Shortly after the death of Booth, John's older brother, William, was injured in a skirmish with Morgan's men and was sent to the Soldier's Home (hospital) in Washington City. Thus, John stayed with the camp until his brother’s return. In the meantime, the Lincoln Conspirator's Trail was finishing up. His brother was still in the hospital on the day of the hanging of the conspirators, so John got the questionable idea that he wanted to witness the hanging.

The yard where the execution took place had a high brick wall to keep people out and all the doors leading to the yard were guarded because only the select few with tickets were supposed to be allowed in. John did not have a ticket, but Captain Doherty, with William's regiment, knew the boy and let him in anyway. John soon regretted witnessing the hanging. He wrote in a letter, years later, that after the drops were released "I turned away with a sensation of horror and faintness and a feeling that I have never since lost, that I had no wish ever to witness another such scene." John has the indubitable distinction of being the last living person that had witnessed the hanging of the Lincoln conspirators. John died in 1928. He was also the founder of the current Boy's Clubs.

Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865. In November 1876, thieves attempted to steal his body buried inside the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois and hold it for ransom. The sarcophagus had been opened but, fortunately, they were caught before they could actually make off with the body. Rumors persisted that Lincoln’s body was NOT in the casket because the thieves had actually succeeded in stealing it. Some people claimed there was a government cover-up. In 1899, the Lincoln Tomb was literally falling apart and had to be torn down completely and rebuilt. It wasn’t finished until 1901. At that time, the Lincoln Guard of Honor, a group of men responsible for guarding the tomb, decided that they would open the casket to confirm that Lincoln’s body was really in it.

One of the men sent word to his 13-year-old son to hurry over to the tomb to see "something he will remember for the rest of his life." The boy's name was Fleetwood Lindley. When the coffin was opened there was a strong pungent odor. Despite this, the group leaned over the casket and peered in. Lincoln’s face was covered in white powder but still highly recognizable including his beard, hair, and wart. The powder was actually chalk that had to be applied to Lincoln's face while in route for his many funerals in April and May 1865. Midway through the 1,700 mile journey, Lincoln's face had turned black. Lincoln’s clothing had yellow mold on them. The flag that was draped over his body had mostly disintegrated with only small swatches of red, white and blue cloth left. Fleetwood Lindley died in 1963. He was proud of the distinction of being the last living person to peer on the face of Abraham Lincoln.

After the viewing, Lincoln's casket was sealed and moved to a previously dug hole that was a ten-foot cube. Lincoln’s casket was lowered in it, then covered with concrete. This way, it would be impossible for anyone to try and steal the body again.

Will Rogers was a famous humorist during the depression of the 1930s. Here are some of his quotes concerning politics and government:

"In America we have the best politicians money can buy."

"I could never understand why a man would spend $50,000 to get elected to an office when the job only pays $3000 a year!"

"The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back!"

"Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth."

"You can't say civilization isn't advancing; in every war they kill you in a new way."

"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."

"There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

"Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate; now what's going to happen to us with both a Senate and a House?"

"On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does."

"Elections are a good deal like marriages. There's no accounting for anyone's taste. Every time we see a bridegroom we wonder why she ever picked him, and it's the same with public officials."

"The Democrats and Republicans are equally corrupt -- it's only in the amount where the Republicans excel."

"I can remember way back when a liberal was generous with his own money."

"A fool and his money are soon elected."

"We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs."

"You've got to be an optimist to be a Democrat, and you've got to be a humorist to stay one."

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for."

"I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat."

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