IF HE MISSED,THERE WOULD BE NO LINCOLN…
If he had missed his shot, we would not have had President Abraham Lincoln. That’s how close it was, just one shot, and quite possibly the United States would look much different than it does today. One can visit the home of Mordecai Lincoln, the favorite uncle of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington County, Kentucky.
This story starts in Virginia, in 1782. Captain Abraham Lincoln, the grandfather of the famous president, received the land grant in Kentucky for his service in the Revolutionary War. He took his family through the Cumberland Gap, and they first settled in modern day, Casey County, Kentucky, and then later they moved to an area that is today, just outside of Louisville. Just a few years later, in 1786, Captain Lincoln and his three sons Mordecai, Josiah, and Thomas were working in the field. The group heard a rifle crack and Captain Abraham Lincoln dropped dead right on the spot.
Thomas, who was the youngest of the trio of brothers, and was only eight-years-old, sprinted to the side of his fallen father. Mordecai, who was the oldest brother, yelled for the middle brother Josiah to go to the nearest station and get help. Right about that time a Native American burst through the tree line and ran to kill the little boy Thomas. The screaming native grabbed him, reared back his tomahawk but before he could swing to end the life of the boy, he was dropped dead from an accurate rifle shot by Mordecai, Had Mordecai missed, or even not immediately killed the Indian, young Thomas would surely have been killed.
Thomas went on to become the father of the great President Abraham Lincoln. Think about that for a second… One missed shot, and Abraham doesn’t exist. Would we have had a Civil War? Would the North have allowed the South to break away for good? Would a different president punish the South even more harshly? I know there are varying thoughts and opinions in different circles, about Abraham Lincoln, he is a polarizing figure for sure, but one thing is for sure, if Mordecai missed his shot, you can bet that our American history would definitely be different. It’s amazing what one moment in time can have on the future of millions.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments, what you think would have been different had Mordecai missed his shot, and we didn’t have a President Lincoln. After the tragic event, the boys’ mother Beersheba Lincoln moved the family back to the Bluegrass Region, in Washington County, Kentucky. This area was much safer and had a bigger population for protection. Under Virginia law, Mordecai inherited two thirds of his father’s estate and that made him semi-wealthy. He had several acres that surrounded his house that you can still visit today. Mordecai lived at the house from 1796 until 1811. It is the oldest property still standing in Kentucky, that was once owned by part of the Lincoln family. Mordecai’s little brother Thomas became a carpenter and soon courted and married Nancy Hanks. Nancy lived less than a mile down the road from Mordecai’s house at what is now the Lincoln Homestead State Park.
Mordecai was Thomas’ favorite brother, and he was Abraham’s favorite uncle. Abe mentioned him many times in his life and always spoke of him fondly. Today the house is used for many different gatherings and you can visit it anytime you choose. We hope that on your next adventure you visit the house of Mordecai Lincoln, the man that had one blip in time, where if he missed his shot, our nation may look entirely different. Be sure to check out the video below from Mordecai’s house.
-Col. Russ Carson, Jr., Founder, Family Tree Nuts