Presidential Child. He was the third child and son of United States President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln.
Named for Mary Lincoln's brother-in-law, Dr. William Wallace, he and his younger brother, Thomas (Tad), were rambunctious children during the time they lived in Springfield, Illinois, as recorded by Abraham's law partner, William Herndon. They turned their law office upside down, pulling the books off the shelves, while their father appeared oblivious to their behavior.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, the family moved into the White House the following year, and it became the children's new playground. In early 1862, he and Tad both became ill. The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, which was usually contracted by consumption of fecally-contaminated food or water. Tad managed to recover, but Willie's condition fluctuated from day to day. His condition worsened and he finally succumbed on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11.
Both parents were deeply affected by his death. His father did not return to work for three weeks. Tad cried for nearly a month because they were very close. Mary became so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Dr. Charles Brown, who perfected of the technique of embalming, was called to the White House and prepared the remains.
Willie lay in state in the Green Room, adjoining the East Room, where a private service was conducted by the pastor of The Washington New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. The Lincolns were so pleased by the preservation achieved by Dr. Brown that Willie was disinterred twice so that they could again view his remains.
After Lincoln's assassination in 1865, his remains were exhumed and were placed on the Presidential funeral train with his father and interred in a temporary tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. In September 1871, when Lincoln's permanent tomb was finished at Oak Ridge Cemetery, he was placed alongside the remains of his father and his brothers Tad and Eddie.
View original burial locationhere.
Named for Mary Lincoln's brother-in-law, Dr. William Wallace, he and his younger brother, Thomas (Tad), were rambunctious children during the time they lived in Springfield, Illinois, as recorded by Abraham's law partner, William Herndon. They turned their law office upside down, pulling the books off the shelves, while their father appeared oblivious to their behavior.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, the family moved into the White House the following year, and it became the children's new playground. In early 1862, he and Tad both became ill. The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, which was usually contracted by consumption of fecally-contaminated food or water. Tad managed to recover, but Willie's condition fluctuated from day to day. His condition worsened and he finally succumbed on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11.
Both parents were deeply affected by his death. His father did not return to work for three weeks. Tad cried for nearly a month because they were very close. Mary became so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Dr. Charles Brown, who perfected of the technique of embalming, was called to the White House and prepared the remains.
Willie lay in state in the Green Room, adjoining the East Room, where a private service was conducted by the pastor of The Washington New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. The Lincolns were so pleased by the preservation achieved by Dr. Brown that Willie was disinterred twice so that they could again view his remains.
After Lincoln's assassination in 1865, his remains were exhumed and were placed on the Presidential funeral train with his father and interred in a temporary tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. In September 1871, when Lincoln's permanent tomb was finished at Oak Ridge Cemetery, he was placed alongside the remains of his father and his brothers Tad and Eddie.
View original burial locationhere.
Presidential Child. He was the third child and son of United States President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln.
Named for Mary Lincoln's brother-in-law, Dr. William Wallace, he and his younger brother, Thomas (Tad), were rambunctious children during the time they lived in Springfield, Illinois, as recorded by Abraham's law partner, William Herndon. They turned their law office upside down, pulling the books off the shelves, while their father appeared oblivious to their behavior.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, the family moved into the White House the following year, and it became the children's new playground. In early 1862, he and Tad both became ill. The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, which was usually contracted by consumption of fecally-contaminated food or water. Tad managed to recover, but Willie's condition fluctuated from day to day. His condition worsened and he finally succumbed on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11.
Both parents were deeply affected by his death. His father did not return to work for three weeks. Tad cried for nearly a month because they were very close. Mary became so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Dr. Charles Brown, who perfected of the technique of embalming, was called to the White House and prepared the remains.
Willie lay in state in the Green Room, adjoining the East Room, where a private service was conducted by the pastor of The Washington New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. The Lincolns were so pleased by the preservation achieved by Dr. Brown that Willie was disinterred twice so that they could again view his remains.
After Lincoln's assassination in 1865, his remains were exhumed and were placed on the Presidential funeral train with his father and interred in a temporary tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. In September 1871, when Lincoln's permanent tomb was finished at Oak Ridge Cemetery, he was placed alongside the remains of his father and his brothers Tad and Eddie.
View original burial locationhere.
Named for Mary Lincoln's brother-in-law, Dr. William Wallace, he and his younger brother, Thomas (Tad), were rambunctious children during the time they lived in Springfield, Illinois, as recorded by Abraham's law partner, William Herndon. They turned their law office upside down, pulling the books off the shelves, while their father appeared oblivious to their behavior.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, the family moved into the White House the following year, and it became the children's new playground. In early 1862, he and Tad both became ill. The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, which was usually contracted by consumption of fecally-contaminated food or water. Tad managed to recover, but Willie's condition fluctuated from day to day. His condition worsened and he finally succumbed on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11.
Both parents were deeply affected by his death. His father did not return to work for three weeks. Tad cried for nearly a month because they were very close. Mary became so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Dr. Charles Brown, who perfected of the technique of embalming, was called to the White House and prepared the remains.
Willie lay in state in the Green Room, adjoining the East Room, where a private service was conducted by the pastor of The Washington New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. The Lincolns were so pleased by the preservation achieved by Dr. Brown that Willie was disinterred twice so that they could again view his remains.
After Lincoln's assassination in 1865, his remains were exhumed and were placed on the Presidential funeral train with his father and interred in a temporary tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. In September 1871, when Lincoln's permanent tomb was finished at Oak Ridge Cemetery, he was placed alongside the remains of his father and his brothers Tad and Eddie.
View original burial locationhere.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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