Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-09
COL. 0. H. OLDROYD
SUCCUMBS AT 50
Collector of Famous Lincoln
ReIics-Buial to Take
Place Here.

Col. Osborn Hamline Oldroyd, forme,
owner of the famous Lincoln collection
of relics and mementos, which has beer
viewed by thousands of persons at the
Lincoln Museum, sic Tenth street, dice
| at his home, 1923 Webster street, after
long illness. He was So years old.
/ During his final illness Col. Oldroyc
was consoled with the thought that he
had realized his life's ambition OF
gathering together mementos of the
famous Civil War President that they
may be preserved throughout genera
| tons.
Col. Oldroyd opened the Tenth street
house, in which Lincoln died, for exhibit
of a large part of the collection in 1893
| Although In the first few years COM
! paratively few persons viewed the COL
! lection, the knowledge of 1t spread until
in more recent years thousands of per-
sons visited the house. Col. Oldroyd
sold the collection to the Government
some four years ago, following a special
| act Of Congress to purchase it.
Declined Offer Of Job.
At the time of the sale, it was point
| ed out today, Col. Oldroyd was offered
the position of custodian of the collec-
ton This he declined, explaining that
he had spent many years there. Where
upon Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, super
intendent of Public Buildings and Pub
lie Parks of the National Capital, gave
Col. Oldroyd key to the building and
told him he should continue to main
tain his desk there as long as he lived.
Ever devoted to the famous me-
mentos to which he had given prac-
tically his entire life, Col. Oldroyd rare
ly missed a day in visiting the house
during the past four years. He was
last there on July Is. Since then his
strength had been rapidly failing and
he did not feel equal to the trip down.
town.
Col. oldroyd had devoted practically
20 years of his life toward acquiring
Oldryod read book entitled Life,
Speeches and Public Services Of Abra-
ham Lincoln" and stirred by the story
of how the immortal Lincoln, with but
six months schooling, had climbed
from proverty to become q candidate
for highest Office of the land, he deter
mined from that day to devote his life
to the collection of every available
thing which was associated with
was about this time, in the Spring of
1861, that Col. Oldroyd Joined the forces
of the Union Army, answering the call
of his much beloved President Lincoln.
Gathered From Everywhere.
From every part Of the country,
wherever he heard there existed relic
or memento once owned by Lincoln,
Col. Oldroyd gathered the relics. Pieces
of furniture from the Lincoln home In
Springfield, hundreds of autographed
relating to the assassination ana funeral
of the President, biographies, photo
graphs and portraits-in fact, every and
any conceivable thing which had in
some way been connected with Lin
coln-were located and added to Col.
Oldroyd's collection.
Col. Oldroyd had received many pri-
vate offers for his collection far greater
than the sum paid him by the Govern
ment, but he would never part with it
until he knew it would be placed where
the rising and unborn generations could
read in the assembled mementos the
story Of Abraham Lincoln.
Col. Oldroyd served with distinction
throughout the Civil War with Com
pany Z, goth Ohio Infantry. He soon
was named = sergeant in the company,
although not yet of age. At the battle
Of Raymond, Miss, he DISTINGUISHED
himself in action by taking charge Of
the company after q lieutenant and
first sergeant had been killed. Pro-
ceeding forward with the company,
young Oldroyd was wounded In the
hand and hip and sustained q minor
battlefield, although urged by COM
panions to do so.
Never Saw Lincoln.
It was one Of the greatest disappoint-
ments OF his life that he never saw
Abraham Lincoln. Upon his discharge
from the Army one Of the frst things
he learned on his arrival home was
Of the assassination of the President.
After his return Col. Oldroyd was
appointed assistant steward of the Ma
tional Soldiers Home at Dayton, Ohio,
and later served for eight years as
steward OF the Insane Asylum at
Dayton.
In 1888 he moved to Springfield, H.,
and, taking up his residence in the
Lincoln homestead, redoubled his efforts
to procure anything and everything as
ISOLATED with the great war President.
Through the untiring efforts of Col.
Oldroyd he finally persuaded Robert T.
Lincoln to present the Lincoln home
stead to the State Of Illinois, and Col.
Oldroyd became the State custodian.
In 1893, Col. Oldroyd was requested
by the Memorial Association Of the
OlStrict OF Columbia to bring his col
lection Of Lincoln relics to the Capital
This he did, and with his family took
up HE residence in the Peterson house,
In which President Lincoln died.
Author Of Several Books.
Col. Oldroyd was the author Of several
books, one of which, "A Soldiers Story
Of the Siege Of Vicksburg," contains ex-
tracts of the diary which he maintained
throughout the Civil War.
Col. Oldroyd was born near Mount
Vernon, Ohio, July 81, 1912. The first
seven years of his life were spent on q
farm in Wayne County, Ohio. He re-
cetved his education from the public
schools and the Knox County School.
He was long prominent member Of
the Grand Army of the Republic and
acquired the title of colonel while serv-
ing on the staff Of the commander in
chief, G. A. r. He was formerly assist
ant adjutant general of the Department
OF the Potomac, G. A. r., for 20 years
and was former adjutant of Lincoln
Post, @. A. R., for more than 80 years.
Was Great Walker.
A great walker for many years, Col.
Oldroyd made trip to Europe In 1905
and walked more than 200 miles over
the British Isles. Always devoted to
IkiYl0 ha Olcn haA roA