On the day of his assassination, Lincoln told his wife that they must be more cheerful, as “between the war and the loss of our darling Willie, we have both been very miserable.” Abraham Lincoln, who had stayed at Willie’s side through his illness, would shut himself in his room after his son’s funeral to weep, and often had dreams of spending time with his son. Mary Lincoln could not bring herself to attend his funeral and remained bedridden for three weeks she would not emerge in public for months afterwards. I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him so. The young boy died on Thursday, February 20, 1862, at 5:00 P.M. Both parents spent much time at his bedside. While Tad recovered, Willie gradually declined. In February, 1862, both boys became ill, most likely with typhoid fever, possibly from drinking polluted water in the White House. Whereas Tad seems to have disliked the lessons, Willie loved learning. Willie’s mind was amazingly mature for his age. A visitor once found Willie and Tad (and two of their friends) pinning the President of the United States to the floor. When he could break away from the pressures of the office, Lincoln would often play with his children. Willie received a pony, to which he was devoted, and both boys loved to imitate the soldiers posted on the south lawn. The public was not used to having children in the White House and showered the boys with presents. During Lincoln’s train ride to Washington in February of 1861, Willie and Tad would ask visitors, “Do you want to see Old Abe?” and point to someone else. The two did have a mischievous streak: When Lincoln brought them to the office, he would allow them to roam freely, and the children would turn over furniture and papers, to Herndon’s consternation. Additionally, they went with their mother when she took fruit, books, papers, and other gifts to the soldiers. Willie and Tad often accompanied their father when he reviewed the troops in their camps. Because of the times, war-related games were popular with the boys, and they even constructed a fort on the White House roof. The boys loved animals, and gifts of dogs, rabbits, goats, and ponies poured into the White House. Willie was calmer and more conscientious than his younger brother. Willie and Tad had a great time in their new home. The Lincolns moved into the White House in March of 1861. Me and father had gone to two theaters the other night.” The smallest one for me, the largest one for father. We have two little towels on a top of both pitchers. The smallest one for me the largest one for father. We have two little pitchers on a washstand. Me and father have a nice little room to ourselves. In his letter Willie said, “This town is a very beautiful place. Willie wrote a letter to his friend, Henry Remann, about his experience. In June of 1859, Willie went to Chicago with his father, who had legal business in there. Additionally, Mary said Willie was “a most peculiarly religious child.” He was more studious than his younger brother, Tad. He had excellent natural ability in math. He developed many interests, including writing poetry and drawing up railroad timetables. In Springfield, Willie attended a private school operated by Miss Corcoran. Abraham Lincoln was especially fond of Willie, who he felt had a mind like his own, and those who knew the boy considered him intelligent, generous, and kind-hearted. By the 1850s, the development of railroads allowed him to stay in Springfield on weekends, and he grew very close to Willie and his younger brother, Tad.īoth parents were fiercely proud of their children: William Herndon, Lincoln’s law partner, said they would take any chance to “get them to monkey around - talk - dance - speak - quote poetry, etc.” Their father would take the boys on wagon rides through Springfield and help with the babysitting, an unusual practice for men at the time. The work kept Lincoln away from home, and he never developed a close bond with Robert. William Wallace, the husband of Mary’s sister Frances, and the physician who nursed Eddie Lincoln in his final days.Ībraham Lincoln was frequently arguing cases on Illinois’ Eighth Judicial Circuit when his oldest son Robert was growing up. William Wallace Lincoln was born about ten months after his brother Eddie died on February 1, 1850. A 16-year-old girl, Julia Taft, described Willie as “the most lovable boy I ever knew, bright, sensible, sweet-tempered and gentle-mannered.” was more like his dad than older brother Robert he had the same magnetic personality of Abraham Lincoln. William Wallace “Willie” Lincoln (Decem– February 20, 1862), the third son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |