"Why Shouldn't We?"

Abstract

On Christmas Eve of 1985, last acknowledged direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln-81-year-old Robert Todd Lincoln Bob Beckwith-passed away in Saluda, Virginia.1 news caused many Americans to reflect on one of nation's greatest presidents and on tragedies that haunted his family. At same time, Beckwith's passing brought back memories of stormy and controversial marriage that had produced him. But by then, it was difficult for many to comprehend why elopement of President Lincoln's granddaughter with a minor league baseball player had once caused such an uproar and inspired P.G. Wodehouse's classic tale The Pitcher and Plutocrat.At center of story was Jessie Harlan Lincoln, youngest of Robert Todd and Mary Lincoln's three children, who was born in Chicago in 1875. Her childhood was a hectic and eventful one, as her father served first as Secretary of War and then as U.S. Ambassador to England. While in London, ill-fortuned family endured yet another tragedy when Jessie's brother-the namesake and only grandson of martyred president-died of typhoid fever at age of 16. His passing likely had a significant effect on events chronicled here, by serving to harden Robert Todd Lincoln and by leading his wife to rely heavily on Christian Science.Robert Todd Lincoln brought his diminished family back to Chicago in 1893 and became general counsel of Pullman Company while Jessie, now 17, was sent to live with her maternal grandparents in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Her grandfather, James Harlan, was a former U.S. Senator who had once been president of nearby Iowa Wesleyan University; Jessie Lincoln soon got to know many of these students. One of them was school's star half back, Warren Wallace Beckwith. In coy phraseology of day, the acquaintance ripened into more than kindly regard.2On surface, it was a suitable match. Beckwith was only a year older than Miss Lincoln and was a member of another prominent Mount Pleasant family. His father, Captain Warren Beckwith (1833-1905), was a Civil War veteran and successful civil engineer and railroad man who had amassed a wide range of land and business holdings. His mother, Luzenia Wallace Porter, was daughter of Colonel A.B. Porter, a commander in Iowa Cavalry during Civil War. She died when her son was five, but Captain Beckwith soon married her sister, Sarah Porter, whom younger Warren always referred to as his mother. middle name that he shared by mother and son also held significance, as Luzenia Porter was niece of General Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur and yet another Civil War hero.3Despite Beckwith's impressive lineage, Robert Todd Lincoln disapproved of match and made a series of attempts to break it up. He first sent his daughter to New York to stay with her older sister, while Captain Beckwith dispatched his son to Texas. Warren Beckwith's ostensible mission was to look after some business matters, but instead he signed to pitch with Dallas entry in Texas League.4Although Robert Todd Lincoln believed romance to have been severed, Warren Beckwith's Dallas teammates soon learned otherwise. young pitcher received at least two letters per week from Jessie Lincoln and he confided to his teammates and to manager Jack McCloskey that they intended to get married that fall. After last game, Beckwith turned down chance to do some lucrative barnstorming and instead headed back to Mount Pleasant, telling McCloskey that it would be of no use to reserve him for 1898 season because his baseball career was over.5By this time, Jessie Lincoln had also returned to Mount Pleasant; couple reportedly made a first attempt at a secret marriage that was foiled when county clerk tipped off her grandfather.6 timing was difficult for Robert Todd Lincoln, as George Pullman had just died and he was in process of assuming presidency of company. …