His photo beside Lincoln's log cabin appeared in the LaRue County Herald News, Mar 1, 1962. Also another article describing his being born in the cabin was in that issue.
I TOO, WAS BORN IN THE ABE LINCOLN CABIN- by Ivy Davenport
"Near the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky, within the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, stands the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12, 1809.
On August 16, l889 I was born in this same log cabin, but in a different location. It had been moved to my grandmother's farm to be used as a tenant house. My grandmother did not need it for a tenant house, so she let it be used as a school house for the neighbors' children. A woman of the neighborhood taught the school for two years. That girl later became my mother. She and my father kept house in this same log cabin for nineteen years. To this couple were born four Sons, I being the youngest. I was ten years old when my mother died.
A lot of things happened in the next few years. In 1906 I left my home to seek pastures. I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a few months, then to Davenport, Iowa. I didn't tarry long before I went back to the old home place again. I worked around at odd jobs until 1909 when they started erecting the shrine to house the cabin in which Lincoln and I were born. I worked there until it was finished in 1911.
In 1912 I courted and married a girl named Minnie Miller. We were very happy in my childhood home, although we had to work hard for a living. Our first two children were boys, and then a little girl was born. We were thrilled to have a Little girl with our boys. About five years later another little boy was born to us. The mother had pneumonia and died when he was four days old. I was so overcome with grief I did not know what to do. There I was left with four small children and my father to take care of, for my father was living with us, and did live with us until he died in 1931.
On January 20, 1923 I married a young woman named Maude Nunn, who lived in the same community. We had seven children, but one was lost in World War II. The others have all grown into men and women making a life of their own.
Soon we sold our home place and moved to a home nearer Lincoln Park. We were living there in 1938 when I received a telegram from Bob Ripley in New York. He wanted me to appear on his "Believe It Or Not" program. I was to tell about my being born in the Lincoln Cabin I only had a few hours to make up my mind, so I changed into some different clothes, but I didn't have time to shave. I rode my best horse to town and there a friend, who owned a car, drove me to Louisville, Kentucky, to catch the plane leaving for New York. It was my first plane ride. I spent three days and three nights enjoying the sights and rehearsing for the program.
After my fascinating trip I returned home and made plans to start a crop for the coming year. Before the year was gone the Superintendent of the Lincoln National Park asked me if I would like to come and work at the Park. It didn't take me long to say yes! I went home and discussed the matter with my wife, and we decided to rent the farm for a while and move to town. Quickly the years went by. I had worked at the park for 21 years when I reached the age of seventy. The law requires National Park employees to retire at that age. In 1959, after my retirement from the Park Service, I went to work as custodian at the Hodgenville Elementary School, which was just across the street from where we lived.
In 1963 I went to New York again. This time to appear on Gary Moore's "I've Got A Secret" program. My wife went with me. We enjoyed the plane ride and the visit to New York. I came back with the intention of working one year or more before I retired for good, but the Good Lord saw it otherwise. So once more I have retired and I am on sick leave until he calls me to a better home, which I know is waiting for me. I am a sincere Christian, and have been a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church since November 1912.
On Fehruary 12, 1965, the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky celebrated "Days of Lincoln". Since I was the last person born in the Lincoln cabin, I was to be recognized at a luncheon at LaRue County High School. The Governor of Kentucky, Edward T. Breathitt, was the guest speaker, but I was ill and unable to attend. The Governor and his attendants came by my home for a few moments and photographs were made of the Governor and me.
It is springtime again and I am looking forward to working in my garden and strawberries, but my future plans are in the hands of the Lord.
NOTE:Ivy Kirk Davenport passed away June 30, 1965. His family, and everyone who really knew him, has experienced a great loss. Yet, the memory of this great Christian lives on in our hearts.
In the 1930 LaRue County Census, District 1, Ivy Davenport was family 173. He was 40 years old and his wife, Maude, was 28. The children were: Leonard, 17; Marshall, 14; Louise, 12; Carl, 7; James H., 4-7/12; Mary E., 1-7/12; Edna M., age 5 months.
OBITUARY: Ivy Kirk Davenport, age 75 years, who had the distinction of having been born in the same log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, died at his residence on College Heights here, following an extended illness.
