Eddie Lincoln
It shocks me to think how, a century or two ago, infant mortality was such a frequent tragedy. The lives of Presidents and other famous people of their generations are filled with sad stories of children who failed to outlive their parents. For example, Franklin and Jane Pierce had three young children who died in infancy and these series of tragedies cast a darkness over the lives of the couple thereafter. Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were also two such unfortunate parents. They had two sons who died in infancy, and a third who died as a young adult. The Lincolns had four sons: Robert, Edward, William and Thomas (Tad). Robert lived on into the twentieth centrury and had a distinguished career as a cabinet member. "Willie" Lincoln died during the Lincolns' time in the White House in 1862 at the age of 12, and Tad died in 1871 when he was 18.
But more than a decade before Abraham Lincoln was elected President, his second son Edward Baker Lincon died on February 1, 1850 (162 years ago today) five weeks shy of his fourth birthday. He was known as Eddie or Eddy (his mother spelled his name "Eddie," while his father spelled it "Eddy.") According to a story that Abraham Lincoln told about the child, one day during a visit to Mary's family, Eddie's older brother, Robert, found a kitten and brought it to the house. Mary’s stepmother disliked cats and ordered Robert to throw the cat out. According to the story, Eddie screamed and protested. He nursed and cared for the helpless kitten. Abraham Lincoln used this anecdote to describe what a tender-hearted, kind, and loving child that Eddie was.
Census records list the cause of Eddie's death as "chronic consumption", but modern speculation is that he died of medullary thyroid cancer. Eddie's death devastated both of his parents and some historians believe Eddie's death began Mary Todd Lincoln's journey to mental instability.
A week after Eddie's death, Mary and Abraham wrote a poem entitled "Little Eddie" which was printed in the Illinois State Journal newspaper. The poem goes as follows:
Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed,
That late so brilliantly shone,
And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip,
With the heart's warm life has flown.
The angel of Death was hovering nigh,
And the lovely boy was called to die.
The silken waves of his glossy hair
Lie still over his marble brow,
And the pallid lip and pearly cheek
The presence of Death avow.
Pure little bud in kindness given,
In mercy taken to bloom in heaven.
Happier far is the angel child
With the harp and the crown of gold,
Who warbles now at the Savior's feet
The glories to us untold.
Eddie, meet blossom of heavenly love,
Dwells in the spirit-world above.
Angel Boy - fare thee well, farewell Sweet Eddie,
We bid thee adieu!
Affection's wail cannot reach thee now
Deep though it be, and true.
Bright is the home to him now given
For "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
The final line is on the boy's tombstone at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.
But more than a decade before Abraham Lincoln was elected President, his second son Edward Baker Lincon died on February 1, 1850 (162 years ago today) five weeks shy of his fourth birthday. He was known as Eddie or Eddy (his mother spelled his name "Eddie," while his father spelled it "Eddy.") According to a story that Abraham Lincoln told about the child, one day during a visit to Mary's family, Eddie's older brother, Robert, found a kitten and brought it to the house. Mary’s stepmother disliked cats and ordered Robert to throw the cat out. According to the story, Eddie screamed and protested. He nursed and cared for the helpless kitten. Abraham Lincoln used this anecdote to describe what a tender-hearted, kind, and loving child that Eddie was.
Census records list the cause of Eddie's death as "chronic consumption", but modern speculation is that he died of medullary thyroid cancer. Eddie's death devastated both of his parents and some historians believe Eddie's death began Mary Todd Lincoln's journey to mental instability.
A week after Eddie's death, Mary and Abraham wrote a poem entitled "Little Eddie" which was printed in the Illinois State Journal newspaper. The poem goes as follows:
Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed,
That late so brilliantly shone,
And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip,
With the heart's warm life has flown.
The angel of Death was hovering nigh,
And the lovely boy was called to die.
The silken waves of his glossy hair
Lie still over his marble brow,
And the pallid lip and pearly cheek
The presence of Death avow.
Pure little bud in kindness given,
In mercy taken to bloom in heaven.
Happier far is the angel child
With the harp and the crown of gold,
Who warbles now at the Savior's feet
The glories to us untold.
Eddie, meet blossom of heavenly love,
Dwells in the spirit-world above.
Angel Boy - fare thee well, farewell Sweet Eddie,
We bid thee adieu!
Affection's wail cannot reach thee now
Deep though it be, and true.
Bright is the home to him now given
For "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
The final line is on the boy's tombstone at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.