Footnotes of History: Henry Wilson

In less than a week, I am graduating from college and leaving the Boston area for the foreseeable future, so I've been making a point of checking off a few remaining things I wanted to do in these parts, including visiting the Cobblery that once belonged to Henry Wilson, 18th Vice President of the United States.

Several years ago a friend of mind had told me about the Shoe Shop (which I want to call a Cobblery, because it's just sounds better), and I have been meaning to visit it ever since. Last week, I finally made my way over.

I braved a slight drizzle to take this picture.

I knew nothing about Henry Wilson, and what I know now has been gleaned entirely from his Wikipedia page. Here are a few choice facts:

1. He was the running-mate of Ulysses S. Grant.
2. He died in office.
3. Before entering the political world, he worked as a cobbler in Natick, Massachusetts.
3. He was a Radical Republican.
4. His birth name was Jeremiah Jones Colbath.

Let me repeat that last one. His birth name was Jeremiah Jones Colbath. Wikipedia does not delve deeper into why he changed his name, nor does it clarify why he chose the infinitely less cool name of Henry Wilson.

In any case, my brief sojourn into the world of Henry Wilson has made me think more about people I like to call "Footnotes of History." Close to the action of major historical events, but not important enough that schoolchildren will grow up hearing your name. There's something that really appeals to me about men like this, who once were prominent and well-known, but have since drifted into obscurity. Maybe it's because, like my youthful fascination with John R. Tanner, former governor of Illinois and lecherous soap opera villain, obscure historical figures don't come with as much baggage, and therefore it's easier to project whatever characteristics you want to on them.

In the case of Henry Wilson, as soon as I saw his birth name was Jeremiah Jones Colbath, I conjured up an image of a young lumberjack in rural New Hampshire who had killed the debauched son of a prominent businessman who had dishonored his sister , and so he changed his name, moved to Natick, and became a cobbler in order to escape his criminal past. I seriously doubt I could have had the same reaction if I heard that Teddy Roosevelt's birth name was Edward Kimberly.

But that's the fun of Footnotes. The holes in their biography are opportunities for some (most likely completely inaccurate) theorizing. For all I know, Henry Wilson just hated the name Jeremiah and wanted a name that was less of a mouthful. But I like the idea that there's a crazy story lurking behind his seemingly ordinary facade.

Movie Review: Young Mr. Lincoln

Synopsis: The movie chronicles the early adulthood of Abraham Lincoln, following his journey from lowly store clerk to self-taught lawyer. It mostly focuses on his first big law case in which he defends two brothers accused of murdering a local ruffian.

Historical Accuracy:
This is a bit of a tough one to call. Although the plot is almost entirely fictionalized, many of the details are accurate enough that they balance out a bit. For example, the case that takes up the majority of the movie was made up for the purposes of the film, but the defense Lincoln used was from a famous case he defended. In any case, the plot is really unimportant in a movie like this, which was more interested in getting at Lincoln's character than getting the exact chronology of his life. Even so, you wouldn't want school kids to think this is gospel truth.
Grade: C+


Period Detail:
Unlike many other Hollywood films of the period, this one looks like it takes place in the correct time period. Little touches like Lincoln playing the Jew Harp and the parade of Revolutionary War veterans add nice bits of period flair. My only gripe was that the opening and closing music were songs from the Civil War era, which was still several decades away from the action of the film. I can see how they could be considered foreshadowing, but it still bothered me. Still, it was a good job overall.
Grade: A


Casting:
I could go on about all the supporting players in this movie and how they were great, but that would be missing the point. In order for this movie to work, they had to cast one person right, and that's Abraham Lincoln. Not only is Henry Fonda right for the role, he's perfect for it. Nobody else will have that kind of face that just seems to emanate goodness or a voice that sounds humble, soft, and sweet. Even under the (surprisingly realistic) makeup, Fonda shines and embodies Lincoln in a way that wraps myth and man together. 
Grade: A+


Quality of the Film:
Like many classic films, Young Mr. Lincoln is a little bit slower and little bit more cornball than what modern audiences are used to seeing. However, director John Ford injects a naturalism and a sense of integrity into the film that make it stand out above other movies. Not only is this an enjoyable movie, it's a great one.
Grade: A 

Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

Synopsis: Young Abraham Lincoln (Ben Walker) is out to avenge the death of his mother when he discovers she was in fact murdered by vampires. He is trained by a mysterious man (Dominic Cooper) in the skills he needs to kill vampires, as well as the equipment (a silver plated ax). Henry charges Abraham to kill the vampires he finds, and also warns him not to create any attachments. When Abraham marries the vivacious Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a rift is created between Lincoln and his teacher, and Lincoln begins to get involved in politics as a way to stop vampires, who use slaves as a food source. He faces off against the head vampire Adam (Rufus Sewell) and his cronies along the way, only to meet them again after he becomes president. Can Lincoln stop the vampires from destroying the Union? Can he still wield his ax with the skill of a homicidal majorette?


Historical Accuracy:
With a name like Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, I didn't expect much in terms of historical accuracy from this movie. That being said, even if you edited out the vampires, this movie was riddled with inaccuracies. I found myself thinking: what about Lincoln's older sister Sarah? Why is everyone clapping when the Gettysburg Address was poorly received? Ultimately, these critiques seem nitpicky considering the main goal of the movie, but it was distracting for me.
Grade: C


Period Detail:
In a movie like this, the sets and costumes are the straight men that make the premise funny. In general, they do a good job of setting the scene without distracting from the action, with one exception. The one lady vampire was riding in around in pants, which bothered me since a woman walking around in pants at that time would have at least raised a few eyebrows. Still, overall, it was a fine job.
Grade: B+


Casting:
Ben Walker is no Henry Fonda, but he does a good job playing Lincoln through different periods of his life. Dominic Cooper gives Henry some flair, but Rufus Sewell really steals the show as Adam, playing up his natural creepiness for all its worth. The weak link is Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whose Mary Todd is a bit too modern, but she improves as the movie progresses. All in all, a fine job by the cast.
Grade: A-


Quality of the Film:
I did not have high expectations for this movie, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's not exactly high art, but it is a lot of fun. 
Grade: B

Presidential House Visit: Springfield Redux

Abraham Lincoln Home
Springfield, IL

I was a little nervous to see the Abraham Lincoln Home in Springfield again. What if it was totally different from how I remembered it? What if it was a big disappointment?

I shouldn't have worried. It was completely different from how I remembered, but it was also a much richer experience. Having seen the Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home so recently, I had a different perspective and a deeper understanding of what this house meant for Abraham Lincoln.

The formal parlor

For one thing, the size must have been a welcome relief. In the cabin where he grew up, the ceilings were too low for his 6'4" frame, and he would have had to crouch to fit. In his home in Springfield, the ceilings are are all twelve feet high. Walking through the house, I could imagine him finally being able to be comfortable in his own home. He had enough room at last.

Abraham Lincoln's Original Writing Desk

Wardrobe possibly made by Lincoln's father

Lincoln's Bed

Another surprise for me on the tour was the focus on Mary Lincoln, as they refer to her at the site. History has been harsh on Mrs. Lincoln, but the home she made for her family is stylish and comfortable, but not ostentatious. Also, I was surprised to learn that Mary did all the cooking for the family herself in the well-equipped kitchen. I always thought of her as a spoiled, difficult woman, but the evidence at Springfield contradicted that assessment.

Mrs. Lincoln's Bed

Kitchen where Mrs. Lincoln did her cooking

The historical neighborhood

While I was in Springfield, I also stopped by Abraham Lincoln's tomb. I was pleasantly surprised to find it much as I remembered it, although now you can no longer go up to the balcony section.

Lincoln's Tomb

But what I was most excited to see at Oak Ridge Cemetery was the John R. Tanner mausoleum. It is still there, in all its beehive glory, although things were not exactly as I remembered it. The grave we thought belonged to John R. tanner's second wife was actually that of his daughter-in-law (the mistake was easy to make considering the words "Wife of John R. Tanner" are emblazoned on the tombstone). His actual second wife was only 11 years younger than him, which is not nearly as large an age difference as my dad had thought. 

