1. Life
Mordecai Lincoln's life spanned several significant moves and developments, from his birth in Virginia to his death in Illinois, marked by family tragedy and his establishment as a landholder and community figure.
1.1. Early Life and Family Background
Mordecai Lincoln was born in 1771 in Augusta County, which is now part of Rockingham County, Virginia. He was the first child of Captain Abraham Lincoln (1744-1786) and Bathsheba Herring (c. 1742-1836). His father, Abraham, had initially received 210 acre (210 acre)s of prime land in Virginia from his own father, John Lincoln. In 1782, Abraham sold this land and relocated his family to western Virginia, an area that would later become Kentucky. Following advice from Daniel Boone, a relative of the Lincoln family, Abraham successfully acquired a substantial estate of 5.5 K acre (5.54 K acre)s of prime land in Kentucky.
Mordecai had four younger siblings: Josiah, Thomas Lincoln, Ann (Nancy), and Mary Lincoln Crume. The family initially settled in Jefferson County, Kentucky, located about 20 mile (32 km) east of what would become Louisville, Kentucky. This territory was still contested by Native Americans residing across the Ohio River. For protection against potential alarms, settlers lived in frontier forts, known as "stations." The Lincoln family established their home near Hughes' Station on Floyd's Fork, where Captain Abraham Lincoln began clearing land, planting corn, and constructing a cabin.
1.2. Father's Death and Its Impact
In May 1786, while working in his field with his three sons, Captain Abraham Lincoln was tragically shot from the nearby forest and killed by a Native American. His eldest son, Mordecai, quickly ran to the cabin to retrieve a loaded gun. Josiah, the middle son, went to Hughes' Station to seek assistance, while Thomas, the youngest, stood in shock by his fallen father. From the cabin, Mordecai observed a Native American approach his father's body and reach for Thomas. Taking careful aim, Mordecai fired, striking the Native American in the chest and killing him, thus saving his younger brother from the perceived threat.
This traumatic event deeply affected Mordecai, instilling in him a lasting hatred and "avenging spirit" towards Native Americans. Soon after his father's death, Mordecai's mother, Bathsheba, moved the family to Washington County, Kentucky, near Springfield, Kentucky. Under the system of primogeniture, as the eldest son, Mordecai inherited all of his father's land and property. This left his younger brothers, Josiah and Thomas, without a paternal inheritance, requiring them to forge their own paths in the world. In 1934, a replica of the home where Bathsheba raised her five children was built in the Lincoln Homestead State Park.
1.3. Marriage and Adulthood in Kentucky
In 1792, Mordecai Lincoln married Mary Mudd, the daughter of Luke Mudd. In January 1797, he sold the 400 acre (400 acre)s of inherited property in Jefferson County that his father had purchased in 1780, for 400 GBP. Four months later, he acquired 300 acre (300 acre)s in Springfield, Kentucky, for 100 GBP from Terah Templin, who was Kentucky's first ordained Presbyterian minister. At the age of 26, Mordecai constructed a two-story cabin on this land, which came to be known as the Lincoln Homestead. Between 1810 and 1815, the cabin was enlarged and given a Federal-style frame by Wilfred Hayden, the property's second owner. This enlarged and renovated Mordecai Lincoln Homestead stands on its original site, making it the only home built by a member of the Lincoln family that is believed to remain in its original location.
Mordecai and Mary had six children, all born in Washington County, Kentucky. Three of their sons were named Abraham, James, and Mordecai. Mordecai Lincoln lived near his friend Richard Berry, whose home was where his brother Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were married in 1806. In 1802, Mordecai sold 200 acre (200 acre)s of his 300 acre (300 acre) property, including the home. He then sold the remaining 100 acre (100 acre)s in 1806. By 1810, Lincoln owned more than 400 acre (400 acre)s of land, and in 1811, he and his family moved from Washington County to Grayson County, Kentucky. Mordecai also engaged in racehorse breeding. In 1827, serving as a Justice of the Peace, he officiated the wedding of Andrew Johnson and Eliza McCardle. Andrew Johnson would later become his nephew Abraham Lincoln's second Vice President and successor.
1.4. Later Life and Migration to Illinois
In the spring of 1828, Mordecai Lincoln relocated from his home in Grayson County, Kentucky, to Fountain Park (now Fountain Green, Illinois) in Hancock County, Illinois. He migrated with other families of the Catholic faith, and four of his six children accompanied him.
Mordecai died during a three-day blizzard in December 1830 in Fountain Green. Although his horse managed to return during the storm, Mordecai himself was overwhelmed by the snow, which drifted up to 20 ft (6.1 m) deep. His body was not recovered until April, when the snow finally melted. Mordecai Lincoln is buried at the Old Catholic or Lincoln Cemetery near Fountain Green, Illinois. Following Mordecai's death, his wife, Mary, lived with their unmarried son Mordecai until her own passing.
2. Personal Characteristics
Mordecai Lincoln was recognized for several notable personal attributes. He was known for his significant Intellect and his generosity. Additionally, he possessed a remarkable talent for storytelling, making him a captivating figure within his community.
3. Relationship with Abraham Lincoln
Mordecai Lincoln held a significant place in the life of his nephew, Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln himself frequently referenced his uncle's wit and abilities, on several occasions acknowledging Mordecai as his most important familial influence. He once famously remarked that "Uncle Mord had run off with all the talents of the family," indicating his high regard for Mordecai's capabilities.
Both Abraham Lincoln and Mordecai Lincoln's family were susceptible to a condition often referred to as "the Lincoln horrors," a term used to describe a tendency towards melancholy or depression. Beyond sharing this predisposition to melancholy, Mordecai and his sons also appeared to share a distinctive sense of humor, as well as a noticeable physical resemblance to Abraham Lincoln.
4. Legacy
The Mordecai Lincoln House in Springfield, Kentucky, holds significant historical importance. It is uniquely recognized as the only home constructed by a member of the Lincoln family that still stands in its original location. This distinguishes it as a particularly valuable site for understanding the family's early history and living arrangements. The house has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural and historical significance within the United States.