Springfield Museum Gets Lincoln-Related Items

By Ed Epstein

Washington, D.C.

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Lots of us have family heirlooms, but precious few have items tied to Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.

But the Hickox-Edwards families have just such a collection, passed down over five generations. They have donated the items to the Illinois State Museum in downtown Springfield, Ill.

"The donated items represent the families of Virgil and Catharine Hickox and Ninian and Elizabeth Todd Edwards," the museum said in announcing the gift. "They were passed down through the descendants of Charles and Mary Hickox Edwards, who married in 1868. Elizabeth Todd Edwards was the oldest sister of Mary Todd Lincoln; her husband Ninian was an early friend and political ally of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln first met Mary at a Sunday gathering at the Edwards' Springfield home. Initially, Ninian and Elizabeth opposed the plans for Mary to wed Lincoln, then a young Springfield lawyer enjoying the first taste of financial success. But they came around and even hosted the couple's wedding at their home on November 4, 1842.

Ninian Edwards moved from the Whig Party to the Democrats in the mid-1850s and even supported Sen. Stephen Douglas when he sought reelection in 1858, running against the Republicans' choice, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln, however, remained loyal to Edwards, as he did to all of Mary's large family. He lent him money and appointed him to mid-ranking positions during the Civil War.

After Lincoln's death in 1865, Elizabeth and Ninian remained loyal to Mary, even through her many travails. She died in their home in 1882.

The museum has not released images of the donated items but said they will be unveiled to the public at the museum on April 23. It said the items include "a never-before-seen daguerreotype of Lincoln’s niece, Lizzie Edwards, taken between 1855 and 1860; a daguerreotype of Ninian Edwards with his son, Charles, taken in 1850; and Elizabeth Todd Edwards’ personal copy of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer."

Photo from the Illinois State Museum