The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-04
.L|NCOLN'S log
B|R1HP[ACE|IOlI
0NNEDBY NATION
Precious Relic of Republi|
canism Surrounded B
Granite Temple
|B|G MAINTENANCE F:IIll|
BIG MAINTENANCE FQNll
New National Shrine Dedis'
Gated Today With Fit
ting Ceremonies
fM Associated pre..,

HoDGENvILLE, KY, Sept -Iho
humble little log cabin In which 4bra-
ham Lincoln was born and the 1aru Of
ITO acres about which he played dur
Ing the early years Of his boyhood, To-
day became the property OF the Amori|
can people as the gift Of the sLinco|<
Farm Association. NJ "a X +.
After suffering the vicissitudes o.
neglect and decay Of nearly a3hundfo1
years the cabin, once in the possessio1
OF travelling Snowman, 10 back on a.
original site, sheltered within tho
walls Of magnificent grants memo
rial hall. sEs5l
Accompanying the title to the fam
and cabin is an endowment fund OF
$4,000 for the maintenance OF III
grounds and the memorial hall.
Gen. John B. Castleman, Of Isoais.
vile, a man Abraham Lincoln once
stood ready to save when he Hae IN
danger OF being condemned "a death.
by a Federal court martial. was Il. IN.
troduce former Gov. Joseph w. FolI<.
Of Missouri. president OF the Lincoln
Farm Association, the first spealSer 1t
the ceremonies at which theStifis vnr
transferred. i.
Young Castleman, then q lieutsnart
In the Confederate army. CHS title OF
general dates from Spanish war days)
was arrested in Chicago, during The
closing months OF 1864, while ON d TO-
cret mission In connection with npro-
posed attempt to liberate southern
soldiers held as prisoners Ct aWar Ia
that vicinity. He was taken IN civil
Ian clothing, using an assumed name
and his friends feared he would be
condemned to death as q spy.
They appealed TO President Lincoln
and he being put into possession 81 eli
the facts in the case gave to judge S.
M. Breckenridge, Of st. Louis, thTouch
whom the appeal was made. letter
forbiddfng the execution Of sCastIe rnsii.
In the event he was sentenced To death
by court martial. This letter written
November 20, 1864, was not to be used
unless sentence Of death was passed
against Castleman, and unless such an
emergency did arise the fact that Il
had been written was to be kent re-
cret. Castleman was released ON "a
role at the close Of the war,
Former Gov. Folk was Followed Inv
Senator John Sharp Williams, who IKE
General Castleman, was a sConfederaafe
SOLDIER Senator williams TOOK AZ lbis
subject Abraham Lincoln and die
South" =.
The presentation Of the deed 81 an
to the Lincoln homestead was & 7be
made by Robert ]. Collier, OF New
York. secretary Of War Bakerswas ON
the program to make the speech Of q
ceptance. b. ~ s.'E
The final address in connection Win
the ceremonies was made bysPresidert
Wilson who followed Secretary Baker
Early in 1906 Robert J. Collier learn,
ed that the farm upon which "a brahan1
Lincoln was born was about to bs s0ld
at auction to satisfy claims aRainsf
the estate Of A. w. Dennett i Nav
York restaurant owner, In wiiose t,f,a
session II had been for several yeaf5
According to the informationSre achfnc
him several persons, among Them
man with big distilling interests were
anxious to obtain possession Of the
place, intending to use It In expl6itinr
their wares M
He at once sent Richard Enioyd
Jones to Kentucky to acqnire title to
the property, IL possible. M Jo,es
on his arrival found the estate stiIl
.tA'SaNS0 "a SouiI pIOScuuT6 anu ft|IL<
first arranging with local attorney to
notify him when the case was finn1Iy
adjudicated. :
In August Of the same year came
word that the farm had been ordered
sold at the court house door Of laruo
county, and Mr.. Jones again came to
Kentucky, arriving in HodEenviilo
somewhat in advance Of those most
keenly interested in securing ii Tor
commercial exploitation. It was sold
to him for $500. .'.
After his return to New York Mr..
Jones again acting as Nj. Collier
agent, set out to obtain possession Of
the Lincoln cabin which had been 70.
moved from the farm by Strayeliue
Snowman who took It about the coun.
try exhibiting It., The dismembered
timbers Of the cabin were found IA
cellar where they. had been stored b.
the Snowman, and were purchased
from him. Z - .
Soon afterward the Lincoln farm
Association was organized and title to
the cabin and farm was turned over to
that organization by. Mr.. Collier.
Joseph W. Folk, then goyefnor Of
Missouri, was president Of the orkani-