Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Seven

I did something this past weekend that I have never done before. My good friend and former teacher Martha Warwick sent me a notice on “Messenger” that the Lincoln Museum at Lincoln Memorial University was sponsoring free admission on weekends in the month of February. Most fascinating to me, however, was the fact that patrons would be allowed to enter the vault.

I could not help but get excited. Just to think—to be allowed into that wonderful inner sanctum of Lincoln treasure! What to my wondering eyes would appear?

So, I went. I took my wife along, and though she did so more to humor me than to whet her appetite as a Lincoln enthusiast, she enjoyed her trip to the vault as well. With our very own eyes, this past weekend we beheld the only known copy in existence of a picture of Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln. I had seen the picture in books many times, but I honestly never knew that the world’s only known copy of that photograph was in the vault at Lincoln Memorial University, just a few feet from where I roamed as a student some thirty-six years ago.

If you wish you too, could have seen this wonder, as well as locks of the president’s, Mrs. Lincoln’s, and son Willie’s hair, along with authentic handwritten documents from President Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and Union General Ulysses Grant, another chance is coming. This past Saturday was the second time in as many years (and the only two times thus far) that the vault has been opened to the public. There are plans to open the vault to the public every year on the Saturday between Lincoln’s birthday and President’s Day.

Sometimes the simple things are elusive. Someone asked me a simple question this week that I could not quite answer: What was Lincoln’s favorite food? I knew from years of reading that Mr. Lincoln was a light eater, that often he had only a cup of coffee, one egg and an apple for breakfast. Once again I turned to my trusted friend, Google, for the answer.

According to Geraldine Duncann in 2008 (http://www.thequestingfeast.com):

It is said that his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln had a hard time getting him to remember to eat at all. When she did discover things that he truly enjoyed, she made sure that they were available whenever he wanted them. For the most part, his food tastes were simple. He loved fresh fruit, particularly apples. One of his favorite meals was simply fresh fruit and nuts, cheese and crackers.

President Lincoln did have two favorite dishes, chicken fricassee with biscuits and oyster stew. Actually, he loved oysters just about any way they were served. His dessert tastes were simple as well with apple pie being a favorite. [His] seldom drank alcohol of any sort. Water was his favorite beverage. On one occasion, a hamper of choice imported wines was sent to Mrs. Lincoln for use at White House functions. She sent it on to a military hospital saying, “I never use any and Mr. Lincoln never touches any.” Alcoholic beverages were seldom served at White House entertainments.

It does not surprise me that a man notoriously distracted in reading or study, or in his last years in conduct of arguably the most decisive military event of history, would be so simple in his tastes. My readings on Lincoln have convinced me that he was often too distracted to focus on food. It does surprise me that a man reared on the Kentucky frontier and in the Midwest would favor oysters.

In “Lincoln’s Last Meal”, an article published by Sarah Pruitt on April 13, 1865 (www.history.com; incidentally, this was published one day shy of the 150 year anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination), Pruitt remarks that Andrew Caldwell suggested in his writing (“Their Last Suppers: Legends of History and Their Final Meals”) that the fare that last fatal evening perhaps consisted of “mock turtle soup, roast Virginia fowl with chestnut stuffing, baked yams and cauliflower with cheese sauce”. Unfortunately, Pruitt pointed out that Caldwell failed to cite a source for this information, so it cannot be verified.

Grace Mannon relates sixteen of Lincoln’s favorite foods on https://www.tasteofhome.com. They are apple pie, chicken fricassee, gingerbread men cookies, oysters, bacon, blackberry pie, macaroon tart, corn cakes, corned beef and cabbage, apples, biscuits, almond cake, coffee, venison, pecan pie, and turkey legs.

Perhaps much can be learned about Lincoln’s eating habits by reading the book Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen: A Culinary View of Lincoln’s Life and Times by Rae Katherine Eighmey. Ms. Eighmey discusses how the early death of Lincoln’s mother caused him to early become familiar with helping in preparation of the food he would eat, and how food preparation factored into his life on a raft and later in his marriage. I am going to make it one of my next goals to purchase and read this book.

I leave you now to order my copy. Next week I’ll relate to you stories from my memory about the married life of the Lincolns.