The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
THEY KNEW LINCOLN WELL,
FIVE OLD PEOPLE WHO WILL At
TEND THIS WEEKS DEDICATION.
Lincoln's Speech for Protection in
1S44-A Missing Manuscript-StOry
of a Duel That Was Not Fought.
snecia, 70 The 1na,ananolis journal.

special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
ROCKPORT. Ind, Sept. "a notable
feature of the Lincoln dedication, to take
place in this county on Wednesday of next
week, will be the seating on the platform
with the speakers as a reception committee
the old citizens of this county who were
acquainted with the Lincolns when they
lived in this county nearly three-quarters
of a century ago. There are only five of
them, and their names and ages are: James
Gentry, ST., eighty-five; Redmond Grigsby,
eighty-six; Richard Jones, eighty-four, and
Capt ]. w. Lamar and his wife, eighty
two and eighty, respectively. Hannah Ro-
mine, aged ninety-two years, will be unable
to come on account of poor health, though
she wants to attend the dedication Of
monument to a woman whose funeral she
attended eighty-four years ago.
James Gentry, the first mentioned. was,
perhaps. more intimately acquainted with
Abraham Lincoln than any Of the others.
His father. who founded the town Of Gen.
tryville, was the wealthiest and most in
fiuential man OF that community. 1t was
for him more than any other that Abe
worked, and the little boy James had ex-
cellent opportunity for becoming acquaint-
ed with the future President. Mr.. Gentry
said yesterday: az remember how Abe
looked just as well as If it were yesterday.
He wore a coonskin cap with the tail hang
ing down behind. pants so short that half
of his shins were shown, and shoes as red
as the bark could tan the leather. Abe did
not have shoes sometimes until Christmas,
and If it happened to snow before that
time he would heat boards to stand on in
the snow while he tended his traps. He
had a hard time, but never complained,
and was always ready with funny story.
What impressed me most about him was
his remarkable memory. After he had
been living over In Illinois some fifteen or
twenty years some one from our neighbor-
hood happened to drop in to see him. Lin
coin remembered and asked about every
one back in Indiana. Not a person, 1t
seemed, had escaped his memory. He
asked all about every one.
There was considerable hard feeling
between Lincoln and the Grigsbys, whom
he thought had not treated his sister right
when she was in her last sickness. Ac-
cordingly Bill Grigsby sent Abe challenge
to fight. Now, Abe could have knocked
Bill out with one lick. 1 think, but Lincoln
sent the answer back, Il will not use my
strength that way. Bill Johnston, Lin
coins half brother. took up the challenge.
On the appointed day nearly the whole
male population was there. / climbed up
in a small tree to look over the heads of
the older ones into the ring. The fight was
declared a draw because when the contest
was about half over the seconds fell to
fighting and had to be separated
Mr.. Gentry has been a lifelong Democrat,
but is an enthusiastic admirer OF Lincoln.
and is interested in everything pertaining
to that subject.
Redmond Grigsby, another member of the
reception committee, is a very eccentric
character. He is very reticent about his
recollections Of the Lincolns, and has al
ways refused to have his picture taken.
1t is probable that there is in his possession
a very valuable manuscript Of Lincoln's,
1.-The Chronicles of Reuben When last
seen it was in his possession. His brother,
Aaron Grigsby, married Lincoln's only sis
ter Sarah.
Capt. ]. w. Lamar of Buffaloville, has
many interesting recollections of the Lin
coin family to relate. His father and Lin
coins father built the old Pigeon Baptist
Church together. Mr.. Lamar says that
when Lincoln came back, in 1874, he made
some speeches in this county, and one in
particular at the old Carter schoolhouse,
near Gentryville The day was a pretty
one in the fall, and the speech was made
outdoors at the edge of the road. To illus
trate the theory of protection Mr.. Lincoln
drew in the dust of the road map of
North America and Europe. He then
showed what good effect 1t would have
Hod 70 0rtff he OH cor
eign productions. His last words were:
"Give US a protective tariff, and this coun-
try will develop into the greatest the sun
ever shone on"
The dedication probably will be the last
time these people will appear in public, as
they are getting feeble. 1t will throw an
added interest about the services to have
them there, and they are to be accorded
every honor and care possible. Mrs. Ro-
mine. who cannot attend on account of her
extreme age, is the only one living who
was at the funeral of Nancy Hanks Lin
rnln