All the Lincolns were very fond of animals.
The Lincoln Family Pets
In the mid-1850s, the Lincoln Family of Springfield, IL had a dog named Fido. He was likely what people would call a mutt, or a mixed breed, but the Lincoln children loved him. So did Lincoln. Mary Lincoln tolerated the “yellow” dog, but regularly complained when he tracked mud on her newly-scrubbed floors and carpets. She was also understandably less than thrilled when AL and the boys fed Fido from the table.
But when AL was President-elect, planning to close up their house and move to Washington, it was decided that Fido needed a new home. Painful as it was, particularly for Willie and Tad, there was no way the family could tend to a dog, particularly aboard trains and in hotels for nearly a month before they arrived in the nation’s capital.
One of their neighbors, John Roll, had known Lincoln since they were both young men. He lived near them in Springfield, and his children were close in age to Willie and Tad. They were happy to provide an easy transition for the tearful Lincoln boys. Periodically, they would hear about their old pet, (from AL’s old barber) and how happy Fido was with his new family.
More Pets
During the four years the Lincolns lived in the White House, there were several pets who became part of the family. There were a couple of cats, likely strays, that they named Tabby and Dixie. Many people who knew Lincoln personally, said he had a great fondness for them.
The boys had ponies.
Nanny and Nanko were a pair of goats who were also great favorites of Tad’s. It is said that they were given the run of the White House grounds, and became accustomed to the sound of Lincoln’s voice. When he was out walking, they would come bounding toward him. Perhaps the most famous “goat” story was when Tad was 8 or 9, he hitched them to a chair, sat down and “sledded” them through the hallways.
Jack the Turkey
Sometime in mid-1863, after gentle-but-persistent pressure from Sarah Josepha Hale, the formidable editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book (a must-read for all Victorian women), Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national Thanksgiving Day. It would be celebrated from that time on not only as a day of prayer and thankfulness, but a day of feasting and family togetherness. Turkey dinner was a meal-of-choice for large gatherings. Simple enough to roast and large enough to feed a dozen or more people – depending on the girth of the bird. And stuffing was easy to prepare and always delicious.
As a gift to the President, a live turkey was donated to the Lincolns for their Thanksgiving dinner, but AL, having returned from dedicating the Gettysburg National Cemetery, had a nasty bout of variola, considered a mild form of smallpox. He was too ill to enjoy Thanksgiving festivities. The plan was to keep the turkey for Christmas dinner instead.
The turkey, of course, was immediately adopted by Tad Lincoln, his youngest son. Robert, their oldest was a student at Harvard. Two other Lincoln sons had died young: Eddie, always sickly, succumbed shortly before his 4th birthday; Willie was only eleven when he died of typhoid fever in the White House. The family was devastated, and little Tad, who had a speech impediment from birth, was given free rein by his very permissive parents. The President indulged the little boy who was always lovable, warm-hearted, and spoiled. Tad named the turkey “Jack,” and taught the big bird to follow him all around the White House grounds.
Lincoln recovered from his variola in about a month, and by the Christmas season was back to being himself again. Jack the Turkey was assigned to the kitchen staff for butchering and stuffing purposes. Lincoln told Tad that the turkey was specifically given to them for their holiday dinner.
Tad Lincoln sprang into action, pleading for the life of his beloved pet. He had witnessed loved ones of condemned soldiers wait for hours in the White House hallways, in order to beg the President to spare their dear one. Speech impediment or not, Tad was good – and effective. To wit…. “But he is such a good turkey, Pa, and I don’t want him killed.” Then he added that Jack the Turkey had every right to live, too.
Lincoln the lawyer and Lincoln the kind-hearted POTUS-father knew when he was beaten, and Jack the Turkey was given a reprieve. In fact, AL wrote on a card that the bird was formally “pardoned.”
More of the Jack Story….
The pardoned turkey continued to live with the Lincolns, happy to follow Tad around. Nearly a year later (1864), when AL was re-elected, there was a long line of soldiers waiting to cast their votes near the White House. The President saw the line – and spotted Jack the Turkey in line. He playfully asked his son if Jack were planning to vote in the election. “Oh no, Pa,” replied Tad, “He’s much too young.”
It is unknown whether or not Jack was able to avoid the kitchen for Christmas Dinner ‘64, but the likelihood was that another reprieve was issued.
What is known however, is that the Christmas Dinner of 1864 was Lincoln’s last. He was assassinated a few months later, and what happened to Jack the Turkey is anyone’s guess.
Sources:
Conroy, James B. – Lincoln’s White House: The People’s House in Wartime – Rowan & Littlefield, 2016
Leech, Margaret – Reveille in Washington 1860-1865 – Harper-Collins, 1941
https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/lincoln-pets.htm
https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving
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