Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1902 [PAGE 63]

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44

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[ J a n . 23,

Mr. Condell says that the ox-yoke was kept at the place of business of C. M. Smith & Co. for many years; that upon the nomination of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency it was placed in a conspicuous place in the counting room of the firm and was much talked about; that Mr. Smith took great pleasure in showing it to his friends and former customers, in giving them its history, and in telling them what his brother-in-law, Mr. Lincoln, said about it. Mr. Condell says that Mr. Pickrell frequently besought Mr. Clark M. Smith to give the ox-yoke to the University, and after a number of conversations, and much hesitancy, he determined to do so, and authorized Mr. Pickrell to take it and present it, in his, Mr. Smith's, behalf, to the University. So the facts are indisputably established that the ox-yoke was made by Mr. Lincoln, at New Salem, probably about 1830; that it was purchased by his brother-inlaw, in his presence, in the year 1849; that it was retained by the purchaser until 1873; and that at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Watson Pickrell it was given to the University by Mr. Clark M. Smith; and that Mr. Pickrell brought and deposited it in pur collections. I have caused affidavits to be prepared and executed by Mr. Pickrell and Mr, Condell, the business partner of Mr, C, M. Smith at the time the gift was made, in orde^r that the University might have and retain an authentica? tion of the facts in due form, which affidavits are as follows: "United States of America, Territory of Arizona, County of Maricopa, ss.: Watson Pickrell, being duly sworn, says that he is a graduate of the University of Illinois, in the class of 1875, and is now a resident of the City of Tempe, Territory of Arizona; that in the year 1873 he presented to the University of Illinois an ox-yoke made by Abraham Lincoln; that his knowledge that the said px-yoke was made by Mr. Lincoln is based upon the following facts, namely: That the yoke was given to this deponent by Mr. Clark M. Smith, late of the City of Springfield, 111,; that Mr. Smith was a brother-in-law;to Mr. Lincoln, and a man of well-known and high repute; that Mr. Smith stated to deponent that sopn after Mr. Lincoln returned to Illinois from his term in Congress, Mr. Lincoln and he (Smith) together visited near New Salem, Menard County, 111.,; where Mri Lincoln once lived; that while there they attended a public auction of farm chattels, among which was the oxyoke; that the yoke was announced at the auction, in the presence of Mr. Lincoln, as having been made by Mr. Lincoln, and that the announcement W'as by him acknowledged as true; that it was looked upon and talked about as a curiosity because made by a Congressman; that Mr. Smith bid off the ybke at said auction and retained the same in his possession until he gave it to deponent; that Mr. Smith also stated to deponent that at the time of buying the yoke he Had no thought that Mr. Lincoln would ever become Presi^dent, but that he thought the yoke was worth buying arid keeping as a souvei1nir because made by his brother-in-law and a former member of Congress;

"WATSON PICKRELL."

I, Charles C Woolf, a notary public, in the County of Maricopa and Terri 1 tory of Arizona, hereby certify that on the 6th day of October, in the yea* 1900, there appeared before ine Mr. Watson Pickrell, known to me to be the person who signed the above statement; and acknowledged that he signed the same, and upon being duly sworn by me said that the statements therein contained were true. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and attach the seal p£my office at the City of Tempe, county and Territory aforesaid, this 6th day of Octo* ber, 1900. My commission expires on Feb. 11, 1902.

, [SEAL.] CHAS. C. W O O L F ,

> Notary Public. State of Illinois, County of Sangamon, ss.: John S. Condell, Sr., being duly sworn, says that he is a resident of the City of Springfield, 111.; that in 1873, and for several years previous, he was the business partner of Mr, Clark M. Smith, the brother-in-law of President Lincoln, under the firm