The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-04
'|l|lNg0[N'S lOG
Continued from page II

cation; Robert Collier. vice president
and chairman Of the executive commit.
tee; Clarence H. Mackay. treasurer,
and Richard Lloyd Jones, secretary.
Immediately upon the formation OF
the association a campaign for funds
with which to build a Lincoln Memo.
rial Hall over the original site Of the
Lincoln cabin was begun.
The response came quickly from all
sections Of the country, and from no
section more quickly or rapidly than
from men and women OF the South,
who Wed with the citizens Of other
parts Of the United States In the de.
sire to pay tribute to the memory of
Abraham Lincoln
The corner stone of the memorial
hall was laid by Theodore Roosevelt.
February IL, 1909, on the hundredth
anniversary Of the birth of the Great
Emancipator." On November 8, 1911.
It was formally dedicated by Pres,.
dent William H. Taft. Today It became
the property OF the whole American
people.
To Its construction more than 27o,.
700 persons contributed amounts rang.
ing from twenty-five cents to s25, 900,
which totaled approximately $685.. 900.
The balance from this fund after pay.
ing Tor the construction OF the mem.
ortal hall and for the preliminary work
OF turning the farm into great pub.
tic park Is the sum which today was
turned over as an, endowment fund
lot the maintenance OF the building
and grounds.
The hal Is a beautiful granite build.
ing standing on the top Of small hill.
IL races toward big spring at the bot.
tom OF the slope. which proved the de.
termining factor in the choice Of Thos.
Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's father.
when he was casting about for a site
upon which to build his home.
Rising from the bottom to the ton NJ
this slope Is q long flight Of wide vran.
tie steps, flanked on either side hv a
Tow OF poplar trees together with boz
neoee: a box hedge also surrounds
small plaza at the foot Of the steps,
IN tne middle OF which Ii O tail fias
pole from which the stars and stripes
VIII always be kept waving.
inside the big granite building the
Lincoln cabin stands upon the spot on
which Thomas Lincoln erected Il 110
years ago. It is surrounded by a heavy
bronze chain for no one is to be per.
mitted to enter its portals. Upon the
interior walls Of the memorial hall IL
carved Lincoln's Gettysburg address
and record OF the Lincoln ancestry.
over the entrance to the building IL
the following inscription:
Here over the log cabin In
which Abraham Lincoln was horn.
destined to preserve the union and
free the slave, grateful people
have dedicated this memorial to
unity, peace and brotherhood
among these states"
The little log cabin remained the
nome OF Abraham Lincoln until he was
about nine years old, and then his faith.
or decided to remove his family to In.
diana. This decision was made partly
because the farm was SO poor It was
a matter Of difficulty to wiring a living
from its soil. and partly because the
insecurity OF Thomas Lincoln's title
made his hold upon his home precari
Gus.
Yet poor as this home was it was
here that Abraham Lincoln en1oyed
about the only real boyhood he ever
knew, for with the removal of the Lin
coin family to Indiana, many of the
burdens Of manhood were thrust upon
the childish shoulders.
The farm remained in the hands Of
the family Of the first purchaser fol-
about seventy-five years, until 1t was
bought by A. w. bennett, who intend
ed to convert 1t into a public park. This
became impossible because Of finan
cial reverses, and 1t was because Of
these reverses that the farm was or
dered sold, the proceeds to 20 to Mr.
Dennett's creditors.
From the time Thomas Lincoln re
moved to Indiana, from which state he
later removed to Illinois, the farm had
declined and presented for many years
woeful scene Of neglect.
So poor was It that caretaker who
agreed to pay the taxes upon the prop
erty for the privilege Of occupying /,
was thought by his neighbors to have
made a bad bargain. Yet, the GROUND
Is so situated that at comparativel,
small expense the work done by the
Lincoln Farm Association can be read
lily extended so as to make Of 1t an at
tractive park. A fine winding road Of
about mile leads from the entrance
OF the far INTO the Lincoln Memorial
Hall. The boundaries Of the propert,
are marked with brick pillars capped
with cement. Along the turnpike, lead
ing from Hodgenville, which divide.
the property, the boundary is marked
with an old fashioned worm fence built
OF rails, such as Lincoln himself split
Returned from Camp.
Mr.. and Mrs. George M. Alexande,
and childran Mira Eirninin ans ri