Thanks for making time to listen to a few of my stories.
I have always been interested in American history but heading a children's charity and raising a family did not allow time. Upon retirement I spent several years re reading those history books that I had just read in school to pass the test. During these reads, I paid particular attention to record (for retelling) those interesting and informative stories my history teachers didn't have time to share.
I organized Santa Express Trains to the North Pole for 10 years during my tenure with the children's charity. This intensified my passion for trains which I had had from youth. Upon retirement, I continued feeding my train passion by riding most of Amtrak's trains, even serving as an Amtrak tour guide.
My train passion went through the roof when I learned Robert Todd Lincoln arguably set the record for riding the most miles on trains before age 25, and while Secretary of War he traveled by train to many military places out West, AND at age 55 replaced George Pullman as the CEO of nation's largest rail manufacturing company, the Pullman Palace Car Co. Robert serve as CEO for 11 years and then continue as chairman of the Board for another 14 years! He definitely became a railroad baron.
With this knowledge, I chose to become a Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor. I found only 2 books on Robert Todd Lincoln. Yet, these books contained valuable information and stories I found delight in sharing as his reenactor.
For information and stories about
Robert Todd Lincoln tap here Mary Todd Lincoln tap here
Robert Todd Lincoln
and Trains
Lincoln Incident on Train
This is long remembered in the Todd family: unbeknownst to the Lincolns that a nephew of Mrs. Lincoln’s stepmother traveled from Frankfort to Lexington on the same train with them in 1848.
The gentleman got off the train ad arrived at the Todd home before the Lincolns arrived.
Once there he began to complain two lively youngsters (Robert and Eddie) on board who kept the whole train in the turmoil, and their tall father, who instead of spanking the brats, looked pleased as punch and aided and abetted the older one in mischief.
Just then, the nephew looked out of the window and cried “good lord” there they are now.
Pres. elect Lincoln Meets
Girl Who Recommended He
Grow a Beard
From a contemporary
newspaper account
At Westfield, Mr. Lincoln greeted a large crowd of ladies, and several thousand of the sterner sex.
Addressing the ladies, he said, "I am glad to see you; I suppose you are to see me; but I certainly think I have the best of the bargain. (Applause.)
Some three months ago, I received a letter from a young lady here; it was a very pretty letter, and she advised me to let my whiskers grow, as it would improve my personal appearance.
Acting partly upon her suggestion, I have done so; and now, if she is here, I would like to see her; I think her name was Miss Barlly."
A small boy, mounted on a post, with his mouth and eyes both wide open, cried out, "there she is, Mr. Lincoln," pointing to a beautiful girl, with black eyes, who was blushing all over her fair face.
The President left the car, and the crowd making way for him, he reached her, and gave her several hearty kisses, and amid the yells of delight from the excited crowd, he bade her good-bye, and on we rushed.
Philadelphia Inquirer February 20, 1861:
Robert came into the world a little more than a decade after Peter Cooper's first locomotive pulled cars on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
In 1847, Robert and his dad walked several blocks from their Springfield home to see the Sangamon and Morgan train puff into the station.
Little did Robert know that his father, while in the Illinois legislature, championed railroads.
The Lincoln family would ride between Springfield and Lexington, KY, Mary's childhood home, on several occasions.
In the 1850's, Lincoln rose to become one of Illinois top railroad lawyers. Perhaps, his most important case was establishing railroads had the right to cross large navigable waters.
As President, Lincoln would sign several historic pieces of legislation authorizing the first transcontinental railroad.
Robert's longest railroad trip during his childhood was the round trip between Springfield and Washington D.C. when Lincoln served as an Illinois Congressman.
Some estimates suggest that young Lincoln rode nearly 4,000 miles prior to his dad's presidential election.
A large percentage of those miles occurred on the inaugural trip to Washington D.C. The press had given Robert the title of "Prince of Rails". (The Prince of Wales had just concluded a U.S. visit.).
A. Lincoln gave over 100 speeches from the train during his ride from Springfield to Washington City. He rode over 1900 miles on 18 different railroads.
On one stop in New York state, he met the young girl who recommended he grow a beard.
Robert entered Harvard shortly before his father took office. He traveled the Boston to Washington train numerous times, occasionally stopping in New York City.
The Lincoln family met the funeral train in Chicago for its final destination of Springfield, IL. A young George Pullman had offered his new and luxurious parlor car which the Lincoln's accepted. Ironically, the publicity helped attract investors leading to the establishment of the Pullman Company. Thirty years later, Robert became Pullman's CEO.
As an adult, Robert was a frequent train traveler including several trips out west - Nebraska, Arizona, California, etc.
Interestingly, Robert who lived in Chicago at the time, was aware that the railroads were meeting to create a uniform time schedule that each railroad would agree with. That happened in Chicago in 1883 when time zones began and all railroad clocks were synchronized.
As Pullman's CEO, he visited the companies various plants and service areas.
In the early 1890's, Robert was introduced to the game of "golf". He frequently rode the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin electric train between Chicago and Wheaton, IL, a distance of 35 miles to the Chicago Golf Club, the first 18 hole golf course in the U.S.
Robert loved trains. Of course, upon become Pullman's CEO, he rode in luxury on a Pullman Parlor Car.
History enthusiasts point out that both A. Lincoln and R. Lincoln had a major impact on the development of railroads.