Lincoln Marriage Temple

Born during Revolutionary days in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, he saw the end of the Revolution in Kentucky. A westward moving pioneer, he lived thirty-four years in Kentucky, fourteen in Indiana and twenty-one in Illinois.

When a mere child, he saw his father killed by an Indian. Growing up “a wandering laboring boy,” he became a man of modest substance living always upon his own land. He was skilled with carpenter's tools as well as with ax and rifle. His log cabin homes and their homes and their simple furnishings were made mostly by his own hands.

Devout Christian–representative citizen–he served well as militiaman, patrolman, jury man, road supervisor, church trustee–a typical American pioneer of his day.

Powerful physique, unflinching courage, tender heart, droll humor, temperate habits, sterling honesty–these were legacies of this worthy pioneer father to his illustrious son.

Born in the backwoods of Virginia, reared midst the primeval forests of Kentucky, died in the wilderness of Indiana. Yet, through these obscure years of toil and hardship she fulfilled a deathless destiny. Mother of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States.

Gentle, industrious, patient, courageous, her short and simple life epitomizes the heroic virtues of pioneer women; her name will ever be an inspiration to the motherhood of every land.

Frail of body, she gave to humanity the most colossal figure of modern times. Untutored herself, she planted within his youthful breast a love of learning. Despite her narrow environment, she endowed her son with a breadth of vision that saved the Union and made a people free.

“God bless my Mother,” said Abraham Lincoln, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to her.”