Although he’s been dead for 140 years, President Abraham Lincoln still finds time to make the occasional public appearance.
On Thursday, Feb. 24, the 16th president of the United States, savior of the Union and liberator of the slaves stopped by Daniel Axford Elementary to chat with first graders about his life and answer a few of their questions.
Many skeptical students in attendance voiced their belief that Mr. Lincoln was in fact Brad Bigelow, a first-grade teacher at Daniel Axford.
‘I am Abraham Lincoln,? announced the tall, thin gentleman wearing a stove-pipe hat and long dark suit.
‘No you’re not! You’re Mr. Bigelow!,? shouted all the first-graders in unison.
‘Abraham Lincoln is dead, so you’re Mr. Bigelow,? proclaimed one first-grader.
While the resembalance was admittedly uncanny, this reporter was unable to determine if President Lincoln and this Mr. Bigelow fellow were one in the same.
Despite their skepticism, President Lincoln talked about his youth, being born in Kentucky in 1809, then moving to Indiana at the age of 8 and living in a log cabin.
The president spoke of his love of ‘strong man? contests and his passion for reading.
‘I read anything I could get my hands on. I loved to read,? said President Lincoln, noting his favorite books were the Bible, Robinson Crusoe adventures and stories about other U.S. presidents, especially his hero George Washington. ‘I would travel for miles to borrow books. And I always returned them in the best condition.?
Prior to his election as president in 1861, Mr. Lincoln said he worked as a mailman ? carrying letters inside his hat so he wouldn’t lose any ? and a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, where he met his wife Mary Todd.
Mr. Lincoln discussed how the northern and southern states weren’t ‘getting along too well? when he became president because of slavery.
‘I thought it was important that everyone be treated equally,? the president told students. He then read part of his famous Gettysburg Address and emphasized how important freedom is.
One student noted that President Lincoln was supposed to have had a longer beard.
President Lincoln told her he ‘trimmed? his beard so it would be ‘nice and neat? for his appearance at DA.
He then told students that he originally grew facial hair because an 11-year-old girl once wrote him a letter stating a beard would make him look better because he’s so thin.
After spending about an hour with students, President Lincoln had to leave for another appointment.
Still unconvinced, the students waved to the former president as he left and said, ‘Goodbye Mr. Bigelow!?