New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
LINCOLNS OLD RAIL MAUI
He Split Timber ycith 1t in Illinois
-NOzc in Museum.

Among the relics in the rooms Of the Connecticut
Historical Society in the Wadsworth Atheneum. IN
Hartford. IS maui that Abraham Lincoln swung
with his powerful arms when, in about 1880. with
John Hanks. after his removal from Kentucky
Lincoln split rails for q living IN tho backwoods Of
Illinois. The maui was presented to the Historical
Society at its monthly meeting. on May 2 1885, by
the late Jonathan +. Morris who told how he OBJ
tanned II.
After Lincoln made visit 10 Hartford previous
TO his nomination for the Presidency. says: The
Hartford Courant," when a number Of young men
escorted him from the old City Hail. where he
spoke the late Colonel George p BisseIl called Mr.
Morris into his Office Main street and showed
him a section OF a rail. six feet long which Lin
coin had split. Mr. Morris naturally thought that
Lincoln must have had tool split 1t with
So he wrote his friend. General Thomas s. Mather
or spErngasld III, formerly Of simsbury, near
nelghbor or Lncoln's and asked MIN II he could
ge' a maui used by him. In due course Of time he
The maui is of ronwood or black oak, thirty
Two IhcheS long, including the handle. and is made
apparently been hewed out from the original BLOCK
OF wood 1t shows now much It used when
dented and splintered. Mr. Morris showed Colonel
his friend had gone him one better in oSfainn a
the weapon with which Lincoln possibly split the
night Of his visit to Ibis cy formed t5 on 1ae
the neucleus Of the organization which under that
influence in that important PresdenaI campaen
On the evening Of Friday, July q. 1890 there was
a greet raly at the Republican camp the
ner Of Asylum and High streets. the site Of the
four hundred strone under the eadersbi "f t
late George S Gilman. father of ex-Councilman
battalion to the camp. There were speeches BY
5t4eGtenant Governor Catln. Editor Conger OF The
Newark Mercury; Senator Foster, George Z. Bis
sell. George s. Gilman and several others There
then editor Of The Evening Press" on behalf Of
Mr. Morris presented the maui to the Wide Awakes
General Mather. VINO obtained the maui for Mr.
MOTIFS was at the time adjptant general Of the
state 81 Of Illinois He certified to the genuineness
of the Wide Awakes Of the city Of HartfoTd a9d
state Of Connecticut was procured by myself from
on and the State Of Illinois personal friend and
Of j g. Morris Of Hartfofd Conn og and me
maui was forwarded to said Morris at his request
fsry the M EnooH
taep occupying the office OF Governor Of illinois,
that said Abraham Lincoln told me that In his
opinion il genuine and that what John Hanks
SAID about il vas 50, as ne was a truthful man
On December T. 1854, Mr.. Morris certified to the
genLineness of the relic as follows
his whom IL may c0 N hereby certify that
Glub IN 1860. was procured by me through General
nois, from John, Hanks, of sungamen County.
with whom Abraham Lincoln worked at splitting
that this maui was used by Mr. Lincoln are among
o s PhpEs R "a hSt ow n a5 and f ,
and cannot be obtained for the present occasion.
died JUL. !, lsSS. at HICKORY Point. iii. He was
born in 1902 and went to Decatur, III when tvvenfV
years old. 1t was he who induced Thomas Lincoln
and his cousin, Lucy Hanks. Thomas Lincoln's
wife and Abraham Lincoln's mother, to move TO
Illinois He was close and intimate friend of
the President; and was widely known for his
WAS an expert rsdiSspiiter In 1881 Lincoln split
Major Warwick at Goose Neck Prairie Coles
County, III, and walked daily three miles to his
work and return.
After The Republican camp on Asylum street was
torn Down the maui came into possession OF Vim
cent Whiting, from whose widow Mr.. Morris
bought IT. In 1854 the maui was sent to Springfield
Mass, where there was great soldiers fair n
now has attach I'd to 1t sign which was on n
when II was exhibited there forty-three years ago
ham Lincoln ~ ANA