The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-03-31
Log Cain in Which Abraham Lincoln
Was Born.

Twelve years ago the cabin in which
Lincoln was born was torn down, and
the logs were hauled to an adjoining
farm and used in the construction OF
another house. The old farm has prac-
tically been abandoned, and nearly all
the people in the neighborhood had
quite forgotten, a second time within
decade since the death Of Lincoln, that
he was born on the "Lirroln Spring
farm" rs the place has always been
called. The Lincoln birthplace is 81
miles southeast of Louisville. 1t can
be reached from Louisville by going TO
EliZabethtown, in Hardin county, a
distance of AZ miles, and then taking
another road from Elizabethtown to
Hodgensville, ride of II miles. The
Lincoln Spring farm is three miles
from this quaint old town, on Nolin's
creek, directly on the public road lead
ing from Hodgensville to Buffalo, a
village six miles to the east. It is n
pleasant 20 minutes drive over good
dirt road, through poor, but interest
ing country.
The original Lincoln cabin had been
torn down and the materials had been
moved away, as stated by man nam
ed Tom Davenport, who used the logs
in his own house.
Mr.. 4. w. bennett, New York
gentleman, not long ago bought the
Davenport house, recovered the logs,
and, after much difficulty restored the
cabin exactly as it was originally, using
the very same timbers, door, window
and frames. 1t occupies the former
site, and is much the same condition
as it was when the Lincolns left it.
The cabin is IS feet long, Is feet wide,
and about II feet high, counting from
the flour to the ridge-pole. There is
only one Goor and one window-the
latter an opening 20 inches square. y
large open fireplace, built in the most
primitive way, occupies nearly the
whole of one end of the cabin. The
chimney is made of small logs, placed
together just as log houses are built.
Inside of il, fiat stones placed on the
ground made the hearth, and wide flat
stones placed against the logs kept the
fire within bounds and protected the
wooden chimney. The inside, from
the hearthstones to the top of the chin
ney, was thickly daubed with clay.
The chimney reaches only half way to
the roof of the house, and is rounded
Off with small sticks. This simple fire.
place furnished most of the light, all of
the heat, and the sole means for cook
ing the meals of the family. The cabin
did not have even a loft, or second
story, as have most cabins. It was
built by Thomas Lincoln, father of the
president, some time about 1901 or 1895,
and was entirely constructed with an
AK and saw, the simple tools of the
pioneers. The clapboard roof was
anchored down by small logs, laid
leDgthwise on top ofrows Of oak boards.
There were no nails or hardware. The
door hinges were of wood, and the
paneless windows had an inside board
shutter, held in place by raw-hide
thongs. There were chinks and mud
between the logs, and the puncheon
floor was pegged down. Ii is probable
that after Abraham Lincoln's grand
father was killed by the Indians at
Long Run Westinghouse, in Jefferson
county, KY, the family went further
into the forest and took up section of
land in La Rue, then part of Hardin
county. Later, TO better his fortune,
Thomas Lincoln left this farm on
Nolin's creek, and settled on knob
creek, a dozen miles from Hodgens-
vile, and from there he went TO In
diana, and later to Illinois.-GeOrge
III. Ienowine, in st. Nicholas.