John R. Tanner Mausoleum

Daughter-in-law of John R. Tanner (not trophy wife)

Second wife of John R. Tanner, Edith English Tanner

I'm glad I came back to Springfield. I felt like I came away knowing more about Lincoln and the life he chose for himself. 

Presidential House Visit: Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home

The Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home in southern Indiana offers a unique perspective on a period of time in his life I knew little about. He wrote very little about his background, but seeing his humble roots gave me a new perspective on his life. 

Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home Site

  

Replica of the Original Cabin

A Historical Re-enactor Poses at the Cabin

  

The Farm

Presidential House Retrospective: At Home in Springfield

In which the author reminisces on previous presidential house visits. This post chronicles my first ever presidential house visit in 2000.

My first experience with a presidential home was Abraham Lincoln's family home in Springfield, IL. I was eight years old, and my family was in the middle of our Great Tour of the Midwest. We were making the rounds at various spots where our both our living and dead relatives lived. That summer my brother and I learned a great deal about our family history, so it only seemed fitting to fit in some national history as well.

I remember very little about the house itself. It was a cheery yellow color and surrounded by a short fence. The only thing I distinctly recall about the interior was how small the bed was. My image of Lincoln was as more giant than man, and I wondered how such a tall man fit in such a short bed.

What made a real impression on me was Lincoln's tomb, which we visited after we toured the house. The tomb itself is surrounded by an elaborate monument with a balcony and massive statues of horses and soldiers and, of course, the man himself. It is a dramatic structure somewhat at odds with my vision of Honest Abe, the folksy lawyer turned president. It was only later that I recognized that the tomb celebrated Lincoln the martyr to unity and liberty. The problem with martyrdom is that the person's death becomes the climax of your life, with no falling action so what they did in life is marginalized. His humor and intelligence are not present at his tomb like they were in his house.

We were informed that there would be a color guard salute in an hour, and afterward we would be able to go down into the tomb itself. We did what most people with an hour to kill in a cemetery would do: we looked at some gravestones and speculated. I should note that as I child I visited a lot of cemeteries in order to visit various deceased relatives, distant or otherwise, and developed a love of cemeteries. So the prospect of an hour in an unfamiliar cemetery was not necessarily unwelcome.

As we wandered around the grounds, we came across a large mausoleum reminiscent of a beehive. It belonged to John R. Tanner, a former governor of Illinois. Although there was plenty of room inside the tomb, his two wives were buried next to him. From looking at the dates on the tombstones, my dad figured out that Tanner's second wife was significantly younger than him. That was the day I learned the term "trophy wife," and I was both repulsed and intrigued by the concept. I was apparently so taken by the idea that I wrote about it in my diary that night, in the style of a lurid melodrama, as only an eight year old can write a lurid melodrama. 

Transcript (glorious typos intact): 

"John R. Tanner was Governor of Illnois for 4 years. His wife, Laurretta, was peacful untill......They got in Divorce! Then John, had a Trophy wife! 2 years after they married, John died. He is all alone in a tomb shaped like a bee hive. His wives next to his tomb. Unlike Abe. His sons and wife were buried with him. John R. Tanner is now gone."

I recently looked up John R. Tanner on Wikipedia, purveyor of all knowledge. Turns out he was a pretty cool guy and not a soap opera villain. However, I noted with satisfaction that Wikipedia describes his second wife as "socially connected," which is just a nicer way of saying she was a trophy wife. So maybe my version of events was more accurate than I thought.

I learned an important lesson at Springfield-- history is a story. It can be reinterpreted and rewritten, erased and recovered. In my eight year old hands, John. R. Tanner was a lecherous sleazebag, and at Lincoln's tomb, our 16th president is raised to mythical levels.  Lincoln is a national hero deserving of grand tribute, and so his tomb is huge and grandiose to emphasize his importance, not necessarily to reflect his personality. I prefer the Lincoln who couldn't fit in his bed, a man too large for his world. My Lincoln was a gentle giant, whose humility belied a shrewd political mind and incredible strength of character. 

Also, his wife was buried with him, not next to him.