Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-04
CLAIMS DESCENT
FROM LINCOLN
FRIEND OF PRESIDENT TELLS
OF EARLY DAYS
E. w. Lincoln Took Part in Great
Rail SpIitter's Political
Campaign In
Illinois


street is a direct descendant and was
personal friend of President Lincoln.
Mr.. Lincoln. although modest regard
ing his relationship tS the martyred
president, takes certain pride in re-
lating some of the incidents connected
with the rail splitter" and himself.
"Some of my earliest recollections,"
said Mr.. Lincoln, were in connection
with Big Abe as distinction from
Little Abe. my older brother. Our
families were very intimate. There
was a small regiment of us when all
together and something was doing the
most of the time
Mr.. Lincoln displayed a scar on his
left wrist and said:
'This is one little result of a fracas
we young fellows had during the first
presidential campaign of Big Abe in
our town of Litchfield, Ill. 1t so hap<
pened that 1 was one of the leaders
of the enthusiasts to help along the
cause of our favorite presidential can
didate.
1--WE decided to celebrate an event of
the campaign by having a big bonfire.
SO we formed committee to visit the
saloons and solicit the gifts of whisky
barrels to make a big blaze.
SaIoonkeepers Refused
but it leaked out among the saloon
men that the barrels were to aid in
the campaign for the rail splitter,
whom they despised, and they checked
the gift proposition. We then made
the attempt to purchase the barrels at
exorbitant prices, but were met with
flat refusals. These were enough for
us. We then won the good side of the
police and 'confiscated' all the whisky
barrels we needed. But it was with
much difficulty, as the saloon men were
hot after us, and of course the police
had to make a big show to justify
themselves and naturally we were all
arrested, but the sentiment was sc
great in our favor that we were never
booked as criminals. The bonfire
proved a big success.
Moved to West
"Soon after this campaign our family
moved to San Francisco. A few years
previous brother Abe had come to the
west and had accuDulated a fortune OF
about $1,000 The Yuma Indians MUIR
dered him and stole his money. In this
connection 1 will say that a member OF
each of the last four generations of the
Lincoln family has been murdered, the
last being my son, John Earl Lincoln
Mr.. Lincoln said that he was in
correspondence with an attorney in
Washington, ID. c., regarding the set
tlement of the estate of his murdered
brother. With reference TO it he said:
my brother had accumulated about
100000 with ferry boat at the juno
ton of the ella and Colorado rivers
which was stolen by the Indians when
they murdered him. Through attor-
neys here and In Washington, | made
application to the United States gov
ernment for the settlement of the es-
tate, having proved that the Indians
had murdered him and stolen his
money and that the government was
responsible for the actions of the In
dians. have worked on this for many
years, and am about worn out over it.
AS for myself personally, at my age
do not care much for the money, only
for the benefit OF my family. My cour-
age has revived lately. / ann expecting
an encouraging answer soon from
Washington, pertaining TO the settle
ment.'