The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-04

The balance from this fund after pay |
ing for the construction OF the memoir |
ial hall and for the preliminary work |
OF turning the farm into great pub |
lie park is the sum which today was
turned over as an endowment fund for /
the maintenance OF the building and
grounds.
Beautiful Hall.
Tho hall is u beautiful granite
building standing at the top OF small
hill. 1t faces toward big spring
at the bottom OF the slope. which prov
ed tho determining factor in tho
choice OF Thomas Lincoln. Abraham
Lincolns father. when he was casting
about for site upon which to build
his home.
Rising from the bottom to the top
OF this slope is long flight OF wide
granite steps. ilRnkCd on either side by
row OF poplar trees together with a
box hedge. A box hedge also SUR
rounds small plaza at the foot OF the
steps, in the middle OF which is q tall
flag pole from which the stars and
stripes will always be kept waving.
Inside the big granite building the
Lincoln cabin stands upon the spot on
which Thomas Lincoln erected It no
years ago. II is surrounded by heavy
bronze chain for on one is TO be per-
mitted TO enter its portals. Upon the
internal walls OF the memorial hall is
carved LinColn's Gettysburg address,
and a record of the Lincoln ancestry.
The Inscription.
Over the entrance to the building
is the following inscription:
Here over tho log cabin in which
Abraham Lincoln was born. destined
TO preserve the union and free tho
slave, grateful people have dedicated
this memorial 10 unity, peace and
brotherhood among these states"
The little log cabin remained tho
home Of Abraham Lincoln until he was
about nine years old, and then his
father decided to remove the family
to Indiana. This decision was made
partly because the farm was SO poor
1t was matter OF difficulty to wiring
a living from It's soil, and partly be-
cause the insecurity OF Thomas Lin
coins title made his hold upon his
home precarious.
Yet poor as this home was II was
here that Abraham Lincoln enjoyed
about the only real boyhood he ever
knew. for with the removal OF tho Lin
coin family to Indiana. many OF the
burdens OF manhood were thrust upon
the childish shoulders.
History OF the Farm.
The farm remained in the hands OF
the family OF the first purchaser for
about seventy-five years, until II was
bought by A. w. bennett, who intend-
ed to convert II into public park.
This became impossible because OF
financial reverses. and 1t was because
OF these reverses that the farm was
ordered sold, the proceeds to 60 to Mr..
Dement'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 a woeful scene OF neglect.
So poor was 1t that caretaker who
agreed to pay the taxes upon the prom
erty for the privilege OF occupying II
was thought by his neighbors 10 have
made a bad bargain. Yet, the ground
is so situated that at comparatively
small expense the work done by the
Lincoln Farm Association can he
readily extended SO as to make OF II
an attractive park. A fine winding
road Of about mile leads from me
entrance OF the farm to the Lincoln
Memorial hall. The boundaries of the
property are marked with brick nil
lars capped with cement. Along tho
turnpike leading from Hodgenyille.
which divides the property the boun.
Diary Is marked with an old fashioned
worm fence built OF rails, such as
Lincoln himself split.