Lincoln Tavern at Knob Creek 2024

Here is a quick look at the Lincoln Tavern at Knob Creek!

"Hold on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant"

I purchased a nice, signed copy of "Hold on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant" while visiting the Grant Presidential Library on the campus of Mississippi State University.  Several authors collaborated on this fun book.

This is a nice book to have to go along with my visit, and its a really pleasant, brief intro to the famous General/President.  If you have studied up on Grant, you will likely know most of the material, but there were some nuggets I wasn't familiar with myself (there is an interesting relationship between the Grant family and John Brown).

AND, the book ends with a wonderful story explaining how the Grant Library became established...  well, in the South (and in the state of General Grant's signature victory during the Civil War).  If you have studied Grant, you know that there were some tight friendships and bonds he had with members of the CSA before and after the war.  Well, Confederate Stephen D. Lee, the 1st president of Mississippi State University, will forever be linked to Grant.  The last few pages of the book explaining this sweet connection make the book a must.

 

"House of Abraham" by Stephen Berry

 

"House of Abraham" by Stephen Berry came out a decade and a half ago, and I am almost embarrassed to say that it has taken me this long to get around to reading it.  This is a great book, and a must read for anyone interested in Abe and his relationship to the very complicated Todd family.

I have spent a lot of time reading up on the Lincolns and Todds, and I have visited many of the sites associated with them (heck, most of the Todds are buried a short distance from my home)....  but this book really showed me some new aspects to the relationship.

I am very familiar with (and fascinated by) the relationship of Mary and Abe to brother in law (and Confederate General) Benjamin Hardin Helm, but the family's relationship to some of the other siblings and their spouses is also complex.  The fact that almost all of them had some sort of connection not just to Lincoln, but also to the CSA really makes this story interesting.

Berry does a great job of introducing the family members, and talking about their places in the Todd family, in the Civil War, and in history in general.  He tells about their interactions and he lets you know what happened to them after the Civil War.  His writing is easy to follow and has a very nice flow.

There were siblings of Mary Lincoln at the inauguration of Jefferson Davis.  Others served in the Confederate army.  One brother dies while serving the in CSA at Shiloh (I have visited the spot) and one sibling put in charge of Yankee prisoners gets into trouble for abusing them, including a corpse.

I took notes while reading it, and this is definatley a volume on the Lincolns/Todds that will always be on my shelf.

Postcard: "Winter Scene" Lincoln's Birthplace Memorial

 This old postcard shows one of my favorite sites in Kentucky.  It is undated.

Hodgenville Kentucky January 2023

I really like Hodgenville Kentucky.  I love all of the great Abraham Lincoln history there, and I just like it as a nice little town.  It has a lot more going for it than many people realize.

Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home Knob Creek Kentucky

I have posted about the Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home before, but I really enjoy visiting this site...  so here is another video.

Hodgenville KY- Lincoln Memorial

I absolutely love this black and white photo of a couple at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park.  I found it with other photos dated in the early 1970s.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park Hodgenville Kentucky

I am still on an Abraham Lincoln kick, and I enjoyed another recent visit to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park in Hodgenville Kentucky....  In this video, there is some discussion about Jefferson Davis' connection to this tribute to Lincoln.

Lincoln Pioneer Museum Rockport Indiana October 2022

 

I love the Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum in Rockport Indiana.  Its not far from Evansville, Santa Claus, or Owensboro.  Here is a short video I posted going through the museum there!

Lincoln Pioneer Village Rockport Indiana October 2022

On October 29th of this year (2022) The Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum in Rockport hosted a great event, "Fall Heritage Day."  We sent there and had a great time!  They had a good crowd and people seemed to be having a lot of fun.  Here is a video I made of our visit there.

Mary Todd Lincoln House Lexington Kentucky August 2022

I found myself back at the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington the other day.  They have changed the way they are doing things a bit.  It is now being done as a self guided tour, and, they were allowing the use of video!

I have been here numerous times, but I was very excited to stop by and make a video!

Old State Capitol Springfield Illinois May 2022

Here is a video from our visit to the Old State Capitol in Springfield Illinois!

Illinois State Military Museum Springfield May 2022

 

While in Springfield, we visited the Illinois State Military Museum.

The Museum is possession of an artificial leg that once belonged to Santa Anna.  It is no longer on display.  There is a bit of a story behind that.

Still, this is a great museum, and there is a lot to see!

New Salem Visitor Center Illinois May 2022

 

There is a very nice museum in the visitor center at Lincoln's New Salem.

New Salem Illinois May 2022

We love Lincoln's New Salem, just a half hour or so drive from Springfield.

If you are looking for uncrowded Lincoln sites...  well, this is the one.  Lincoln spent 6 years in this area before moving to Springfield.

This is a video I posted to youtube of our visit- stopping by most of the buildings.

Raymond H. Montgomery's "Living in the Shadows of Greatness"

 While exploring the streets of Petersburg Illinois....  not too far from Springfield (less than a half an hour) and only a couple of miles from New Salem, we stumbled in to the wonderfully stocked local gift shop, "The Crazy Daisy."

I didn't catch her name, but there was a very sweet lady running the place, who was proud of the area, and all that it had going on.  She gave us a lot of great info on the area!

The shop itself had a lot of cool items that my wife and I both appreciated.  There were local crafts, jewelry and other items.  I was thrilled to see a well stocked local book section, and "New Salem" gift items....  as there are no gift shops at this time at the state park.

One book that I picked up at the Crazy Daisy gift shop was Raymond H. Montgomery's "In the Shadows of Greatness".  

Montgomery, a local historian, gives first hand accounts by locals concerning the legendary area's history.  His family has lived in the location for generations, and he gives some interesting facts about the locals.  One (of the many) things I love about this book, is that Montgomery gets first hand accounts from some old timers about the towns connection to legendary circus performers AND there is a first hand account from a cousin of Ann Rutledge, discussing Abe Lincoln and Ann's relationship!

The author has given information on the less famous locals, and the buildings around this fascinating area.  In fact, it has really inspired me to think about another trip to this part of Illinois, just to soak in some more New Salem and Petersburg.

This book is a bit obscure, the usual book selling web sites are asking a steep $40 plus for this one.  You can get a new copy at the Crazy Daisy for about half that though, and it is well worth the cover price.  Oh, I LOVE the cover to this book too!

Petersburg Illinois May 2022

 Here is a brief look at Petersburg Illinois.....  Not skip over this town when you are near Springfield!

Lincoln's Neighborhood Springfield Illinois May 2022

 

Surrounding Abraham Lincoln's Home in Springfield Illinois, is Abe's old neighborhood.  It is also preserved and managed by the National Park Service.  Here is a video I posted to youtube about it.

Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln's Tomb Illinois May 2022

AND....  here is a video I posted to youtube covering our visit to Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield Illinois!  We visited a couple of other site at Oak Ridge Cemetery too- including the final resting place of William Herndon!

Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site Springfield Illinois May 2022

 

Here is a complete tour video of the Abraham Lincoln Home in Springfield Illinois!  Thank you National Park Service!