[LINCOLN]. ALS mentioning nomination of Lincoln, who "split rails" as a young boy. 19 May 1860.

BOWERS, C.B. Autograph letter signed ("C.B. Bowers") as President of the City Fire Insurance Company of Hartford. Addressed to his wife.
Chicago, [Illinois], 19 May 1860. 2pp, Approx. 8 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. On letterhead of "Western Branch Office City Fire Ins. Co. of Hartford" letterhead. Accompanied by matching cover with 20 May cancellation.

Bowers writes to his wife regarding the 1860 Republic National Convention which had concluded just the day before in Chicago: "Convention is over. Abe Lincoln nominated, and the principle reason for preferring him seems to be that when a boy, 'he went barefooted to pasture' and 'split rails.' My chance may yet be good - who knows."

Bowers's letter reflects the fact that Lincoln, though he had gained a national reputation, was not the anticipated nominee, and demonstrates that Lincoln's appeal came in part from his associations with the common man and frontier America.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Ephemeral Americana and Historical Documents

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American Historical Ephemera and Photography

[LINCOLN]. ALS mentioning nomination of Lincoln, who "split rails" as a young boy. 19 May 1860.

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