From: Jerry Mower Date: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 15:38:55 To: rjnorton@worldnet.att.net Subject: Question on Lincoln I am an American history teacher in Wyoming. My family history has carried the unsubstantiated story that my 2nd great grandfather, Henry Mower, was a wagon (or buggy) driver for Abraham Lincoln when the Mower family lived near Springfield, Illinois around the 1840 time frame. My 2nd great grandfather would have been around 16 years old at the time. Perhaps in the Lincoln records there is a payroll account book which might record payment for services to Henry Mower? I sure would like to verify this fact if possible. Thanks, Jerry Mower Afton, Wyoming From: R Norton To: jmower@SILVERSTAR.COM Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 9:00 AM Subject: Re: Fw: Question on Lincoln Hi. I get many, many letters like yours. Unfortunately in about 90% of the cases I cannot locate the name asked about in any of my Lincoln books. I went through all my best sources, and the name Henry Mower is in none of them. This includes "Lincoln Day By day" which has all of Lincoln's known accounts and payments. I simply cannot find any connection whatsoever between the two men. Based on my books, I cannot say that the two men were acquainted, but of course Lincoln knew a lot of folks who don't make the history books. I can tell you with reasonable certainty that Lincoln never wrote a letter to Mr. Mower, and that Mr. Mower was not interviewed by William Herndon. Herndon was Lincoln's law partner, and after the assassination in 1865, he went about interviewing hundreds and hundreds of people who knew Lincoln. Herndon used the results of his research for his Lincoln biography. I am sorry I cannot be of help. Sincerely, Roger Norton