He was a son of the late John and Mary Goff Davenport and the Lincoln cabin was on a farm which they owned south of Hodgenville, and which the family resided in until their son Ivy, was about 5 years old.
Mr. Davenport was a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church and had held various offices in the church and Sunday School. He retired in 1939 from the National Park Service after 21 years of service at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Site, South of town.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maude Nunn Davenport; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Edith Peace of Lexington; Mrs. Edna Mae Brown and Mrs. Virginia Lee Benningfield, both of Hodgenville, and Mrs. Lillian Louise Herbert, of Qjuincy, Ohio; six sons, Donald and Roy Davenport, both of this city; Carl Davenport of Benton, Ky., Leonard Davenport, Horse Cave, Ky., Marshall Davenport, Somerset, Ky., and Edward Davenport, Cleveland, Ohio; 27 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and on brother, Anderson Davenport of Portland, Oregon.
A son, James Harold Davenport was killed in service in 1945.
The body was at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in this city, until time of the funeral.
(above added to this memorial by Russell Perkins, FAG #47213352)
I TOO, WAS BORN IN THE ABE LINCOLN CABIN- by Ivy Davenport
"Near the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky, within the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, stands the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12, 1809.
On August 16, l889 I was born in this same log cabin, but in a different location. It had been moved to my grandmother's farm to be used as a tenant house. My grandmother did not need it for a tenant house, so she let it be used as a school house for the neighbors' children. A woman of the neighborhood taught the school for two years. That girl later became my mother. She and my father kept house in this same log cabin for nineteen years. To this couple were born four Sons, I being the youngest. I was ten years old when my mother died.
A lot of things happened in the next few years. In 1906 I left my home to seek pastures. I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a few months, then to Davenport, Iowa. I didn't tarry long before I went back to the old home place again. I worked around at odd jobs until 1909 when they started erecting the shrine to house the cabin in which Lincoln and I were born. I worked there until it was finished in 1911.
In 1912 I courted and married a girl named Minnie Miller. We were very happy in my childhood home, although we had to work hard for a living. Our first two children were boys, and then a little girl was born. We were thrilled to have a Little girl with our boys. About five years later another little boy was born to us. The mother had pneumonia and died when he was four days old. I was so overcome with grief I did not know what to do. There I was left with four small children and my father to take care of, for my father was living with us, and did live with us until he died in 1931.
On January 20, 1923 I married a young woman named Maude Nunn, who lived in the same community. We had seven children, but one was lost in World War II. The others have all grown into men and women making a life of their own.
Soon we sold our home place and moved to a home nearer Lincoln Park. We were living there in 1938 when I received a telegram from Bob Ripley in New York. He wanted me to appear on his "Believe It Or Not" program. I was to tell about my being born in the Lincoln Cabin I only had a few hours to make up my mind, so I changed into some different clothes, but I didn't have time to shave. I rode my best horse to town and there a friend, who owned a car, drove me to Louisville, Kentucky, to catch the plane leaving for New York. It was my first plane ride. I spent three days and three nights enjoying the sights and rehearsing for the program.
After my fascinating trip I returned home and made plans to start a crop for the coming year. Before the year was gone the Superintendent of the Lincoln National Park asked me if I would like to come and work at the Park. It didn't take me long to say yes! I went home and discussed the matter with my wife, and we decided to rent the farm for a while and move to town. Quickly the years went by. I had worked at the park for 21 years when I reached the age of seventy. The law requires National Park employees to retire at that age. In 1959, after my retirement from the Park Service, I went to work as custodian at the Hodgenville Elementary School, which was just across the street from where we lived.
In 1963 I went to New York again. This time to appear on Gary Moore's "I've Got A Secret" program. My wife went with me. We enjoyed the plane ride and the visit to New York. I came back with the intention of working one year or more before I retired for good, but the Good Lord saw it otherwise. So once more I have retired and I am on sick leave until he calls me to a better home, which I know is waiting for me. I am a sincere Christian, and have been a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church since November 1912.
