In Honor of Abe

On this date 200 years ago, a mementous event in our history transpired. A child named Abraham Lincoln was born in a simple log cabin on his father's farm in Hardin County, Kentucky. Although they lived a hardscrabble existence, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln raised their son as best they could. Obviously, they did something right! It was in these rural surroundings that Lincoln grew up and as a boy witnessed slaves being transported from Louisville to be sold in Nashville, which would have a tremendous impact on him later in life. Lincoln lived in Kentucky until his family moved to Indiana in 1816. It is amazing to ponder that someone from such humble origins would one day be memorialized in magnificent marble in our nation's capital with the likes of Washington and Jefferson.

Today, one of the most recognizable symbols of President Lincoln is his black felt top hat, which he was photographed wearing a few times, including in 1862 (http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=2141&rendTypeId=4). Lincoln helped to popularize this men's fashion, and the photo in today's post of an unknown bearded man in his overcoat and holding his shiny new hat is one of the only vintage images of men I own with a top hat in their "likeness." Interestingly, you will notice some sort of medal stand behind the right foot of the gentleman. This is in all probability an iron rod that was used to give the individual proper posture and aid the photographer in posing the image. One of these can be seen in many nineteenthy century photos, most famously in one of Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. To see for yourself, visit

http://www.generalsandbrevets.com/ngg/grantus19.htm