The Green Bag.
ROBERT TODD LINCOLN.
By Hulburd Dunlevy.
MR. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, the subject of this sketch, was born at Springfield, Ill., August 1, 1843. His father, Abraham Lincoln, afterwards President of the United States, was at that time practising law at Springfield. His mother was "the beautiful Fannie Todd," of Kentucky, whose charms were the subject of more than local admiration.
In appearance Mr. Lincoln is said, by those who knew his parents, to resemble his mother closely in almost all respects. His eyes, however, have the same gentleness and kindness of expression that were characteristic of his father.
After the usual course in the elementary schools at home, Mr. Lincoln entered Phillips Academy, at Exeter, N. H.; and upon finishing the academic course, entered Harvard University in the autumn of 1860. Upon graduating from college he entered the Harvard Law School, but gave up his work there in 1865 in order to accept a commission as captain in the United States Army, and as Assistant-Adjutant General on General Grant's staff. After a short time in the army, however, he resigned, and began the study of law in Chicago. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1867. He entered immediately upon his practice, and continued to practise uninterruptedly until 1876, when the city was in the most hopeless financial tangle, and the affairs of the community were almost in a state of bankruptcy. He was then persuaded to become a candidate for the position of supervisor of the town of South Chicago, and being elected showed, during his first period of service in a public position, how great was his skill and accuracy in business management.
Mr. Lincoln consented to fill this office at a sacrifice to his own interests, and he did so only because he was persuaded by many intelligent men that he was needed in that position. He holds his own interest subservient to the public good, when it appears to him that his services are required. In 1880 he was chosen by President Garfield to fill a position in the Cabinet, and was appointed Secretary of War. His duties in this position will be remembered by those who observed the working of Garfield's administration; and no better proof of his good management is needed than the fact that when the Democratic administration came into power nearly every department of the Government was severely criticised. I believe, however, that not a word of criticism was uttered by the incoming administration as to the management of the War Department. On President Garfield's death Mr. Lincoln was the only member of the Cabinet retained by President Arthur. Upon the accession of Mr. Cleveland to the Presidency, Mr. Lincoln returned to Chicago, and has practised law vigorously since that time. His recent appointment as Minister to England by President Harrison came to him unsolicited, and in fact he had no knowledge of the President's intention or action until a despatch from a member of the Senate informed him that his name had been sent to that body for confirmation.
The characteristics which strike one most
