The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-22


Bridgeport on March 10, 1860, regard
ed at that time as merely red let
ter event on the eve Of an election
and not as the first public appearance
here of a man destined SO soon to
grave. indellibly into the imperishable
tablets of history, is recalled by only
Ia few of the more than 100000 resi-
dents Of the Bridgeport of today. Yet
those who had the opportunity to
grasp the gaunt, strong hand of the
young statesman, not SO many years
ibefore calloused and hardened in the
iarduons task of rail splitting. were SO
Impressed with Lincoln that the mem
tories of his visit are among those that
! have endured best of all.
OF the few Bridgeporters whose
memories extend back well through
! the last half century, none knows so
much of the events of Lincoln's Wis
!. ii to Bridgeport. and surely none can
Irelate the incidents so well, as Henry
sR. PARROT the veteran president OF the
lParrott varnish Co. 1t was directly
through Mr.. PARROT that Lincoln was
induced to come to Bridgeport. Be
cause the future president came at a
fine when public speakers were in
great demand, his visit was notable
among the events of the year and was
considered by Mr.. PARROTS co-work-
-ers for the party to be a signal &C
complishment.
Mr.. Parrot, though an octogenarian,
is still among the most active of
Bridgeport manufacturers. His keen
conception of the significance of pass
ing events, and. especially of the
phases of politics, is not confined to
his home city or state. When. he
steals away from the duties of his
business he enjoys nothing better than
a red hot political argument, and rare
indeed is the adversary who comes
out unscathed under the fire Of sound
logic and the martial array of facts
ard figures the earnest old gentleman
has at his instant command.
The erstwhile political leader OF
Bridgeport readily consented to drop
his business affairs when a Farmer
reporter called at his home at $50
Golden Hill street yesterday. Mr.. Par
rott and his son were in the midst OF
a mass of correspondence which the
elder man at once turned over to the
younger as he waxed enthusiastic
over the memories of Llncolns FAMOUS
visit to Bridgeport.
= Yes / brought Lincoln to Bridge
port" said Mr. Parrott warming al
once to the subject. Heres one OF
the finest photographs OF Lincoln in
existence. This is how he appeared
taken in Massachusetts,. Only a doz-
en- copies were made" He pointed out
a profile of Lincoln which hangs il
a conspicuous place in his study
above a more familiar group photo
graph of Lincoln and his cabinet. The
photograph is more youthful than mos,
of the 1ikeneSSes to be seen nowadays
There Is a suggestion of a smile play
ing about the features that at once
.anakes the picture distinctive. Mr.
PARROT justly sets great store by the
rare specimen.
In those days said he. Eve had
two elections. We were preparing fol-
rtlle election that preceded the nationa
detection in the fall when Lincoln Wis.,
tied us I was chairman of the com
anittee running the campaign. we
needed speakers. / went to New -Ha>
ven where through the State Central
committee I asked for date for Cas-
eius NJ Clay, the ELOQUENT southernel
who was electrifying his auditors. But
the committee informed me that Mr.
Clay had been assigned so that he
could not be sent TO Bridgeport.
Il was disappointed. l was about t.
leave when the committee invited ms
to go to the depot with them to gree
Lincoln. That gave me new idea
Give me Lincoln, I said.
No they replied. we can't de
that Arrangements have been made
for him too So concluded that
Bridgeport couldn't have Lincoln. A
standing about a little while 1 hae
the opportunity Of sitting down by
him and having a little conversatio
with him.
Mr.. Lincoln [ said, L have go
q suggestion to make. | came w
here to get a speaker We want one
more meeting in Bridgeport. / want
TO make a suggestion to you, and il
kou will, l would like to have you take
it under advisement. Bridgeport is
right here on the line of your route
We can arrange for you an early meet
ing so that you can leave on a trair
for New York at Ao'clock in the even
ing
Mr. Lincoln appeared to be i'm.
pressed with the idea. Please give
me your name was his reply. L viii
think the matter over and / will wire
you That closed the conversation. A
day or two passed and then, at
O'Clock in the afternoon he received {
wire that on that very night Mr.
dincoln would be down to speak fol
Us.
- therefore took immediate steps
in the first place to get hall. 1 trieG
TO get Bailey'S hail. on State st. be-
tween Main and Water streets. But
found there was a theatrical com.
hall in town So l had to utilize the
City Hall. The building was entire
~ different in those days. Then
had to get the band. The Wheeler &
Wilson band was engaged. but / ar
ranged to get them for the visit o.
Lincoln. While I was hustling around
with this work, 1 had sent over II
Amos S. Treat one of the best known
citizens of the day, to come down ant
meet Mr.. Lincoln I asked Mr.. Urea
to take charge of our visitor while
made the arrangements for the meet
ing Mr.. Treat took Mr.. Lincoln tt
the home of Mr.. Frederick Wood, or
Golden Hill at the corner of Coleman
street, the present Sanford place.
I'm later years, when Mr.. Lincoln
was an occupant of the White House
and any one from Bridgeport wa:
presented to him. he would almost in
Eariably say. Bridgeport! All, yes
That's the place where 1 ate those
elegant fried oysters You see," con
tinued Mr.. Parrot, Lincoln coming
here from what we then called the
west, relished the sea food to which
he was almost a stranger
The meeting was a great success
In our great haste we were able tt
provide only a few chairs and benches
The accommodations were very
1neagre- 7 presume there was no one