Abraham B. Lincoln House at Lacey Spring, Virginia.

Lacey Spring, Virginia on East side of Route 11 Highway nearby.

1850-51, by Abraham B. Lincoln.

Architecture—"T" plan, 2 story frame, 2 Chimneys of brick in the front part about the middle of building on either end; 1 chimney at rear; flat roof porch on front and north side, one story with Doric Columns; entrance door with side lights and transom; twin windows in front with two sash having 4 lights each, 12 X 18. Interior—Wide hall; paneled stairway with curved walnut rail, square balusters and newels; one flight, the rail and balusters extended in the hallway on second floor; doors of walnut and native pine, all handmade. Walls paneled to chair rail; plate knob locks, mantles handmade, plain and substantial; fire places in every room but one; door and window facings plain and simple, but pleasing to the eye and unlike any I have seen before.

Abraham B. Lincoln was a son of David Lincoln and a great grand son of John Lincoln, the first of the name to settle in the Shenandoah Valley and known as "Virginia John".

David Lincoln above was the son of Jacob Lincoln and a grandson of "Virginia John" and the owner of the property, which is the subject of this write-up.

As shown in the "names of original to present day owners" above, David became the owner by purchase and deed from col. John Koontz in February 1830, two tracts, totaling 126 acres and 19 poles, being a part of the 421 acres purchased by Col. Koontz from Josiah Harrison in May 1810.

David’s purchase included land on both sides of the Valley Pike, route 11, and his house stood on the West side of the highway not far from the "Big Spring" and now known as Lacey Spring, just a little north of the present church building and diagonally across the highway from the present house built by his son, Abraham, in 1850, pictures of which are attached. The David Lincoln house was destroyed by fire some years ago. Jacob Lincoln and his brother, Abraham, inherited the present property including the house, which he had built by partition in October 1880, the other part going to the heirs of his brother Jacob.

Form 3496 and item 6, describe in detail the house of Abraham, which is located on a part of the land patented to John Harrison, the pioneer in 1747, who settled at the "Big Spring": which is now known as lacey Spring, and has been so known for years. Just how it came into this name is not known. Houston Harrison in his "Long Grey Trail" says "Just how the name came to be adopted for the town as Lacey Spring is not indicated by the records, there being no reference to any Lacey found among the various deeds in connection with the ownership of the land. One, Samuel lacey was a witness to Capt. Reuben Harrison’s will, second of May 1802. He seems to have lived in the old Log House near the spring originally built by John Harrison and he, or one of his descendants, may have for a time kept the tavern owned by Col. John Koontz in 1818, in which year on the 4^th of August. Col. Koontz signed an article of agreement with Samuel Butler, wherein he this day rented to said Butler the Big Spring Tavern house, kitchen, stable and garden thereto attached together with one acre of land to October 1^st, 1819. The Post Office was established march 14, 2024 with William Barley as post master, U.S. Gov. Records, Washington, D.C."

In connection with the Lacey Spring family of the Lincoln’s, much misinformation has been given and wrong impressions made with respect of it’s having been the birth place of the President’s father or grandfather. All the records that I have seen clearly show that such is not the case at all. As shown above, David Lincoln, the first of that name to live at Lacey Spring, was a grandson of "Virginia John", and a son of Jacob Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, the President’s grandfather, was a brother of Jacob. Thomas Lincoln, the President’s father, was a son of Abraham Lincoln, and therefore first cousin of David Lincoln of Lacey Spring, who was a son of Jacob. This, it seems to me, would make the president second cousin to David Lincoln.

The original Lincoln Homestead is on Linville Creek and began with "Virginia John" Lincoln, from which point the President’s grandfather moved into Kentucky after the birth of his son Thomas, who was the President’s father. The Lincoln’s now living in the neighborhood of Lacey Spring, while directly descended, are only remotely related to the late president Lincoln on the father’s side.

I have not been able to gather much of individual history in connection with the Lacey Spring family. David, the father, was a farmer and doubtless had other interests. He seems to have spent a good deal on the education of his sons, one of them, J.E. Lincoln, being a practicing physician whose home was a Lacey Spring. The sons of A.B. Lincoln were J.J. and Samuel M. Lincoln, the latter, one time owner of "Belmont Hall" Southeast of and not far from Lacey Spring.

Photograph.