Rare ‘Lincoln letter’ donated to East Troy Historical Society

The East Troy Area Historical Society continued its mission of collecting, preserving and sharing the rich history of the East Troy area recently by accepting a letter written in 1865 by a soldier in the Civil War.

After having it in her possession for 70 years, Maxine McGuire of East Troy donated the letter, which was written by a Civil War soldier to his brother.

McGuire said she found the letter in a barn on Main Street in East Troy in 1942.

The letter, dated April 15, 1865—the day Abraham Lincoln died—recounts the soldier’s duties in and around Alexandria, Va. during that historic day and night.

According to McGuire’s “Lincoln Letter,” the soldier and his compatriots were responsible for quelling rioters who were celebrating Lincoln’s death in a rowdy manner in the streets of the area.

Politics of the times were even more divided than today and had resulted in the secession of the South and the onset of the Civil War.  There were many who hated Lincoln so much they reveled in his demise at the hand of John Wilkes Booth that fateful evening of April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theater, according to the historical society.

The historical society is now in the process of authenticating the letter to be sure that it is from the Civil War era, the man who signed it was indeed in the Union Army and possibly from the East Troy area.

“I want to have the letter in a place where others could see it and enjoy it as I have over the years and the historical society is the right place for it to be,” McGuire said.

“This letter is a rare find and most valuable to the society and our entire community as a part of the historic record,” said Judy Mitten, historical society president.

“We are most honored to have it and share it with others who have an interest in the Civil War – especially at this important anniversary year,” Mitten added.

The letter has been entered into the archives of the East Troy Area Historical Society where it will remain with other significant East Troy Area historical documents.  The society has an ever-increasing collection of rare letters including the archive of Chafin letters acquired a couple of years ago dating as far back as 1828.

Area residents may view the historical society’s archives exhibit at the Kubicki Museum and Heritage Center, 2106 Church St., during regular museum hours from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, or by appointment. For more information, call (262) 642-2642.