The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-09-07
Little Building to be Preser-
we'd in Kentucky Nation
al Park.
PRESIDENT ACCEPTS
1T FOR UNCLE SAM
Distinguished Americans Accom-
pany Wilson to Scene in
HodgenviIle.

! Lincoln + arm Tor July 4U years after
| it should have been a cherished spot,
! tOday's was the third visit of a Presi-
dent to take part in ceremonies there
within seven years.
The first exercises in connection with
the farm after it was proposed to give
if to the nation were held Feb. y,
1909, when President Roosevelt laid
the cornerstone of the Lincoln Mem
orial Hall.
On November 9, 1911, President Taft
presided at the ceremonies incident to
the dedication of Memorial Hall and
today President Wilson's visit marked
the transfer to the nation.
The Lincoln statue in the center of
the public square in HOdgensville was
decorated today with American flags.
Just opposite is the Courthouse which
was also draped'lavishly in red, white
and blue.
Just ten years ago this summer the
Courthouse had a decoration of an
other kind. 1t was plain hand bill
which advertised the fact that the Lir-
coin farm was to be sold to settle I'M
paid taxes. The Memorial Hail. built
at cost of $25O,00O is the center Of
this national park. The hall houses the
cabin in which Lincoln was born. This
is the original structure rescued from
the warehouse in New York after it
had been carried around the country
for exhibition purposes.
Over the entrance doors the Mem
orial Hall are inscribed these words:
"Here over the log cabin where Abra-
ham was born,
"Destined to preserve the Union and
to free the slave,
Grateful people have dedicated this
memorial to unity,
"Peace and brotherhood among these
states"
Within the hall, the cabin occupies
the principal place. 1t is surrounded
yb heavy bronze chain, for no one is
permitted to enter or touch the cabin.
The first owner of the farm which
today passed into possession of the ma
ton, was, so far as records tell, a man
named Duckworth. Court records do
not tell how he came to own it, but it
is supposed he secured it in distri-
button of public lands by the State or
Federal Government. No land grant
or deed has ever been found to prove
his legal ownership.
Local historians agree in the state
ment based on the declarations Of old
citizens of Larue County that when
Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks
Lincoln moved to take up their resi-
dence shortly after their marriage
they were "sGuatters" and moved into
the log cabin which they found vacant.
The couple never held deed to a foot
of ground in Larue County.
The crowd at the farm today took
great interest in that which probably
caused Thomas Lincoln to select this
spot for his home-the Lincoln spring.
This never failing stream of water
comes from the ground today as it did
in LincOln's time.
The Lincolns lived on the farm where
Abe was born for several years. Their
oldest daughter Sallie was born there.
When Abe was about four years old
the family moved to a home on Knob
Creek. There occurred the incident
which Lincoln remembered wildly all
his life, where he was saved from
drowning in a creek by Austin Cola
her. From this farm the Lincoln fam
ily moved to Indiana.
Hodgensville, KY, Sept. "A little
Kentucky farm, of rocb-ribbed soil and
"crawfsh land" became nations
shrine today when President Wilson
accepted on behalf of the people of
the United States the memorial park
into which the birthplace of Abraham
Lincoln has been transformed.
Standing on a platform under the
folds of the flag which flies daily from
the staff in front of the beautiful
Memorial Building, built to shelter the
rude pioneer cabin in which the future
President was born, the address of
President Wilson was delivered to an
audience of several thousand who had
assembled from all parts of the United
States, to take part in the ceremonies
marking the transfer to the Govern
ment of spot which be held in pa
triotic reverence with Mt. Vernon.