Evening star., 1916-09-03
Formal Transfer of Martyr
Presidents Birthplace to
Take Place Tomorrow.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
TO MARK PRESENTATION
President Wilson to Deliver Address
Following the Acceptance.
Robert J. Collier the Donor.

NY. Septeliibci
The Lincoln farm of 10 acres. the little
log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was
born. a magnificent memorial hall which
shelters it. and an endowment fund OF
$4,000 for its maintenance will he pre-
sented as gift to the nation Monday by
the Lincoln Farm Association. Impressive
ceremonies. at which will be present many
of the most important figures of the ma
ton and state, including President Will
son and Secretary of War Baker, will
mark the occasion. They will be opened
by an invocation by Rev. Charles R.
Hemphill of Louisville, president of the
Presbyterian Theological Seminary of
Kentucky. The first address will be
made by former Gov. Joseph W. Folk
of Missouri, president of the Lincoln
Farm Assoclation. tie will be introduced
by Gen. John B. Castleman of Louisville.
Mr.. Folk will be followed by Senator
John Sharp Williams OF Mississippi. who
will deliver an address on abraham Lin
coin and the South"
The presentation of the deed of gift to
the Lincoln farm will then be made by
Robert J. Collier of New York, and it will
be accepted by Secretary Baker.
An address by President Wilson will
The arrangements for the ceremonies
have been in the hands of a committee
made up of several hundred citizens Of
LoulSsllie anu tHe state. .iGnry s..ttef-
son is the honorary chairman. William
Marshall Bullitt, former solicitor general
of the United States, is the active cnaIr-
man, and Arthur B. krock, managing edi-
tor of the Courier ournal, is secretary.
Lapse of 10 Years.
The presentation takes place a little
more than ITO years since Thomas Lin
coin, Abraham Lincoln's father, first laid
claim to it's title.
In March, 1906, Thomas Lincoln, with
his bride, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, took pos
session of a farm on the banks of Noiin
creek in Larue county, then a part OF
hardin county. here, with hls own
hands, Thomas Lincoln put up a rude log
CABIN, constructed OIL unnewn logs, the
cninAs dauDea with clay, ana IN 1t Abra-
nam Lih.oih was toin, reoru"ry l.,
1893.
The Lincoln farm remained in the
hanus OF the family OF the nrst pur-
chaser for ABOUT seventy years. al
though they considered it to ue of bat
little value. Then it was sod to A.
w. bennett of New York. wealthy
restaurant owner, who purposed t.
clai reverses maue 1T impossible for
him to carry out his intentions.
In 1906 MIR. Collier Learned that the
Lincoln farm was about to be sod,
and was in danger of falling into The
hands of persons who wIsheu to use it
tor exporting their wares, among
them beng a man with big distlllins
interests.
Here ourig the next nine years he
who was to be known as the Great
boyhood that ever came to him, for with
the removal of Thomas Lincoln with
his family to Indiana. and later to Illi
nois. many of the burdens of manhood
were thrust upon the chlId'S shoulders.
Order for Sale of Farm.
In August of the same year came
word that the farm had been ordered
sold at auction at the courthouse door
of Larue county. Mr.. Jones immedi-
ately returned to Kentucky, arriving
in Hodgenville somewhat in advance
of those most keenly interested in Sc
curing the farm for commercial ex-
ploitation, and it was knocked down to
him for $4,000. 1t was after Mr.. Jones
return to New York that the Lincoln
cabin, which had previously been sold
to a travelling Snowman, was acquired
by Mr.. Collier.
Shortly after Mr.. Collier had acquir-
ed the Lincoln farm and cabin, the
Lincoln Farm Association was org n
lied, to which Mr.. Collier decided the
property. to be held in trust for the
nationN
Joseph w. Folk became president of
the organizations; Robert J. Collier,
vice president and chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee; Clarence II. Mac
kay, treasurer, and Richard Lloyd
Jones, secretary.
The members of the board of trus-
tees were: William H. Taft, Joseph H.
Choate. Samuel L. Clemens, Cardinal
Gibbons. Albert Shaw, Henry Waiter
son. William Travers Jerome. Lyman
J. Gage, Ida NJ. Tarbell, Charles A.
Towne. Gen. Horace Porter. Augustus
Saint -Gaudens, Norman Hapgood. Ed
ward NJ. Shepard, August Belmont. Os-
car S. Straus, John A. johnson,
Charles E. Hughes. Samuel Gompers,
Augustus E. Wilson, William Jen-
nings Bryan, Charles E. Miner and
Jenkin Lloyd Jones.
A campaign for funds with which to
rear memorial over the log cabin, on
its original site, was then begun, and
the response was quick and generous.
More than 270.000 persons contributed
sums ranging from % cents to $4,000,
a total of S3S3.00O being raised This
response was limited to no one section,
men and women of the south coming
forward with a readiness equal to that