Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-05
LINCOLN'S CABIN
And FARM Home
GIVEN TO NATION

ulIuN ~ NhllVN
CONTINUED from Page 0ne.)
county, and Mr.. Jones again came to
Kentucky, arriving in Hodgenville
somewhat in advance OF those most
keenly interested in securing it for
commercial exploitation. II was sold
to him for $500.
Cabin Found in Cellar.
After his return to New York, Mr..
Jones, again acting as Mr.. Golfers
agent, set out to obtain possession Of
the Lincoln cabin, which had been re-
moved from the farm by travelling
Snowman, who took it about the coun-
try exhibiting it. The disniembered
timbers of the cabin were found in
cellar, where they had been stored by
the Snowman and we're purchased
from him.
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 governor of
Missouri, was president Of the organi-
cation; Robert Collier, vice president
and chairman OF the executive COM
mittee; Clarence H. Mackay, treasur-
er; and Richard Lloyd Jones, secrre-
tary.
Immediately upon the formation Of
the association, campaign for funds
with which to biuld Lincoln Mem
orial 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 readily 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 oil
Abraham Lincoln.
The cornerstone Of the memorial
| hall was laid by Theodore Roosevelt
February IL, 1909, on the hundreth
anniversary OF the birth Of the "Grea,
Emancipator." On November 9, 1911
| II was formally dedicated by Prcsi'
dent William H. Taft. Today It be,
came the property OF the whole
American people. ~
To its construction more than no.
900 persons contributed amounts rang
ed from twenty-five cents to $4,000
which totaled approximately $685., 900
The balance from this fund after
paying for the construction Of thu
memorial hall and for the preliminary
work Of turning the farm into grea1
public park is the sum which today
was turned over as an endowment
fund for the maintenance OF the build
ing and grounds.
Beautiful Granite Hall.
The hall Is beautiful granite Build
| ing standing at the top of a small
hill. 1t faces toward big spring
at the bottom Of the slope, which
proved the determining factor in tn,
choice Of Thomas Lincoln, Abraham
Linco1n's father, when he was casting
about for site upon which to built
his home.
/ Rising from the bottom to the tor
Of this slope Is long flight Of wide
granite steps, hanked on either sid,
by a row OF poplar trees together
with box hedge. A box hedge also
surrounds small plaza at the foo
| Of the steps, In the middle OF which
is a tall flag pole from which tn,
stars and stripes will always be KEEP
4 waving.
4 Inside the big granite building tn,
Lincoln cabin stands upon the spo
on which Thomas Lincoln erected
Ii ITO years ago. 1t Is surrounded
by heavy bronze chain, for none Il
permitted to enter its portals. Upor
| the interior walls OF the memoria
hall Is carved Lincoin's Gettysburg
address, and a record Of the Lincoln
ancestry.
/ Over the entrance to the building
Is the following inscription:
Here over the log cabin in which
Abraham Lincoln was born. destine'
to preserve the union and free tn
slave, grateful people have dedicat
ed this memorial to unity peace ant
brotherhood among these states"
The little log cabin remained tn
home OF Abraham Lincoln until h
was about nine years old, and then hi
father decided to remove his famil,
to Indiana. This decision was mad
. partly because the farm was so poo
: It was matter of difficulty to wrinl
, asiiving from its soil, and partly be
cause the insecurity Of Thomas Lin
: coins title made his hold upon hi
. hope precarious.
Yet, as poor as this home was,
was here that Abrham Lincoln en-
,, joyed about the, only real boyhoo,
he ever knew, for with the rcmova
OF the Lincln family to Indiana, man.
Of the burdens Of manhood wer
thrust upon the childish shoulders.
bennett Buys Farm.
The farm remained in the hands 0
the family Of the first purchaser TO
about seventy-hve years, until It wa
bought by A. w. bennett, who in
! tended to convert It into a publ
park. This became impossible be
cause Of financial reverses, and
. was because OF these reverses tina
; the farm was ordered sold, the pro
| ceeds to go to Mr.. Dennett's creditors
From the time Thomas Lincoln re
moved to Indiana, from which stat
he later removed to Illinois. the farm
had declined and presented for man.
years a woeful scene of neglect.
So poor was it that a caretaker VIII,
1 q A. A.. II.