Lincoln and Grace
I am reading a fantastic new book by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch called The Lincoln Conspiracy . It is an impeccably researched true account of the first plot to kill Abraham Lincoln prior to his inauguration in 1861. Many of you have already stopped reading, but those who haven't, this might be interesting to you. Much of this book centers around Lincoln's journey by railroad from Springfield, IL to Washington D.C. where he is to be sworn in as the country's 16th president. Whenever I read history, I pay special attention to what many consider the trivial details. Personally, I think real history is in the forgotten notes. That's the good stuff. This is a particular trivial footnote in Lincoln's history that fascinated me. In February 1861, Lincoln's train made a stop in the town of Westfield, New York, along the shores of Lake Erie. Prior to this stop, Lincoln recognized the town's name on the itinerary and requested to meet a special resident of Wes