The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-23
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
AND LITTLE MISS COBB
The Story Of Precious Memento of the Maryred Pres
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh, Pa-Nearly half century after the as
sassination of Abraham Lincoln, legal fight has begun
in the courts of Allegheny county, Pa for the possession
of family heirloom around which centers romantic
story concerning the maryred president and little girl
The is brought by Francis McKenna resident of
A. P. Meyers, Of Pittsburgh for the possession of
breastpin presented by Mr.. Lincoln to Mr. McKenna's
wife for bit of childish bravery which the pres
dents admiration
just prior to the outbreak of the civil war, Miss s.
G. j. Cobb, then girl IL years old, living in Bat
more where her father Captain Cobb United States
army stationed with his regiment. On that fatal
morning when sympahizers of the SOUTH ncensed that
federal troops being hurried into the south to
the union soldiers and the first blood of the civil strife
she'd Captain Cobb in command Of the federal troops
took the offensive when the rotng began and by certain
of his actions caused more trouble.
At this critical time when the slightest acts were
easily misconstrued by adherents of either SIDE Captain
Cobbs conduct aroused the anger of his who
believed he should have acted with discretion and
averted boodshed He ordered to Washington for a
reprimand by the department. and left for the
tional capital accompanied by his little daughter.
While in Washington Captain Cobb was ordered to
appear before the PRESIDENT who wanted to learn the
been the spot Captain Cobb took his little daughter
with him the visit In the of the president
duct during the riotng brought up and Mr. Lincoln
censured the captain. This than little Miss
Cobb could bear Stamping her foot in childish she
cried out to the president:
~ wish had been and had been with the
what papa has done!''
Mr. Lincoln delighted with the bold declaration
Of the child. Drawing his ank form up to its full height
he sauted the little girl and said gravely while his eyes
twinkled:
eyes, my dear, know you would, and wish had a
million like you, for with them could avert the
or, if necessary could whip the world.''
This however, did not prevent the reprimand being
given to Captain Cobb by the department. but
after he had returned to his command in Baltimore
federal officer called at the Cobb house and asked
for the little daughter of the house. On her
he told her he had brought peace offering from Presi
dent Lincoln, who had not forgotten her bold front.
The gift silver maltese cross, in the center Of
which 500 gold piece just struck by the mint Or
the reverse side of the pin engraved
F'Presented to Miss S. G. J. Cobb by Abraham Lin
coln-Washington, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty one''
Years later Miss Cobb married to Francis K. Nc
Kenna, wel-known musician of Atlanta, Ga. She hat
four childrenCharles F. j. John and Catherine. Whe1
she died in 1895 she wed the pin to John McKenna VIII
died Feb. g. 1905 1t is alleged that short time befor
his death, John McKenna gave the pin A. P. Meyer
security for loan Of $2200 but that he had neve
redeemed it, After John s DEATH according the state
ment made in the legal papers, the father and the otbe
children learned of the s whereabouts and rendered
Mr. Meyers the money to redeem it. but he is said to hay
refused to give it up the ground that he had made
present Of it to his wife, Now the whole story is to b.
threshed out in court. 70 ~
Cats That Go to School