By Shira Gladstone
With the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth celebrated last year, and the sesquicentennial of the Civil War quickly approaching, one could say that now more than ever Abraham Lincoln’s life and leadership is being examined and honored. So, during this time of commemoration wouldn’t it be great if there were a direct descendent of Lincoln around, someone who could share family stories and provide further insight into a much studied icon of American history? Unfortunately, there are no direct descendents of President Lincoln alive today.
Robert Todd Lincoln, 1922; Library of Congress
Abraham and Mary Lincoln had four sons together – Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas. Robert was born in 1843; just nine months after Abe and Mary were married. The next son, Edward, arrived in 1846. He was never a healthy child and just before his fourth birthday he died from (most likely) tuberculosis. Seemingly wanting to fill the void Eddie’s death had caused, the birth of William, in 1850, followed ten months later. David Herbert Donald notes in his seminal work Lincoln, “Willie was the most intelligent and the best-looking of all the Lincoln children, and from the day he was born his father doted on him.” Willie’s death from (most likely) typhoid fever, in February of 1862, hit President Lincoln especially hard; the family’s immense grief was one of the reasons they chose to live at the Soldiers’ Home for part of that year. The last son, Thomas (“Tad”), was born in 1853. Tad was the one son who was able to enjoy time at the Soldiers’ Home (Robert was at college throughout most of the Civil War). Yet unfortunately, he also died too soon. At the age of eighteen, after returning with his mother from a two and a half year trip to Europe, Tad passed away due to “compression of the heart.”
Robert was the only child of Abe and Mary to live into adulthood. He graduated from Harvard University in 1864, and left Harvard Law School to join the Union Army (he joined General Grant’s staff). When the War ended Robert moved back to Illinois and attended what is now the University of Chicago Law School. He married Mary Eunice Harlan in 1868 and they had three children together. He spent much of his career working for the Pullman Palace Car Company, eventually becoming its president and chairman of the board. Along with being an attorney, Robert was also a politician; he served as Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885 and as Ambassador to Great Britain from 1889 to 1893. He made his last public appearance at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922. In 1926 Robert died at his home in Manchester, Vermont.
Robert’s children – Mary, Jack, and Jessie; Chicago History Museum
Robert and Mary’s eldest daughter, Mary, was born in 1869. Mary and her husband Charles Bradford Isham had one child named Lincoln. Lincoln did marry, but never had any children of his own. In 1873 Robert’s only son, Abraham “Jack” Lincoln II, was born. He died from blood poisoning at the age of sixteen. Jack was said to have been much like his famous grandfather. The youngest child, Jessie, arrived in 1875. Although she was married three times, it was only with her first husband – Warren Wallace Beckwith – that she had children. Her daughter, Mary Lincoln Beckwith, never married nor had children. Jessie’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, was married twice. His second wife claimed he fathered her son, yet Beckwith always denied this. Though DNA testing has never been done, it is generally believed that Beckwith was not the boy’s biological father. Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith was the last confirmed direct descendent of President Lincoln. He died in 1985.
Even with no one to carry on his family name, President Lincoln’s legacy is safe within public memory and culture. Still, it’s hard not to wish there was someone today who could provide a tangible link to one of our country’s greatest presidents.
Ms. Gladstone is the Events Coordinator at President Lincoln’s Cottage.
FAQs
While living here, he visited with allies and adversaries, veterans, wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated men, women and children, and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln's experiences here provided new and diverse perspectives on issues of freedom, justice, and humility.
Did Abraham Lincoln live in a cottage? ›
President Abraham Lincoln and his family spent the summers of 1862, 1863, and 1864 living in a cottage on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, a home for elderly and disabled army veterans.
Does Lincoln have any living descendants? ›
Abraham Lincoln has no direct descendants alive today. Of his four sons he had with Mary Todd Lincoln — Eddie, Willie, and Tad — three died young. His only child who survived into adulthood, Robert Todd Lincoln, had several children and grandchildren.
What was Abraham Lincoln home life? ›
What was Abraham Lincoln's personal life like? Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 in a backwoods cabin in Kentucky. His father was a pioneer and a farmer, and his mother was a deeply religious woman who died when Lincoln was young. His father's second wife adored Lincoln and is said to have stoked his love of learning.
Is the house where Lincoln died still standing? ›
Known as the house where Lincoln died, the Petersen House changed from a family home into a museum and is now a historic site.
What is the history of the Lincoln House? ›
Property history
A Grade-III listed mansion designed 1933 by British architect Claude Batley, the property was originally built for the Maharaja of Wankaner, HH Sir Amarsinhji Banesinhji and his son Pratapsinhji Jhala.
Where is Abraham Lincoln buried? ›
Lincoln Monument Association...
Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield...
He met his wife, Mary Todd, at her sister's home in Springfield and married there in 1842. The historic-site house at 413 South Eighth Street at the corner of Jackson Street, bought by Lincoln and his wife in 1844, was the only home that Lincoln ever owned.
Did Abraham Lincoln have a wife? ›
Is George Clooney related to Abraham Lincoln? ›
George Clooney is connected to the great emancipate, and Lucy Hanks is the woman we can thank. for this epic connection. According to Ancestry, Lucy is Lincoln's grandmother. and Clooney's fifth great grandmother, making them cousins.
In 1926 Robert died at his home in Manchester, Vermont. Robert and Mary's eldest daughter, Mary, was born in 1869. Mary and her husband Charles Bradford Isham had one child named Lincoln. Lincoln did marry, but never had any children of his own.
How old is Abraham Lincoln in 2024? ›
Please join us in Hodgenville as we celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 215th Birthday on Monday, February 12, 2024. The annual Lincoln Days Celebration Luncheon commemorating the birth of Abraham Lincoln will be Monday, February 12, 2024 in The Lincoln Museum Community Room (56 Lincoln Square) from 12 noon to 1 pm.
How tall was Abraham Lincoln when he died? ›
Out of 46 American presidents, only 19 were 6' or taller. Abraham Lincoln was the tallest, at 6'4”, but he famously said, “You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
What was Abraham Lincoln's real name? ›
Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States, was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His family moved to Indiana when he was seven and he grew up on the edge of the frontier. He had very little formal education, but read voraciously when not working on his father's farm.
What happened to the bed that Lincoln died in? ›
The bed upon which President Lincoln died was sold for $82.00 to a James Boyd, a local directory publisher. That bed was eventually acquired by Charles F. Gunther sometime around 1890 with some other items for $1,500. That bed is now located in the Chicago History Museum.
Does Lincoln's log cabin still exist? ›
The original one-room Lincoln cabin has disappeared, but a replica stands inside a much-visited stone memorial building.
Can you visit the house where Lincoln died? ›
Few remember that Lincoln died at Petersen House, the boarding house across the street, on April 15, 1865 after doctors operated to save him in a back bedroom. Admission for the tour of Petersen House is free, but one must get a timed-entry ticket at the Ford's Theatre box office.
What is the significance of the Lincoln Bedroom? ›
“The most significant object in the Lincoln Bedroom is the fifth and final copy of the Gettysburg Address, handwritten by President Abraham Lincoln,” says Allman. The document lives in the desk that Lincoln used to formulate his thoughts on emancipation. “It's the only one titled, dated, and signed.
