Lincoln and New Jersey at Monmouth County Library Headquarters

This talk will touch on several aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s connections with New Jersey. It is not commonly appreciated that he had ancestors who lived here in New Jersey. The political climate of NJ will be summarized to explain why Lincoln failed to carry the state’s popular vote in either of his presidential campaigns (1860 and 1864). Some of the jokes he liked to tell about New Jersey will be presented and explained. Emphasis will be placed on the significance of his visit to the state in February 1861 on the way to his inauguration in Washington. Also included will be the state’s leader's reaction to how he ran the war, and in particular to our reaction to his assassination.

Dr. David Martin is President of the NJ Civil War Heritage Association, sponsor of the state's officially recognized NJ Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. He has written over 25 books on the Civil War and has lectured extensively on President Lincoln and on various aspects of New Jersey in the war.