Second son of Lincoln family overlooked in history 

Among the cherished images of Abraham Lincoln in American history and lore is that of a family man, playfully devoted to his four sons. But one of those boys has been sorely overlooked by history. 

That “forgotten” child is Eddie Lincoln, the second son of the Lincoln family, who passed away just before the age of 4 on Feb. 1, 1850. His story has been relegated mainly to scattered references in various works of Lincoln’s life, despite the pronounced impact that his life – and tragic death – had on both of his parents.

Edward Baker Lincoln was born March 10, 1846, to a -Lincoln household that was just finding its way socially, professionally, and financially. Abraham and Mary Lincoln had been married for three and a half years when the boy was born, following their first son Robert, the only one of the four who would live past his teen years. Named for Lincoln friend and political associate Edward Dickinson Baker, Eddie would never know his other two brothers, both born after his death.

Indeed, the world of the -Lincolns was much different in Eddie’s life than what we most commonly associate with the 16th President today. During Eddie’s life, Abraham Lincoln was barely a household name in Illinois, let alone nationally. The little boy never saw the Lincoln–Douglas debates, the White House, the Civil War, or the assassination that ensured his father’s place among American immortals.

The Lincoln home was also far different than the familiar two-story frame home at Eighth and Jackson in Springfield. Until 1856, the Lincoln home was a one-and-a-half story, five-room cottage. 

No proven photos of Eddie are known to exist. As photography was still in its infancy in the era, that is not unusual. Abraham himself had only been photographed once in his life before the age of 40. 

Abraham was frequently absent during the late 1840s and early 1850s, as the legal circuit took him away for weeks at a time in the spring and fall. When he was in Springfield, he was often drawn away by political rallies and other pursuits. 

Lincoln served his single term in Congress during Eddie’s life, and recent studies have revealed that he was away from home for as much as 180 days a year. Eddie himself was rarely home, as he traveled with Mary and Robert to stay with Lincoln in Washington, as well as visiting Mary’s family in Lexington, Ky. 

Some of those travels were delayed by Eddie’s chronic poor health. Some modern studies have argued that he suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, which may have proven terminal. After 52 days of illness, the boy’s death shattered the Lincoln household. 

Mary’s well-documented mental instabilities, for which she has been heavily criticized, began to take root with the loss of Eddie, as did her pronounced grieving. Abraham, meanwhile, underwent a sort of religious transformation. Never considered devout, he began attending church more regularly following Eddie’s death, and he formed a close relationship with Dr. James Smith, the pastor who conducted the boy’s funeral. Lincoln’s Christianity remains a hot topic among -Lincoln -enthusiasts. 

Six days after Eddie’s death, an anonymous poem entitled -“Little Eddie” appeared in a Springfield newspaper, an apparent eulogy to the lost boy. The author of the heart-wrenching poem was debated for more than 160 years until research from Dr. -Samuel Wheeler, a renowned Lincoln scholar from Springfield, found in 2012 that the verse was actually reprinted from a poetry volume from St. Louis, published well before Eddie’s death.

Today, Eddie rests in the -Lincoln Tomb in Springfield with his parents and two of his brothers. Thousands of visitors pass by his grave, most never knowing the impact of the child’s life on his loving parents. History may have overlooked Eddie Lincoln, but to his anguished parents, he was anything but forgotten. 

Tom Emery has written a booklet on the life of Eddie Lincoln that sells for $7, including tax and postage. The booklet may be ordered by calling (217) 854-3010, e-mailing ilcivilwar@yahoo.com, or by mail at 337 E. Second South, Carlinville, IL 62626.