On Fehruary 12, 1965, the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky celebrated "Days of Lincoln". Since I was the last person born in the Lincoln cabin, I was to be recognized at a luncheon at LaRue County High School. The Governor of Kentucky, Edward T. Breathitt, was the guest speaker, but I was ill and unable to attend. The Governor and his attendants came by my home for a few moments and photographs were made of the Governor and me.
It is springtime again and I am looking forward to working in my garden and strawberries, but my future plans are in the hands of the Lord.
NOTE:Ivy Kirk Davenport passed away June 30, 1965. His family, and everyone who really knew him, has experienced a great loss. Yet, the memory of this great Christian lives on in our hearts.
In the 1930 LaRue County Census, District 1, Ivy Davenport was family 173. He was 40 years old and his wife, Maude, was 28. The children were: Leonard, 17; Marshall, 14; Louise, 12; Carl, 7; James H., 4-7/12; Mary E., 1-7/12; Edna M., age 5 months.
OBITUARY: Ivy Kirk Davenport, age 75 years, who had the distinction of having been born in the same log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, died at his residence on College Heights here, following an extended illness.
He was a son of the late John and Mary Goff Davenport and the Lincoln cabin was on a farm which they owned south of Hodgenville, and which the family resided in until their son Ivy, was about 5 years old.
Mr. Davenport was a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church and had held various offices in the church and Sunday School. He retired in 1939 from the National Park Service after 21 years of service at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Site, South of town.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maude Nunn Davenport; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Edith Peace of Lexington; Mrs. Edna Mae Brown and Mrs. Virginia Lee Benningfield, both of Hodgenville, and Mrs. Lillian Louise Herbert, of Qjuincy, Ohio; six sons, Donald and Roy Davenport, both of this city; Carl Davenport of Benton, Ky., Leonard Davenport, Horse Cave, Ky., Marshall Davenport, Somerset, Ky., and Edward Davenport, Cleveland, Ohio; 27 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and on brother, Anderson Davenport of Portland, Oregon.
A son, James Harold Davenport was killed in service in 1945.
The body was at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in this city, until time of the funeral.
(above added to this memorial by Russell Perkins, FAG #47213352)
His photo beside Lincoln's log cabin appeared in the LaRue County Herald News, Mar 1, 1962. Also another article describing his being born in the cabin was in that issue.
I TOO, WAS BORN IN THE ABE LINCOLN CABIN- by Ivy Davenport
"Near the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky, within the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, stands the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12, 1809.
On August 16, l889 I was born in this same log cabin, but in a different location. It had been moved to my grandmother's farm to be used as a tenant house. My grandmother did not need it for a tenant house, so she let it be used as a school house for the neighbors' children. A woman of the neighborhood taught the school for two years. That girl later became my mother. She and my father kept house in this same log cabin for nineteen years. To this couple were born four Sons, I being the youngest. I was ten years old when my mother died.
A lot of things happened in the next few years. In 1906 I left my home to seek pastures. I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a few months, then to Davenport, Iowa. I didn't tarry long before I went back to the old home place again. I worked around at odd jobs until 1909 when they started erecting the shrine to house the cabin in which Lincoln and I were born. I worked there until it was finished in 1911.
In 1912 I courted and married a girl named Minnie Miller. We were very happy in my childhood home, although we had to work hard for a living. Our first two children were boys, and then a little girl was born. We were thrilled to have a Little girl with our boys. About five years later another little boy was born to us. The mother had pneumonia and died when he was four days old. I was so overcome with grief I did not know what to do. There I was left with four small children and my father to take care of, for my father was living with us, and did live with us until he died in 1931.
On January 20, 1923 I married a young woman named Maude Nunn, who lived in the same community. We had seven children, but one was lost in World War II. The others have all grown into men and women making a life of their own.
Soon we sold our home place and moved to a home nearer Lincoln Park. We were living there in 1938 when I received a telegram from Bob Ripley in New York. He wanted me to appear on his "Believe It Or Not" program. I was to tell about my being born in the Lincoln Cabin I only had a few hours to make up my mind, so I changed into some different clothes, but I didn't have time to shave. I rode my best horse to town and there a friend, who owned a car, drove me to Louisville, Kentucky, to catch the plane leaving for New York. It was my first plane ride. I spent three days and three nights enjoying the sights and rehearsing for the program.
