The San Francisco call., 1909-06-06
The Story of a Long Chase
After His Autograph
By Mary Ogden Vaughan


sturdy New England stock, it is to be anticipated
that she greatly desired those of the presidents. and
especially the signature of Abraham Lincoln.
In its inception this did present itself to her
difficult of accomplishment, but with each attempt
to obtain Lincoln autograph the obstacles increased
until they became apparently insurmounable though
like will O the wisp it danced before her,
Turing her fresh efforts
However, with the blood of New England ancestors
watm iii her veins, she not easily daunted, and
she pursued it steadily for FIVE long years, and
at last beyond her utmost expectations was
her reward.
In the quest she acquired a side line of valuable
autograph letters from prominent men, notably IN the
year 1879, when her collecting fever was at its
height and she was in the first ardors of the chase.
Omitting many Of lesser known individuals, some OF
those that remain of exceptional interest
communication addressed to General Schofeld, at
that time superintendent of the military academy at
West Point, elected the following reply
West Point, N Y, September 6, 1879.
Dear Madam: Your letter OF July l3 was received
by i'll due time and | have very much desired to
comply with your request if possible but the demands
for autographs of the late President Lincoln have
been great that it is hardly possible to obtain
one. have only few letters from Mr. Lincoln
and they are of an important official character
Sincerely yours,
JNO. SCHOFIELD
Under date of October 2 in the same year Schuyler
Colfax, writing from small town in Illinois, says:
Dear Madam: Your letter, asking for autograph
of Abraham Lincoln, has just reached here
remailed from South Bend Ind But long ago gave
away old friends who desired them all that I was
willing to spare and what | have kept | could not
part with. You will find ii very difficult to obtain
Lincoln's autograph They very highly and
dI,, r,zaI
SCHUYLER COLFAX
The idea of applying to General Grant very natur-
ally suggested ITSELF and letter written by him in his
usual terse style reads
Dear Madam: l would gladly accommodate you,
but have not single copy of Mr. Lincoln's sigma
left except such as are attached to commissions
u S. GRANT.
An appeal made to Hannibal Hamn, vice
president during the Lincoln administration, and
under date of October A. 1879, he writes from
Bangor, Me-:
Dear Madam I have your note Of the 18th of
September. would be glad to send you an autograph
of President Lincoln but not able to do So nor
do know where be obtained
Yours truly,
HANNIBAL HAMLIN.
letter of especial interest is dated,
Department of State
Washington, d. c., November %, 1879
Dear Madam: ! regret TO say that | unable to
comply with your request The applications for auto
graphs have been numerous since Mr. Lincoln's
death that the supply was exhausted years ago.
Very truly yours,
JOHN HAY
Mr. Hay at this time assistant secretary of state
During succeeding years these discouraging replies
were received again and again from men of more or
less Importance in the political world who were
approached on the subject, among them Cassius NJ
Clay, who, writing from White Hal5 KY, in feeble
and irregular hand, says:
Dear Madam l am sorry | am not able to aid YOU
IN this matter. c. M CLAY
1t was not until the early part of 1884 that hope
revived under the stimulus of suggestion that the
seeker go back to the days when Lincoln was an
obscure and struggling lawyer in Illinois and make
an appeal to some of the men who were more closely
connected with his earlier history, before he became
hgure OF national Importance Following along this
line letter was finally sent to Judge James II
Matheny of Springfield, Ill., and the long chase was
ended when he replied under date Of April 20 1884,
and on official paper, headed:
Office OF County Judge, sanganion County
J. ii. Matheny, Judge
Springfield, Ill
Dear Madam: You will find inclosed receipt
signed by Mr.. Lincoln 1t is his genuine signature
| he paper was given me by William IL. Herndon
1t IS signature OF more than ordinary interest 1t
was given when Mr.. Lincoln comparatively
unknown, when he was poor practcing lawyer. You
VIII see ne only charged FIVE dollars for services that
a lawyer would be ashamed to do for less than
twenty-five dollars 1t given to Mr. Herndon
when ne was a young Mr.. Herndon afterward
became distinguished lawyer and the law part
ner OF Mr.. Lincoln when he was elected president
also incose you a paper that may be of
interest to you There is organization here known
as the Lincoln Guard of Honor" On each returning
anniversary of the death of Lincoln they hold memor-
la services at the base of the covering Mr.
Lincoins remains. The 18th of April the services
were held l<send you a copy of extra issued by
the organization of the memorial services held on
that occasion ! present you the receipt with the
compliments OF Mr. Herndon and myself
Very respectfully yours,
JAMES NJ MATTHEW.