By Thomas Palmer
After a meeting I attended earlier this week, an informal conversation led to comments about connections between President Abraham Lincoln and Galion.
That discussion led to questions about three Galionites in particular and their relationship with Lincoln. Over the last several years, I have written articles that focus on connections between America’s 16th President and our fair city. From that recent conversation, however, it appears these stories may have overlapped a bit in some people’s minds. This post, then, is written in an effort to provide clarification.
Below are links to those stories, as well as information about another Galionite who had an encounter of sorts with the man. These deal with events from the President’s lifetime. His funeral train traveled through Galion in 1865 on its way from Washington, D.C. to Springfield.
Lincoln in Galion
In a Galion History Corner post, I laid out recent research which brought to light the fact that during his lifetime, Abraham Lincoln traveled through Galion and, for a few minutes at least, sat in a train inside the city limits. The year was 1859. Details are available here:
When Galion Welcomed: Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s Engineer
A handful of years ago I composed and published a three part series on the life of Elias H. Fralick, Lincoln’s Springfield neighbor and the man who the President-Elect chose to begin the trip to Washington D.C. Fralick built a house which still stands in Galion on the southeast corner of South Union and Atwood Streets and is buried in Fairview Cemetery. This is the abridged version.
Lincoln’s Friend in Galion
The Gettysburg Address Attendee
Dr. Samuel Wagner, Galion dentist who lived in what is known as the Biehl House at 452 Harding Way West, was present in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania when Lincoln gave his famed address. Wagner and three young friends took an all-night buggy ride from Frederick, Maryland for the occasion. Wagner later said when interviewed about the speech that it was impressive, but at the time none of them realized how important it would become.
