Last Witness to President Abraham Lincoln Assassination I've Got A Secret

[CatWoman]

Mr. Samuel J. Seymour, the last living eyewitness to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. was the mystery guest on the February 8, 1956 episode of the I've Got a Secret game show. Mr. Seymour (March 28, 1860 – April 12, 1956) was actually 95 years of age at the time of this appearance instead of 96.

[The Magistrate]

1. Fascinating, Ma'am

There were still several apparent Civil war veterans still alive when I was a lad.

History is not so long ago as we often suppose....

[CatWoman]

2. he's a tough old bird

i'm glad he made the show even though he injured himself the night before

[Collimator]

4. When I was a teenager. . .

. . . Early 1970's, I read a little story in an issue of Reader's Digest.

It was written by a well-respected journalist at the time, though I fear I don't remember the person's name.

He told a story of his youth when he had the opportunity to shake the hand of a man who had fought in the Civil War while witnessing a parade. He remembered the awkwardness of trying to describe to the Civil War Veteran how much it meant for him to shake the hand of someone directly involved in such an historic event.

He said that the old man stopped him and assured him that he understood exactly what he was feeling. Because when he was a young boy, he had the opportunity to shake the hand of the one the old fellas who had fought in the Revolution.

The journalist summed up the story by pointing out that he had personally shaken the hand of a man who had shaken the hand of a man alive at our country's founding. The moment brought the realization of how young our country really is and how close we truly are to history.

[CatWoman]

5. great story and tie

simply wonderful

[customerserviceguy]

6. Did you know

that not just one, but TWO of President John Tyler's grandchildren are still alive? And Tyler became President some 20 years before the Civil War?

That one blew my mind.

[CatWoman]

7. i posted a video in this forum about that some months ago

amazing, isn't it?

[Freedomofspeech]

3. My Great Great Grandfather was a Union Soldier and was standing outside the Ford Theater when

President Lincoln was shot. He had to be a witness at the trial of the co-conspirators. I found a book on Ebay with a transcript of the trial and his testimony. After the war he worked for the US Treasury as a Bank Examiner.