The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-01
Lincoln From Life

Freeman Thorpe, in Leslie's
 was at home in Geneva, Ohio, when
 l heard that train which was coming
 that afternoon from the east had on | board Mrs Lincoln, wife of the newly 1 elected President. 1 hustled about and stirred up the militia company of the town, and when the train pulled in we had the cannon and were firing a salute In honor of the future occupant of the 1 White House.
 Then l was introduced to Mrs Lincoln as the boy who had caused the salute
 She was pleased, and treated me very graciously. Some weeks after that wrote to President Lincoln and asked
 linn to stop bis inaugural train at Gen eva, so l could make sketch of him. To my delight, Lincoln replied, agree ing to my request. l let it be known in Geneva that President Lincoln would honor the town by stopping there a few minutes on his way to take office; and from sunrise until the train arrived every bell in Geneva kept up continual ringing. People heard the noise away out in the country, and came in to learn what it was all about 6
 When the train pulled in I was the first to chamber on to the platform of the Presidents car There stood Lincoln ready to clasp my hand. Then I took my position on the next platform, and began my sketch while the crowd pushed up to shake his hand. Or course that sketch was rough. but I got the like ness.
 Then came the war; I enlisted and served In the Second Ohio cavalry, fight ing in the Shenandoah valley My health broke and 1 was sent on detached duty to Jeffersonville, Ind, to recuperate When l regained my health I went on to Washington rejoin my regiment. That Was just before the first anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. With my precious Geneva sketch of Lincoln, I went to the war department and asked Tor furlough to go to Gettysburg and make another sketch of the President, Tor It had been announced that MT. Lin coin would speak on that occasion
 got the furlough and rode on the same train with the President. I got an audience with, the President and showed him my finished drawing made from the Geneva shorthand sketch, and he complimented it.
 When We arrived at Gettysburg we found great crowd there. interested in the scenes of the battlefield, rather than in the programme of speeches. There were many open graves, and battle-vic- tims were being buried.
 Only comparatively small number of people gathered about the stand to hear the speeches. stood within 15 feet of MT. Lincoln as he sat on the platform. There made another sketch There IS wonderful difference in it's expression from that of the Geneva sketch! The lines are deeper the countenance more grave.
 We listened two hours to the oration of Edward Everett then the President stepped forward, a sheet of paper in his left hand There he stood, his left foot advanced ahead of his right, and began to speak. gesticulating somewhat with both long arms The crowd settled down to hear an hours address, but it was all over in less than three minutes and the President sat down. There was no applause. The audience was astonished Three minutes. when they had expected an hour! The meeting silently broke up.
 In 1871 l went to Washington with my two Lincoln sketches. They were the only known sketches from life of the martyr President and that fact interest," ed the senators.
 They built studio for me on the capital roof. over the senate wing. and occu- pied 1t for 20 years. was 27 years old