Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

Rachel, Bud, and Ryen near the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Missouri.
Lincoln's tomb in Sprinfield, Missouri.

Today is the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The state of Illinois celebrates this day as a legal holiday, whereas the rest of the state's group Lincoln together with ALL presidents on President's Day.


President Lincoln's mother died at 49 from milk sickness. Milk sickness, or puking sickness is caused by eating the meat or drinking the milk of a cow who has eaten the snake root plant. His father remarried. The family moved first to Indiana, then to Illinois. The move took place in 1830--Lincoln was now 21 and on his own.

Mary Todd was from a well to do family in Kentucky. She 'escaped' from her family and came to Springfield to live with her sister where she met Mr. Lincoln. Lincoln married Mary Todd, together they had four sons, all born in Springfield, Illinois.

Robert: On Sunday, July 25, 1926, Robert went to bed as usual, but when the butler entered the bedroom the next morning he found that Robert had passed away during the night. According to Robert's physician, he had suffered a "cerebral hemorrhage induced by arteriosclerosis." Robert was 82. Robert was not buried in the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield. His final internment occurred on March 14, 1928, at Arlington National Cemetery. Robert was eligible for burial in Arlington because of his brief service in the Civil War and his service as Secretary of State. His wife made the decision to have him buried in Arlington.

Willie: Willie and his brother Tad liked to pretend they were soldiers and mimic the guards. When their father could get away from his duties as President, he liked to play with his boys. Willie's death devastated his parents. Mary Lincoln could not bring herself to attend his funeral and remained bedridden for three weeks; she would not emerge in public for months afterwards. Abraham Lincoln, who had stayed at Willie's side through his illness, would shut himself in his room after his son's funeral to weep, and often had dreams of spending time with his son. He never fully recovered from the loss, Lincoln was so distraught over his young son Willie dying, he had Willie's coffin exhumed twice so he could look at and hold him again. Willie died of typhoid, probably from bacteria laden water at the White House, he was eleven. His casket would be exhumed again and moved to Springfield.


Edward: In December of 1849 Eddie became quite ill with what was thought to be diphtheria. Most likely the disease was really pulmonary tuberculosis. Mary rubbed his chest with balsam. However, after 52 days of acute illness, Eddie passed away on February 1, 1850. He wasn't even four years old.

Thomas Lincoln: ("Tad") was the fourth and last child of Abraham and Mary Todd. He was born on April 4, 1853. Tad was named after Thomas Lincoln, Abraham's father who had died in 1851. Tad's head was unusually large at birth. Abraham, viewing the contrast between the large head and tiny baby figure, thought he resembled a tadpole which was the origin of a nickname that stuck for the rest of Tad's life. It is believe Tad died of Tuberculois, in Chicago, IL at the age of eighteen. He is buried with his father , mother, and brothers at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL.

How fortunate many of us are to have our children become adults. Imagine what it must have been like to have four children and three of them die before you. It is no wonder Mrs. Lincoln was considered insane, after all, she saw her husband shot and three sons die. Such is was her suffering when she and her husband wrote this poem:



Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed,
That late so brilliantly shone,
And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip,
With the heart's warm life has flown -

The angel of Death was hovering nigh,
And the lovely boy was called to die.
The silken waves of his glossy hairL
ie still over his marble brow,
And the pallid lip and pearly cheek
The presence of Death avow.

Pure little bud in kindness given,
In mercy taken to bloom in heaven.
Happier far is the angel child
With the harp and the crown of gold
Who warbles now at the Savior's feet
The glories to us untold.Eddie,
meet blossom of heavenly love,
Dwells in the spirit-world above.


Angel Boy - fare thee well,
farewellSweet Eddie,
We bid thee adieu!
Affection's wail cannot reach thee now
Deep though it be, and true.

Bright is the home to him now given
For "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Lincoln's birthplace and family home are national historic memorials: the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville, and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum opened in Springfield in 2005; it is a major tourist attraction, with state-of-the-art exhibits. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is located in Elwood, Illinois.

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