The Next Best Thing

From The (Tinley Park, Ill.) Daily Southtown:

Descendants of Lincoln's friends and neighbors plan reunion

Sunday, August 7, 2005

By Christopher Wills
The Associated Press

PETERSBURG, Ill. — Nearly two centuries ago, a self-described "piece of driftwood" settled in a frontier village that would soon dwindle into a ghost town.

Both would be forgotten today, except the settler's name was Abraham Lincoln and the village, New Salem, has become synonymous with his rise from rough young man to ambitious politician.

Now the descendants of his friends and neighbors in New Salem — rebuilt as a state historic site — are organizing a reunion next summer to mark the 175th anniversary of Lincoln's arrival.

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But don't look for any Lincolns. The 16th president has no living descendants.

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[Read the whole story]

Also next summer: A reunion in Independence, Missouri, of people not related to Harry S. Truman.