Here are the only photographs known of my 3^rd Great Grandfather, LeGrand Wheeler Douglas. LeGrand was the 2^nd cousin of the “Little Giant,” Stephen Douglas. Below is a chart that explains my relationship to the great orator.

1 Captain Asa Douglas 1715 – 1792 In the Revolutionary War, he led a company of thirty "Silver Grays" at the Battle of Bennington.

.... 2 Benajah Douglas 1760 - 1829

..........3 Stephen Arnold Douglas 1782 - 1813

.................4 Stephen Arnold Douglas “The Little Giant”

.... 2 Captain William Douglas 1743 - 1811

..........3 Benjamin Douglas 1765 - 1842

.................4 LeGrand Wheeler Douglas 1804 - 1888

.......................5 Eliza Jane Douglas 1840 - 1924

..............................6 Belle Wood 1862 - 1949

....................................7 Kenneth Holcomb 1900 - 1982

...........................................8 Living Holcomb

.................................................9 David Holcomb

In 1858, Lincoln began his famous series of debates with Stephen Douglas over the slavery issue. They were both running for the same United States Senate seat. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates skyrocketed Lincoln into national prominence. His common sense approach to the issues, and his sense of humor appealed to the common people, but the debates were not always on the political issues. Once Douglas sneeringly informed the audience that the first time he had seen Lincoln he was selling whisky in a bar. Lincoln replied that it was true he was bar tending, but Judge Douglas was on the other side bar hoping. In 1859, Douglas won the election by 8 votes and went to the Senate little realizing that he had set his opponent on a path to the White House a year later.

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