The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-17
Hon. Isaac /enkinson the Last Of A7diand's Lincoln
Electors Tells How He Became Electoral Messenger

On January Is. 1909. the Indianapo-
W News printed the following inter.
oeting account Of Of some of the most
lntoresting incidents of the career of
the Hon. Isaac Jenkinson, one of Rich
mond's most distinguished citizens:
When the Republican presidential
electors OF Indiana met ut the State
House In indianapolis. this week. to
canvass the vote of the state at the
last general election and chose former
Governor Winfield T. Durbin as OFF,
cial messenger to convey the returns
to Warrington, the incident awakened
lively recollection In the mind OF at
least one Hoosier. namely. Isaac Jen.
kinson of Richmond.
Mr.. Jenkinson has gained distinction
IN many things, but OF none is he
prouder than that he was the messen-
Ger that bore the official returns Of
Indiana to Washington in 1860. when
Abraham Lincoln, OF Illinois, and Han
nibal Hamlin. OF Maine. were chosen
President and vice-President. respec.
lively. Of this republic. II Is now Mr..
Jenkinson's distinction to be the last
Of lndiana's Lincoln electors. the other
twelve having crossed the bar. As he
sat and read this week of Mr.. Durbin's
mission and It's meaning his thoughts
ran back to the stirring days of 1860.
when the cloud of Civil War hung over
the United States In its menacing
blackness.
Indiana then had thirteen electors.
two of them from the state at large.
Now there are fifteen In all. two still
serving from the state at large. Elec-
ton day In 1860 fell on Tuesday. No
vember 8. Indiana had been a Demo
cratic state. but the trend of senti-
ment on the slavery question ran SO
strongly toward abolition that the Re-
publican hosts triumphed, and the
state was carried by Lincoln and Ham
lin. defeating John C. Breckenridge, of
Kentucky. for President and Joseph
Lane. Of Oregon. for Vice President,
the Democratic nominees. The Re
publican state ticket had also been
victorious the month before. result.
ing In the election Of Col. Henry 8.
ten for Lleutenant-G Governor.
Met In Old state Mouse.
The law then provided that the pres.
adeDtial electors meet on the second
"wednesday In December. and on the
day appointed the thirteen Republican
ELECTORS assembled In the hall of the
house OF representative in the old
oGate house. which, too. was also re-
Qulred BY law. II was day of bitter
cold, Mr.. Jenkinson remembers, and
tho electors sat shivering in their
seats, for the old state house was not
fAmed for warmth. The electors pro.
cooded to business. Notwithstanding
thdr discomfort, and elected Cyrus
NJ Allen. Of vincenpes. president and
JoAl W. Ray Of Madison. later OF In.
'11nDapolls % secretary.
Amer the formal organization had
~ effected q was moved that they
D0Qo 70 the Dates house. now the
olaSpool hotel. anA completestheir bus
ineGp. The. roll call Of members
foand all present, sfollows:
Ulectors-at-large - VIII Cumback
and John L. Mansfield.
District electors-First district. Cy
rus N. Allen; Second district. John W.
\ Ray; Third district. Morton c. Hunt
err; Fourth district. John H. FarQua
hA1: Fifth district. Reuben A. Riley:
seventh district John Hanna: Eighth
district. Samuel A. Huff: Ninth dis
tsict James N. Tyner: Tenth district
lsaac Jsnkinson: Eleventh district, Da
Va o. Daley.
the most interesting event of tina,
eveatful day came when the presiden,
q the meeting announced that a vote
Would be taken to name the man Il
Whom would fall the honor Of actint
- messenger to convey the'returns t.
washington for the official nationa
cent.
zach elector had some friend Il
name. and each elector had little de
siro In his own heart to be the on,
chosen. for Indiana was new In the Re
puollcan column. Finally. 1t was de
c1ded to name the messenger from tn,
body Of electors there present. Tn,
sltuation grew interesting.
j vote was taken and it,was fount
that nearly every man had voted TO
himself except Jenkinson and Judg'
HUFF. Of Lafayette, who were not can
Aidates. Jenkinson and Huff each vot
- for . friend among the electors an,
. t3e vote was the result.
Will Cumback. viewing the sitiua
t1oa - most amusing. suggested that
- . solution Of the problem, the.
draw cuts" AZ the expression IL 70
drawing lots. Thirteen plain whit,
tickets were cut from piece OF card
board. all of the same size. On one o
them was written the name abraham
lincoln" II was to'be the prize win
Aer
Col. John w. Ray produced his hat
and the thirteen tickets were placed II
L. then shaken vigorously.
Il was now agreed,th the drawing
should be according to each elector'
place on the ticket. Cumback. head
Ing the electoral ticket. got first draw
He drew blank and laughed abou
II. Mansfield followed and met tn
came fate.
On down the list of districts tn
drawing went until finally it reache,
~e V>S