The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-19
All of Them We're
Distinguished for
Their Help in
Preserving and
Building a Mighty
Nation. Were
They All Born of
the Same Common
NelU England
Ancestry?
By DIR. B. ]. CIGRAND.

-
~ HE Lincoln has been perhaps the most nota-
BILE in the history of the United States. Ten dis
l tnguished Americans have borne the name, and
their and deeds have done much toward
building the indestructibe fabric which the nation Is
composed.
OF the Lincolns who have graced the pages of Amer
lean history, Abraham Lincoln is, of COURSE the
known. His bographers state that the great emancpa
tor little concerned in the geneaogy of the Lincoln
family; that he sprang from most stock, and
that he totally ignorant of his ancestry Research
however, proves that Abraham Lincoln deeply
terested in his family and while has not been
definitely settled that the ten great who bore the
of Lincoln and whose achievements have been
chroniced in the history of the nation of the
lineage the belief of Lincoln himself that all the Lincons
in America were born of the common New Eng
land ancestry is be given considerable credence.
Lincoln contrary to the statements of his bographers
did make the study of his ancestry mission in life
I
Thought ancestry Worth Looking Up
One of Abraham Lncoln's bographers declared that
Lncon's ancestors and relatives of the
whose not worth investigating
eordng" Lincoln himself, however, thought otherwise
disclosed by the correspondence he had with relative
in Virginia. Much of this correspondence Is said to have
destroyed and lost but Of in the pos
session OF Abraham Lincoln of Rockingham, Va Ths
communications passed between Lincoln and David Lin
coin Lincoln inspired the correspondence by addressing
the Virgnlan folows
Your very worthy representative, Gov Mcdowell
has given me your and address, and my father
born In Rockingham [virgnial whence his father
Abraham Lipcoln. emigrated to Kentucky about the
year 17S2 have concluded address you ascertain
whether Of the same family shall be much
obliged II you will write me, telling me whether In
any know anything Of my grandfather, what rela
ton to him, and on; also If yon know where
your family from, when they settled In Virginia.
tracing them back far your knowledge extends"
David Lincoln replied to the letter Abraham but
this letter unfortunately has been lost That he did
yer Abrahams letter. however, is proved by the reply
mich Lincoln sent him receipt of the
" Last evening was much gratfed by receiving and
reading your letter. There is no longer doubt that
our uncle Abraham and my grandfather the same
man. His family did reside in Washington county,
Kentucky, just you say you found them in 1901
o. The Oldest son, Uncle Mordecai nearly twenty
ears ago removed from Kentucky to Hancock county.
Illinois, where within two afterward, he died
nd where his surviving children i've His two sons
here are Abraham and Mordecai, and their post.
nce Is La Harpe"
Tracing Grandfather Brothers.
At length the president then refers to other Lin
pins who his relatives and continues:
"I think my father told you that grandfather had
)rrect? And (which Of them your father? Arc
ly Of them alive? quite that Isaac resided
Wataga, point where Virginia and Tennesses
in What your fathers Christian name?
Fas he not Quaker? About what time did he
grate from Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Virginia?
you know anything of family Tor, rather, may
wv say family farther back than your grand
ther? II it be not too much trouble to you / shall
much pleased to hear from you again. Be assured
u call you should anything bring near you.
shall give your respects to Gov. Mcdowell, as you
pire."
Is true that the records Of the Lincoln family living
Rockingham, Va. destroyed by the confederate
f. but in some instances county records were dupl-
3D. especially where counties created from
and larger From the investigation have made
these records thoroughly satisfied that the
coins Of America the issue Of eight brothers who
grated to New England and arrived at bingham in
., and that these Lncons Of heraldc family.
Levi IN jefesons Cabinet.
the distinguished Lincolns Of American history
Faham Lincoln the 81 rail splitter is the seventh.
following brief sketches Of the other nine Lin
who his genealogical relatives: