Benjamin Elisha Lincoln ^{1 2}

   General Notes:

In about 1877, Benjamin Elisha Lincoln, who had been working in the Carbondale, Ohio coal mines corresponded with his cousin, Joseph Benjamin Lincoln and decided to investigate the possibilities in Mills County, Iowa. Visiting the area and liking what he saw he returned to Ohio and brought his youngest brother, Thomas back to Iowa with him. In the early part of 1880, their father and mother, Albert Alpin and Elizabeth Lincoln, two sisters, Elizabeth and Martha and brothers, Alvin, George and Charles also came to Mills County, Iowa.

That summer, Benjamin Elisha Lincoln returned to Carbondale, Ohio and on August 26, 1880 was united in Marriage to Margaret Thompson. They soon started back to Iowa by covered wagon. One item which was taken on this trek to Iowa was a steel safe, now in the possesion of John Leon Lincoln, Pacific Junction,Iowa, (1991). Within this safe was found a Diary kept by Benjamin of their journey, part of the recordings as follows ... The year was 1880, "September 28: Dinner at Joseph's then to within four miles west of Bloomguild and Marge was sick. September 29: Dinner in the bend of Salt Creek. Corralville and shopped. Camped four miles west of Tomahawk and John left the wagon and she thought he had left. September 30: Williamsport, New Holland, Washington. Camped three miles west of Lancaster with a negro. Marge was sick and used up all the salt and was no better in the morning. October 1: Through Lancaster, Jamestown and evening camped on the bank of the little Miami and I burnt my finger. Slept good all night. October 2: Crossed Miami, went thru Alpha, Striker Town, on to Dayton on Main Street and out on third. On to Kingsville and ate dinner under a Beech Tree and the Gray Mare was laid up and we laid off until Sunday noon in the grove. (Benjamin failed to keep his diary while crossing Indiana and Illinois. The next entry was October 18: Burlington, crossed the river and it was cold. Got overshoes $1.50, and gloves and hood $1.50. Loaned John $8.00: 14th: $1.00; 17th $1.50; 19th $0.93; 21st Hay $0.25; 23rd Bread $0.30; book in Fairfield. October 20: Onions $0.15, Coffee $0.25, Book $0.50, stopped two miles west of Geode. October 21: Dinner in Fairfield. Batavia we stayed all night. Toll bridge at Aftonway was $0.45. Meat in Fairfield $0.50, Hay $0.50. October 22: camped fifteen miles west of Aftonway. 21st: loaned $0.50, 22nd: Cabage $0.50, Bread $0.25, Meat (lard) $0.25, Hay $0.40. Country rough. Five miles west of Chariton for dinner. Camped within eight miles of Osceola east and had rough road all day. Hay $0.25, Potatoes $0.10, Straw $0.10. October 25: Started eight miles east of Osceola and dinner in Murray. Supper four miles west of Afton on a big Creek and it has been rough road all day. We stole corn for dinner. Stole one sack 25th then to Creston and three miles west for dinner. We have had a nice country all day so far. October 26: Meat $0.50, Hay $0.20 and borrowed one bushel of corn. October 27: Meat $0.50, Pepper $0.05, Bread $0.20, Hay $0.10. Had a nice country "You Bet" and within seven miles of Red Oak. October 28: Landed on the bottom (refering to the Missouri River Bottom area near Pacific Junction where he spent the rest of his life)". It took one month to make the trip. They all settled on adjoining farms along the east bank of the Missouri River.

Benjamin Elisha Lincoln in addition to operating the farm, owned and operated a butcher shop for several years in Pacific Junction. Benjamin and his three sons operated all of the lands as a cooperative family farm until his death.

In 1916, the boys all purchased new Model T Ford touring cars. Ben never learned to drive. Those tin lizzies would never listen to his command of gidap and whoa. Ben would hitch Dan and Nell to his spring wagon and visit different farms and also visit the daughters when they lived near by. Upon reaching the age of retirement, Ben liked to sit on his screened in porch and watch the trains go by.

(Reprint from "NONPARIEL" Council Bluffs, Iowa, August, 1930) -- MR. AND MRS.LINCOLN CELBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING ON TUESDAY. -- Prominent Pioneer Residents of Plattville Township were married in Ohio Half Century Ago and Celebrate Event Here. -- Fifty-Three years ago a stalwart young man with a large frame characteristic of the Lincoln family of which he, Ben, was a member, left Ohio and crossed the prairie lands of Illinois and Iowa, stopping on the East Banks of the Missouri near the little settlement of Bethlehem, where he engaged in farming after the manner of the pioneers. Here he built a little home and after three years returned to McCartherstown, Ohio, where he wooed and wed Margaret Thompson, a childhood sweetheart. Together they returned to Mills County, Iowa, and entered on the home life of the pioneer, which was a life of hardships, hardwork, and carried with it many discouragements, and disappointments, but with the constancy of purpose characteristic of the family, Ben Lincoln carried on even during years when the flooded waters of the Missouri swept away the crops and when financial panics ruined markets and when many abandoned their farm land in despair. Side by side this couple toiled. Children came and blessed their home and filled their lives with happier hours. Life, which always brings its compensation in some form or other for all honest efforts brought years of prosperity and the meager holdings grew as the years passed by. Today as they sit amid the sunset glow of life, only the memory of those days and only the pleasant memories at that remain, and they both will tell you that there are pleasant memories of those days in which they worked and built together.

Tuesday, August 26th (1930), marked the 50th anniversary of that day back there in Ohio, when Margaret Thompson became the bride of Ben E. Lincoln and it is doubtful if that wedding day was any happier than their Golden Wedding day when surrounded by their children and grandchildren and relatives and friends in their own modern comfortable home here in this land, which they have had a part in the great program of development.

"Yes, Sir, we had a great time", chuckled the bridegroom of 50 years ago when we called on him Wednesday to extend our belated congratulations and ascertain how he had stood the festivities. The half century of time has transformed the lean, lank, stalwart Lincoln lad. He is now a heavy, robust, bearded picturesque figure, a typical patriarch, brush in speech with sparkling eyes which shine in good natured merriment from under shaggy eyebrows. and a laughas hearty and wholesome as the air of the country which he loved so well -- to well in fact to consider moving into town and retiring.

Seated on his front porch he can look up and down the Missouri river valley and with a sweep of his hand include his land holdings, which he admits, he has lost track of as the boys are looking after the farm land now, but which he calculates are in excess of 2000 acres.

Time has now changed the sweet gentleness of the bride of 50 years who graciously insisted that we enjoy a sample of the wedding cake and showed us the bride's boquet of yellow roses presented her by her grandchildren, as well as the many other beautiful gifts amoung which was a new electric radio.

Over 150 friends na neighbors called during the day to extend congratulations and over 100 relatives enjoyed the picnic dinner with them at noon and remained for ice cream and wedding cake in the evening. Just after dusk thegrandchildren came in for their fun with an old-fashioned charivari and the bridegroom of a half centruy ago was equal to the occasion as he had the candy and treats ready for them.

That these good people may be permitted to walk together in health and happiness through many another year is the wish of this newspaper.

   Marriage Information:

Benjamin married Margaret "Marge" Thompson on 26 Aug 1880 in McARTHURSTOWN, VINTON CO., OH. (Margaret "Marge" Thompson was born on 2 Mar 1850 in , Athens Co., OH, died on 4 Jan 1934 in Platteville Twsp, Mills Co., IA and was buried in Glenwood Cem., Mills Co., IA.)