There were several other people who claimed to be part of the conspiracy who eventually lived in Lake County.

There are all kinds of interesting stories about Confederates in this area helping Breckinridge and Davis to escape right through Lake County. The (Civil) War was over, but the network was still there.

It just seemed so odd that someone in a city that had both Union and Confederate soldiers — including a recipient of the Union Medal of Honor — would claim to be involved in the Lincoln assassination. What would be the motive for claiming that? To get yourself killed?

I'm doing this for us, my wife and me. I'll get on top of the mountains and be closer to heaven and to her.

They took care of my wife in her last days, it's payback.

I want to be out there and I don't want to hear all this stuff ... the noise of trucks and cars.