After my fascinating trip I returned home and made plans to start a crop for the coming year. Before the year was gone the Superintendent of the Lincoln National Park asked me if I would like to come and work at the Park. It didn't take me long to say yes! I went home and discussed the matter with my wife, and we decided to rent the farm for a while and move to town. Quickly the years went by. I had worked at the park for 21 years when I reached the age of seventy. The law requires National Park employees to retire at that age. In 1959, after my retirement from the Park Service, I went to work as custodian at the Hodgenville Elementary School, which was just across the street from where we lived.
In 1963 I went to New York again. This time to appear on Gary Moore's "I've Got A Secret" program. My wife went with me. We enjoyed the plane ride and the visit to New York. I came back with the intention of working one year or more before I retired for good, but the Good Lord saw it otherwise. So once more I have retired and I am on sick leave until he calls me to a better home, which I know is waiting for me. I am a sincere Christian, and have been a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church since November 1912.
On Fehruary 12, 1965, the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky celebrated "Days of Lincoln". Since I was the last person born in the Lincoln cabin, I was to be recognized at a luncheon at LaRue County High School. The Governor of Kentucky, Edward T. Breathitt, was the guest speaker, but I was ill and unable to attend. The Governor and his attendants came by my home for a few moments and photographs were made of the Governor and me.
It is springtime again and I am looking forward to working in my garden and strawberries, but my future plans are in the hands of the Lord.
NOTE:Ivy Kirk Davenport passed away June 30, 1965. His family, and everyone who really knew him, has experienced a great loss. Yet, the memory of this great Christian lives on in our hearts.
In the 1930 LaRue County Census, District 1, Ivy Davenport was family 173. He was 40 years old and his wife, Maude, was 28. The children were: Leonard, 17; Marshall, 14; Louise, 12; Carl, 7; James H., 4-7/12; Mary E., 1-7/12; Edna M., age 5 months.
OBITUARY: Ivy Kirk Davenport, age 75 years, who had the distinction of having been born in the same log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, died at his residence on College Heights here, following an extended illness.
He was a son of the late John and Mary Goff Davenport and the Lincoln cabin was on a farm which they owned south of Hodgenville, and which the family resided in until their son Ivy, was about 5 years old.
Mr. Davenport was a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church and had held various offices in the church and Sunday School. He retired in 1939 from the National Park Service after 21 years of service at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Site, South of town.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maude Nunn Davenport; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Edith Peace of Lexington; Mrs. Edna Mae Brown and Mrs. Virginia Lee Benningfield, both of Hodgenville, and Mrs. Lillian Louise Herbert, of Qjuincy, Ohio; six sons, Donald and Roy Davenport, both of this city; Carl Davenport of Benton, Ky., Leonard Davenport, Horse Cave, Ky., Marshall Davenport, Somerset, Ky., and Edward Davenport, Cleveland, Ohio; 27 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and on brother, Anderson Davenport of Portland, Oregon.
A son, James Harold Davenport was killed in service in 1945.
The body was at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in this city, until time of the funeral.
(above added to this memorial by Russell Perkins, FAG #47213352)
I TOO, WAS BORN IN THE ABE LINCOLN CABIN- by Ivy Davenport
"Near the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky, within the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, stands the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12, 1809.
On August 16, l889 I was born in this same log cabin, but in a different location. It had been moved to my grandmother's farm to be used as a tenant house. My grandmother did not need it for a tenant house, so she let it be used as a school house for the neighbors' children. A woman of the neighborhood taught the school for two years. That girl later became my mother. She and my father kept house in this same log cabin for nineteen years. To this couple were born four Sons, I being the youngest. I was ten years old when my mother died.
A lot of things happened in the next few years. In 1906 I left my home to seek pastures. I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a few months, then to Davenport, Iowa. I didn't tarry long before I went back to the old home place again. I worked around at odd jobs until 1909 when they started erecting the shrine to house the cabin in which Lincoln and I were born. I worked there until it was finished in 1911.
