Abraham Lincoln quarterly. [Vol. 5, no. 3]

138 ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUARTERLY
during the winter of '97 and '98 ending with the rising of
Congress in the Spring of '98, of the Lincoln farm to the
United States Government, I promise on receipt of said purchase money to pay Mr. B the sum of $1500 cash." 16 Bigham
had some circulars made, but it appears the cabins were not
exhibited by him after the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Dennett took the logs to New York City, and on August
19, 1899, wrote Bigham that they were stored in the subbasement of his mission which was located at 39 Bowery.17
Dennett made serious efforts to sell the Lincoln farm and
cabin to the Government, but Congress disappointed him,
even though Bigham worked strenuously upon the Kentucky
congressional delegation, particularly Senator William J.
Deboe and Representative David H. Smith.18 In January of
1899, Dennett sent Bigham $35 for a trip to Washington to
lobby for the sale of the farm, and admonished, "you can
write me from Washington if it is not quite enough."19
Without a word to Bigham, on February 2, 1899, Dennett
conveyed the Lincoln farm to David Crear (not to be confused with Creal) by lodging the conveyance, in which the
consideration was left blank, with the Larue County Clerk.
The voluminous records of litigation in which Dennett was
involved in New York and California tell why this conveyance was made.20
"6This contract is now in the hands of Reverend J. W. Bigham's daughter,
Carrie Dennett Vidal (Mrs. J. H.). It is dated at Union City, Tennessee, August
6, 1897, and is written on tablet paper, in pencil, in Dennett's hand.
" Bankruptcy File.
18 Representative Smith of Hodgenville was later able to procure a Congressional
appropriation of $1o,ooo to implement an appropriation of $2,500 by the Kentucky
legislature and certain private contributions for the erection of the Weinman
statue in the Court House Square at Hodgenville.
9 Bankruptcy File, Dennett to Bigham, January 17, 1899.
0 Ibid., testimony of David Crear; also, "A. W. Linforth, Trustee vs. David
Crear, A. W. Dennett and The Christian and Missionary Alliance," Larue County
Circuit Court, Hodgenville, Kentucky, Deposition of Elisha G. Selchow. (Note,
Selchow was a member of the Board of Managers of The Christian and Missionary
Alliance.)