Mrs. Lincoln's Sad Search for Her Deceased Son. At a time of Civil War that claimed the lives of 600,000 Americans--out of a population of just 30 million--First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln joined the popular custom of seances. Her aim: try to communicate with her son Willie, who passed away at a young age.

From,

The White House's Unruly Neighborhood: Crime, Scandal and Intrigue in the History of Lafayette Square

Book Links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-houses-unruly-neighborhood-edward-p-moser/1131103788

https://www.amazon.com/White-Houses-Unruly-Neighborhood-Lafayette-ebook/dp/B082ZVDCD7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1555118270&sr=1-1-catcorr