In 1912 I courted and married a girl named Minnie Miller. We were very happy in my childhood home, although we had to work hard for a living. Our first two children were boys, and then a little girl was born. We were thrilled to have a Little girl with our boys. About five years later another little boy was born to us. The mother had pneumonia and died when he was four days old. I was so overcome with grief I did not know what to do. There I was left with four small children and my father to take care of, for my father was living with us, and did live with us until he died in 1931.
On January 20, 1923 I married a young woman named Maude Nunn, who lived in the same community. We had seven children, but one was lost in World War II. The others have all grown into men and women making a life of their own.
Soon we sold our home place and moved to a home nearer Lincoln Park. We were living there in 1938 when I received a telegram from Bob Ripley in New York. He wanted me to appear on his "Believe It Or Not" program. I was to tell about my being born in the Lincoln Cabin I only had a few hours to make up my mind, so I changed into some different clothes, but I didn't have time to shave. I rode my best horse to town and there a friend, who owned a car, drove me to Louisville, Kentucky, to catch the plane leaving for New York. It was my first plane ride. I spent three days and three nights enjoying the sights and rehearsing for the program.
After my fascinating trip I returned home and made plans to start a crop for the coming year. Before the year was gone the Superintendent of the Lincoln National Park asked me if I would like to come and work at the Park. It didn't take me long to say yes! I went home and discussed the matter with my wife, and we decided to rent the farm for a while and move to town. Quickly the years went by. I had worked at the park for 21 years when I reached the age of seventy. The law requires National Park employees to retire at that age. In 1959, after my retirement from the Park Service, I went to work as custodian at the Hodgenville Elementary School, which was just across the street from where we lived.
In 1963 I went to New York again. This time to appear on Gary Moore's "I've Got A Secret" program. My wife went with me. We enjoyed the plane ride and the visit to New York. I came back with the intention of working one year or more before I retired for good, but the Good Lord saw it otherwise. So once more I have retired and I am on sick leave until he calls me to a better home, which I know is waiting for me. I am a sincere Christian, and have been a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church since November 1912.
On Fehruary 12, 1965, the town of Hodgenville, Kentucky celebrated "Days of Lincoln". Since I was the last person born in the Lincoln cabin, I was to be recognized at a luncheon at LaRue County High School. The Governor of Kentucky, Edward T. Breathitt, was the guest speaker, but I was ill and unable to attend. The Governor and his attendants came by my home for a few moments and photographs were made of the Governor and me.
It is springtime again and I am looking forward to working in my garden and strawberries, but my future plans are in the hands of the Lord.
NOTE:Ivy Kirk Davenport passed away June 30, 1965. His family, and everyone who really knew him, has experienced a great loss. Yet, the memory of this great Christian lives on in our hearts.
In the 1930 LaRue County Census, District 1, Ivy Davenport was family 173. He was 40 years old and his wife, Maude, was 28. The children were: Leonard, 17; Marshall, 14; Louise, 12; Carl, 7; James H., 4-7/12; Mary E., 1-7/12; Edna M., age 5 months.
OBITUARY: Ivy Kirk Davenport, age 75 years, who had the distinction of having been born in the same log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born, died at his residence on College Heights here, following an extended illness.
He was a son of the late John and Mary Goff Davenport and the Lincoln cabin was on a farm which they owned south of Hodgenville, and which the family resided in until their son Ivy, was about 5 years old.
Mr. Davenport was a member of the Hodgenville Methodist Church and had held various offices in the church and Sunday School. He retired in 1939 from the National Park Service after 21 years of service at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Site, South of town.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maude Nunn Davenport; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Edith Peace of Lexington; Mrs. Edna Mae Brown and Mrs. Virginia Lee Benningfield, both of Hodgenville, and Mrs. Lillian Louise Herbert, of Qjuincy, Ohio; six sons, Donald and Roy Davenport, both of this city; Carl Davenport of Benton, Ky., Leonard Davenport, Horse Cave, Ky., Marshall Davenport, Somerset, Ky., and Edward Davenport, Cleveland, Ohio; 27 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and on brother, Anderson Davenport of Portland, Oregon.
A son, James Harold Davenport was killed in service in 1945.
The body was at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in this city, until time of the funeral.
(above added to this memorial by Russell Perkins, FAG #47213352)
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