Unusual Abraham Lincoln Facts

Much has been written about our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. Here are some facts and theories you might not know.

Abraham Lincoln's mother Nancy died from "milk sickness" in 1818. Abraham Lincoln was only nine years old when his mother died. "Milk sickness" was caused by the consumption of milk contaminated by the toxin Tremetol. This toxin is found in the White Snakeroot plant. Cows would often graze on the White Snakeroot plant passing the toxin to humans. "Milk sickness" killed thousands of settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. In many cases over half the population of a community died.

Abraham Lincoln is the only American President to hold a patent. Abraham Lincoln had a fascination with machines and often took them apart to study. Patent number 6469 was issued on May 22, 1849. Lincoln's invention was for "A Device for Buoying Vessels Over Shoals" according to his patent application. It proved impractical and was never used.

The Gettysburg Address was not Abraham Lincoln's best speech. On May 29, 1856 Abraham Lincoln spoke in front of the Illinois Republican Convention in Bloomington, IL. Present were over 40 reporters and at least a thousand people. Those in attendance were so memorized no one took notes during his 90 minute speech and no exact account of this "Lost Speech" exists! Another theory is Abraham Lincoln's speech was so inflammatory that despite its brilliance the newspapers refused to print it.

John Wilkes Booth's older brother saved the life of Abraham Lincoln's son Robert! In a strange coincidence, Edwin Booth around 1863 or 1864 in Jersey City, NJ saved Robert Lincoln's life. A crowd of people were waiting for a sleeping car late at night when Robert was pressed against the train. When the train began to move he lost his footing and fell into the space between the train and the platform. Edwin Booth quickly pulled him to safety. Edwin Booth was considered the finest actor of his generation and was very well known. Historians doubt Robert Lincoln ever told his parents of this incident.