William Wallace Lincoln ("Willie") was born on December 21, 1850. He
was the third son of Abraham and
Mary Todd Lincoln. Willie was named after Dr. William Wallace who had
married Frances, one of Mary
Todd's sisters. Willie was more like his dad than older brother Robert;
he had the same magnetic
personality of Abraham Lincoln. A 16 year old girl, Julia Taft, described
Willie as "the most lovable boy I
ever knew, bright, sensible, sweet-tempered and gentle-mannered."
In Springfield Willie attended a private school operated by Miss Corcoran.
Like his folks, Willie loved
learning. Willie developed lots of interests including writing poetry
and drawing up railroad timetables. He
had excellent natural ability in math. Additionally, Mary Todd said
Willie was "a most peculiarly religious
child." He was more studious than his younger brother, Tad.
In June of 1859 Willie went to Chicago with his father who had legal
business in that city. Father and son stayed
in the Tremont House. Willie wrote a letter to his friend, Henry Remann,
about his wonderful experience.
In his letter Willie said, "This town is a very
beautiful place. Me and father have a nice
little room to ourselves. We have two little
pitchers on a washstand. 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. Me and father had gone to two
theaters the other night."
The Lincolns moved into the White House in March of 1861. Willie and
Tad had a great time in their new
home. Willie was calmer and more conscientious than his younger brother.
The boys loved animals, and gifts
of dogs, rabbits, goats, and ponies poured into the White House. Because
of the times, war-related games
were popular with the boys, and they even constructed a fort on the
White House roof. Willie and Tad
often accompanied their father when he reviewed the troops in their
camps. Additionally, they went with
their mother when she took fruit, books, papers, etc. to the soldiers.
Mrs. Lincoln hired a tutor for the boys. Willie's mind was amazingly
mature for his age. Whereas Tad
seems to have disliked the lessons, Willie loved learning. Just before
Christmas, 1861, Willie turned 11. His
future seemed extremely bright.
Shortly thereafter Willie became ill. His condition fluctuated from
day to day. Mostly likely the illness was
typhoid fever. Gradually Willie weakened. Both parents spent much time
at his bedside. Finally, on
Thursday, February 20, 1862, at 5:00 P.M. the young boy passed away.
Abraham said, "My poor boy. He was
too good for this earth. God has called him home. I know that he is
much better off in heaven, but then we
loved him so. It is hard, hard to have him die!"
Willie lay in state in the Green Room adjoining the East Room. He was
dressed as for the evening, his eyes
closed, his hands crossed over his chest and holding a small bouquet
of flowers. The funeral took place in
the East Room on Monday, February 24. The services were conducted by
Reverend Phineas D. Gurley of
Washington's New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth Keckley,
Mrs. Lincoln's friend and
seamstress, described the scene as follows:
"The funeral was very touching. Of the entertainments in
the East Room the boy had been a most life-giving
variation.....He was his father's favorite. They were
intimates - often seen hand in hand. And there sat the man,
with a burden on the brain at which the world marvels -
bent now with the load both at heart and brain -
staggering under a blow like the taking from him of his
child."
Willie was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. After the assassination
of Lincoln in 1865, Willie's casket was exhumed,
and his remains placed on the Lincoln funeral train which traveled
back to Springfield. Willie was buried in the Lincoln Tomb
along with his father on May 4, 1865.