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 The Civil War had reached its climax. General Lee had
surrendered his confederate troops at Appomattox on April 9th and
that began the end of the war. A war that had taken its toll on the
President was coming to an end, and he should have been happy and
content. Perhaps he was. But that night would not end on the happy
note that he and Mary had anticipated.
As the couple enjoyed the play, John Wilkes Booth delivered a fatal
wound to the President. Lincoln was shot, but did not die instantly.
He was rushed across the street to a hotel where he was tended to by
a doctor but to no avail. Lincoln lingered through the night, with
his wife and fellow statesmen by his side and at 7:22 a.m. on April
15th his life ended.
It was a tragedy that would never be forgotten. Lincoln was loved by
many, heralded as a hero and a humanitarian who cared for all living
souls regardless of the color of their skin. While Lincoln claimed
his goal was never to stop slavery, it was the end result of all his
efforts.
On April 21st, a train carrying the body of the beloved President
left Washington and proceeded to Springfield where he would be laid
to rest. The train traveled slowly and thousands of people lined the
tracks in communities along the route mourning and showing respect
for the man who has since been dubbed as the greatest President the
Union has ever seen.
The train arrived in Springfield on May 4th, 1865. Lincoln’s body
was transferred to a horse drawn hearse and was taken to the state
capital. The body lay in state for 24 hours and it is reported that
during that time, 75,000 people passed the coffin to pay their
respects.
This year at Mount Pulaski Courthouse, the month of April has been
set aside to remember President Lincoln on the anniversary of his
assassination. The courthouse has a number of special displays set
up for the month and visitors are encouraged to stop in and take a
look around the historic courthouse where Lincoln practiced law
prior to being elected President.
A special feature of the display is a replica of the
Lincoln hearse created by Eugene Letterly of Latham. Letterly is
well known in the Latham and Mount Pulaski areas for his ability to
re-create small versions of a number of things. In addition to the
hearse, many will remember the carnival scene he has created that
has been featured at the Mount Pulaski parades on many occasion.
Letterly has also made things such as toy tractors and a bicycle
built for four.
On Saturday, April 6th the courthouse hosted a
reception with cookies and punch and Letterly as the guest of honor.
Letterly was given a room on the ground floor of the courthouse
where he visited with folks who came in and shared photos of some of
his projects.
The replica of the Lincoln funeral hearse is
displayed in the main entry of the courthouse.
Courthouse site manager Barbara Stroud-Borth and volunteers Dorene
Smith and Barbara Morrow also visited with guests as they came in
and shared information about the numerous displays set up for the
anniversary month.
Barbara Morrow spent a great deal of her time with
Letterly as the two are good friends who belonged to an antique
tractor club together. Morrow and late husband Arland were active in
the club with Letterly and Morrow still attends the club meetings.
Morrow was also the one who suggested that Letterly’s hearse should
be put on display.
Dorene Smith spent a good part of her day assuring
that guests visited each room. She enjoyed showing off the hearse as
well as a special collection of pennies that were on display in
another of the side rooms.
The Lincoln head penny came about on the President’s
100th birthday year - 1909. The collection of pennies on display
included pre-1909 Indian Head pennies and post 1909 pennies with
Lincoln on the front and a variety of images on the back. And even a
few wartime coins that are made of steel rather than copper (circa
1943).
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Over the years, there have been on a few changes to
the backs of the pennies. The penny has featured the “Wheat” on the
back, as well as the nation’s capital, and the E. Pluribus Unum
Shield. There have also been a few special reverse or flip sides
produced including the commemorative coins produced on Lincoln’s
200th birthday.
In 2009 the U.S. Mint produced four commemorative
coin backs depicting different stages of the President’s life. Those
backs included Lincoln the Railsplitter, Lincoln the state
legislator and Lincoln the President in addition to a coin of the
Lincoln Birthplace.
In yet another room a display is set up featuring
what would have been the mourning clothes of women in the 1860’s.
The black dress with a black cape or wrap would have been typical of
what Mary Lincoln and others close to the Lincolns would have worn
during the days after Lincoln’s death.
In the main hallway of the courthouse, a poster featuring poetry
written in tribute to the President is on display along with many
other displays and pictures/posters related to the Lincoln funeral
as well as the funeral reenactment that was held in Springfield in
2015.
Among the items in the poetry display are tributes to the President
by world famous poet Walt Whitman.
HUSH'D be the camps to-day,
And soldiers let us drape our war-worn weapons,
And each with musing soul retire to celebrate,
Our dear commander's death.
No more for him life's stormy conflicts,
Nor victory, nor defeat—no more time's dark events,
Charging like ceaseless clouds across the sky.
But sing poet in our name,
Sing of the love we bore him—because you, dweller in camps,
know it truly.
As they invault the coffin there,
Sing—as they close the doors of earth upon him—one verse,
For the heavy hearts of soldiers.
- Walt Whitman, May 4, 1865
In addition to the items specifically related to Lincoln’s death,
there are a number of other special displays including items from
one of Mount Pulaski most beloved re-enactors of the president –
Harry Hahn. Included among the Hahn collection are photos and
write-ups about the Lincoln reenactor. Harry Hahn bore a remarkable
resemblance to Lincoln, he stood tall and thin and with his carved
features and beard, he took on the persona of the president at
various events throughout the community for a total of 39 years.
Hahn was also honored to perform at the White House in front of
President Jimmy Carter.
On display from Hahn is the stove pipe hat that was
given to him by Larry Henrischmeyer of Mount Pulaski. It was Hahn’s
first such hat and it is reported that he wore it for at least 20 of
the 39 years. In 2018, 18 years after the passing of Hahn in 2000,
his family gave the hat to the courthouse. It is now carefully
preserved and displayed inside a plexiglas box.
The many displays commemorating the death of President Lincoln will
be available for viewing at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse throughout
the month of April. The courthouse is open noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday
through Saturday.
[Nila Smith]
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