Wednesday marks the 205th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
Several activities are planned at the Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, KY. As a part of the commemoration, Lincoln historian Carl Howell will donate an artifact to the park – the grave marker for Abraham Lincoln’s only brother – Thomas Junior – who died in infancy.
“I think it needs to be displayed in Larue County at the National Park where people can see it on a daily basis because of its extreme importance and significance to the Lincoln heritage," said Howell.
Howell, a Hodgenville attorney, says he purchased the limestone grave marker in the 1970s from the owner of the small Redmon family cemetery as he was preparing to sell the property.
“In an autobiographical statement that he made after he received the nomination for presidency in 1860, simply stated ‘a brother younger than myself died in infancy,'" said Howell.
Howell calls the grave marker the “only tangible evidence” that confirms that statement. It’s believed Thomas Lincoln Junior died in either 1811 or 1812.
