Historical news flash

Carla Speed McNeil, writer/artist/publisher/everything else of the multiple-Eisner-nominated series Finder, has confirmed that she is related to Abe Lincoln's alleged boyfriend. Turns out that Joshua Speed, who shared a bed with Lincoln every night for four years, is/was McNeil's cousin.

Sounds like Joshua was quite a heartbreaker: when he left town (and the home he shared with Abe) to go back to Kentucky to marry, Lincoln had "a complete nervous breakdown," writing,

I am now the most miserable man living... whether I shall ever be better I can not tell; I awfully forbode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me.

Is there any family resemblance between McNeil and her illustrious forebear? You decide. Here's a photo of McNeil and her sole (at least so far) descendant, David:

And here's a picture of Joshua Speed:



By the way, McNeil reports that she's also related to the head of the California Board of Equalization (not the Board of Education, as I reported earlier). But somehow I don't find that news quite as exciting.