It was October of 1860, the presidential campaign was in full swing. Threats of secession, forever dividing the nation, and war, was on the minds of a nation on the eve of this presidential election. Slavery had divided the Democratic party into two sections, with Stephen Douglas the candidate for the Northern Democratic party, and John C. Breckinridge the chosen candidate of the Southern Democratic party. A third party, the Constitutional Union party, led by John Bell, although insignificant, was taking away necessary votes for a Democratic victory. The Republican party’s candidate Abraham Lincoln, was a dark horse lawyer from Illinois, who had served one term in Congress, newly recognized for his debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858. His Cooper Union address the previous year in New York brought him to the spotlight, with his nomination as the Republican candidate in Chicago at their Wigwam convention..

Around the country, campaign fairs were promoting their candidates. With the exception of Stephen Douglas, it was unseemly for candidtates to campaign themselves. Speeches from influential Congressmen and Senators encouraged people to vote for their party’s candidate.

In Westfield, N.Y., Norman Bedell, a stovemaker, family man with a wife and six children, attended one of the political fairs in October of 1860. He brought home a Republican campaign poster to his family, which included his precocious 11 year old daughter Grace. She wanted Mr. Lincoln to be elected and told her mother that she was going to write a letter to Abraham Lincoln offering suggestions for improving his chances of victory.

This first letter from Grace to Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln started a chain of events that had far reaching effects upon both Grace and the future President of the United States.

Campaign to save Grace's House launches on February 12, 2008

Teachers from around the country will be launching the massive campaign to save Grace Bedell's house at 602 Custer St., in Delphos, Ks. on February 12, 2008 by reading "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers" by Karen Winnick. Once students have been read the story, the campaign begins to collect the funds necessary to purchase Grace's house in Delphos, make the necessary renovations, and prepare for the grand opening on November 4, 2009, during the Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.

"We are asking students to collect pennies, and donate $1. We would also like to see each student convince their parents to contribute a $5 bill so that Lincoln can help save Grace's house," says Karen Needles, board member of the Grace Bedell Foundation. "We want children to see that they have the power to do something really important. By helping to save Grace's house, they can see how a historical landmark is created. Children do have the power to make a change."

On the same day we will also be launching a contest at the elementary school level to design the official poster for the Save Grace's House campaign. All entries will be placed online and the public will have the opportunity to select which one they like the best. Middle school children will create 30 second radio or television ads to promote the campaign and encourage adults to contribute. The winners of each of these contests will receive a $50 savings bond.