by Americas three greatest men
Washington. Lincoln and Grant
L told him its history, and he laughed
over the fact of its being pen when used
by Washington. and also disclaimed the
right to be clasSed with Washington and
Lincoln Nevertheless ] saw that he was
greatly affected by the serious turn our con-
yersation had taken. and l FASTENED to take
my last farewell of the great man Of whose
friendship | have always been so proud.
According to the statement OF members
Of his family this was the last time he was
known to write his name"
Mr.. Reed has repeatedly refused to part
with these relics at any price. Gen. Fred
erick Grant desired to secure his fathers
autograph, OF account of its being his last
signature and the Baronne De Struve, wife
to whom Mr. Reed once sold pair of fine
horses for $1720, offered to double the
amount of the check If he would part with
the relies.
M. Reed was in London in 1870 and was
waited upon by William Churchill, of the
British Museum. who Informed him that the
directors had authorized him to offer 1900
for the souvenirs.
why have already refused much larger
sums in my own country" replied Mr..
Reed. whereupon Mr.. Churchill said 1T was
only authorized to offer $500. but on my own
responsibility / will make it ESQ, and SUBJ
NIT it for your consideration
Signor Crispi examined the pen auto
graph and ring With interest and ex-
pressed desire 10 purchase them at any
price
on July O. 1873 Mr. Reed was received nv