On this day in 1842, Mary Todd marries Abraham Lincoln, giving almost no notice to her family. Her family was not exactly pleased with the situation.
The bride and groom came from very different backgrounds. Lincoln was a farmer’s son with little formal education. By contrast, Mary had been born into a prominent Kentucky family, and she’d been educated in the some of the area’s best private schools. One similarity? Both had lost their mothers at an early age.
As a young adult, Mary left Kentucky behind. She moved to Springfield, Illinois, to live with her sister.
Mary was a true Southern belle! She was pretty, flirtatious, and engaging. She loved to dance and was once described as the “very creature of excitement.” However, even then, Mary reportedly experienced extreme mood swings. According to one person, Mary had “spells of mental depression . . . . she was always ‘either in the garret or cellar.’”
Mary soon met a lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln; he was nearly ten years older than she was.
The story continues here:
https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-lincoln-wedding
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At about this time in 1928, a future Medal of Honor recipient is born in Hawaii. Herbert K. Pililaau never lived to see his home become a state. Instead, when Pililaau was killed in action, Hawaii was still only a United States territory.
Surely no one expected the quiet Hawaiian to one day earn the Medal of Honor? He wasn’t very social, didn’t drink and always seemed to be reading his Bible. He apparently considered refusing the draft because of concerns about killing other human beings. In the end, though, he decided to serve.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-herbert-pililaau-moh
At about this time in 1905, Wilbur Wright makes a record-setting airplane flight. His Flyer III would stay in the air for more than 38 minutes. The 24-mile flight was the longest one yet.
Perhaps most importantly to Wilbur and his brother Orville, the flight proved their Flyer III to be a “practical” airplane—the first aircraft to make such a demonstration.
As with any great entrepreneurs, the Wright brothers’ story is one of hard work, success—and failure. Naturally, those early failures proved critical in making the later successes possible.
FULL STORY: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-wright-practical-aircraft
At about this time in 1787, a signer of the Declaration of Independence passes away. It’s been said that Thomas Stone died of a broken heart.
You’ve probably never heard of Stone. He wasn’t a big, famous personality like Benjamin Franklin. He didn’t do anything flashy, like Caesar Rodney did when he made a midnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia, making it just in time to vote in favor of the Declaration. Stone didn’t go on to become President like John Adams or Vice President like Elbridge Gerry. Instead, Stone was simply a Patriot who worked hard, served his country, and put his life on the line by signing the Declaration of Independence—a document that King George III viewed as treason.
How wonderful to live in a country where such a statement can be made. He “simply” put his life on the line. Nothing too flashy?!
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-thomas-stone-signer
