Abraham Lincoln, Family Man

Lincoln was devoted to his family. Even after he was elected President, he cherished
the time spent with his wife and children.

Lauren Omohundro
Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Collinsville

Abraham Lincoln was a kind and loving man who was devoted to his wife and children. He loved to be with his four boys, Thomas (Tad), William (Willie), Edward (Eddie), and Robert Todd.

Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd, were married November 4, 1842, and had their first son, Robert Todd, on August 1, 1843. Their second child was Eddie, who was born on March 10, 1846. Their third child, Willie, was born December 21, 1850, and their last son, Tad, was born April 4, 1853.

Lincoln enjoyed roughhousing and playing games with his sons, including hopping contests. Lincoln, on a dead level, supposedly could jump forty feet in three jumps.

He not only spent time with his children but with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. He was devoted to her as he showed when he spent every free moment with her reading poetry and literature by William Shakespeare and Robert Burns, who were Mary's favorites.

Abraham Lincoln tried to help Mary as much as possible. He helped his wife take the children in their carriages and helped her go shopping whenever they needed food. He very rarely helped cook dinner because he was seldom home even to eat dinner. Mary Todd had a sharp temper and threw many tantrums because of Lincoln's continuous tardiness. She even went as far as sending the children to his law office to send him home for supper so the food would not turn cold. After Lincoln found out about her anger he would read her scriptures from the Bible and apologize. The storm was then calmed.

Sometimes when Mary sent the children to the office they became very rowdy and often spilled ink, turned furniture over, and messed up papers. This did not upset their father, but it did distract his co-workers. When Lincoln got upset he would not hit or yell at his boys but break a branch off a tree and scare them off. They were seldom whipped, only when caught stealing. Through all the anger he still let his love shine through. He spoiled his family with gifts and with the biggest gift: a beautiful, three-bedroom, mid-Victorian home in Springfield, Illinois.

Lincoln shared fun and caring times with his family. He found wit and intelligence in his wife and found youth and thankfulness in his children. The kindness and lovingness he showed towards his family and friends was also reflected in his presidency.—[From Jean Baker, Mary Todd Lincoln; Ishbel Ross, The President's Wife.]

34	ILLINOIS HISTORY / FEBRUARY 1995