Ida M. Tarbell

Crawford County, PA

Marker Text: Noted oil historian, biographer of Lincoln, journalist, lived in this house about six years. She was graduated from the Titusville High School in 1875.

Location: At 324 East Main Street (PA Route 27), Titusville, PA. Erected by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1954.

  "Muckrakers" was the name that Theodore Roosevelt gave journalists of the early part of the 20th century who exposed abuses in American business and government. Ida Tarbell, one of the original muckrakers, was able to help shut down the Standard Oil Company monopoly that had hampered her father's efforts in the oil industry in Pennsylvania. Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, irked by her stinging éxpose, dubbed her "Miss Tarbarrel."

At the time I took the photo in 2009, the Tarbell home was being restored.  Click any photo to enlarge.

  Ida Minerva Tarbell was born in a log cabin on a farm in Erie County, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 5, 1857. Her parents were Franklin S. Tarbell and Esther Ann McCullough Tarbell. When oil was discovered in Pennsylvania, Ida's father became the first manufacturer of wooden oil tanks after oil was discovered not far from this home in Titusville, PA. The Tarbell family first moved to Rouseville, a village on Oil Creek south of Titusville and later to this house in Titusville.

  Ida was still very young when the family moved to Rouseville to take advantage of Pennsylvania's budding oil industry. In school, Ida became fascinated by her science classes. At Titusville conditions were better for the girl, who was sent to good schools and graduated from Titusville High School and later to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, located west of Titusville in the same county. At Allegheny College she majored in biology, where she received the A. B. degree in 1880, the only woman to graduate in a class of forty and then earned the M. A. degree in 1883.

  After graduation Miss Tarbell taught school for some time at Poland, Ohio, but she was not in her element and found little to challenge her there. She was asked to do some work for The Chautauquan. Eventually she became managing editor of the publication and stayed for eight years.

Lincoln's Virginia Ancestors

Marker No. KB-65
Rockingham County, VA

Marker Text: In 1768, John Lincoln moved here with his family from Pennsylvania. His eldest son, Abraham, grandfather of the president, might have remained a Virginian had his friend and distant relative, Daniel Boone not encouraged him to migrate to Kentucky by 1782. Abraham's son, Thomas Lincoln, born in Virginia (ca. in 1778), met and married Nancy Hanks in Kentucky, where the future president was born on 12 February 1809. Nearby stands the Lincoln house built about 1800 by Captain Jacob Lincoln, the President's great-uncle, near the original Lincoln homestead. Five generations of Lincolns and two family slaves are buried on the hill.

Location: Near Linville, Virginia on Virginia Route 42 (Harpine Highway) on the east side of road, next to what looks like an older section of Route 42. Erected by the Department of Historic Resources in 1997.

  Today's marker is the companion marker to A-18 (Abraham Lincoln's Father), I posted on March 10, 2012. This marker is located near where the old Lincoln homestead stood. What does remain is a Lincoln family home built around 1800 and the old Lincoln family cemetery is nearby on the hill.

  President Abraham Lincoln's grandfather, whom the future president was named, Abraham Lincoln moved with his parents, John and Rebecca Lincoln from Pennsylvania in 1768. Abraham Lincoln was born 13 May 1744 in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania. Abraham was the first child born to John and Rebecca Lincoln, who had nine children in all: Abraham born 1744, twins Hannah and Lydia born 1748, Isaac born 1750, Jacob born 1751, John born 1755, Sarah born 1757, Thomas born 1761, and Rebecca born 1767.

Abraham Lincoln's Father

Marker No. A-18
Rockingham County, VA

Marker Text: Four miles west, Thomas Lincoln, father of the President, was born about 1778. He was taken to Kentucky by his father about 1781. Beside the road here was Lincoln Inn, long kept by a member of the family.

Location: On U.S. Route 11 (Valley Pike), north of Lacey Spring and Lacey Spring Road. Erected by the Virginia Conservation Commission in 1942.

  Today's marker has a companion marker with different text located at the site mentioned in this marker, four miles west. This marker was erected in 1942, about the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln's father. Then, in 1997, a marker on Route 42 was placed in front of the location where Thomas Lincoln was born and his family and later generations of Lincoln's lived. (I will post this marker in a few days). I found that many early historical markers were originally located on main highways even when they were miles away from the actual location mentioned in the markers.

Photo taken looking south on U.S. Route 11.  Click any photo to enlarge.

  Early markers, as are current markers, were used by the state to promote tourism and this was best done by placing the marker on a major road, such as, U.S. Route 11 or the Great Wagon Road or Valley Pike as it was been called. In 1942, the road at the actual site was probably not well developed and not a road that a tourist would normally travel. Today, Route 42 is a four lane highway and more accessible. U.S. Route 11 where this marker is located was the major highway through the Shenandoah Valley in the early years of automobile travel in Virginia.

John Todd Stuart, 1807-1885

Boyle County, KY
Marker Number 2244

Marker Text: Abraham Lincoln’s friend and 1st law partner was born on Nov. 10, 1807, in Fayette Co. The son of a Presbyterian minister & Mary Todd Lincoln’s aunt, Stuart graduated from Centre College in 1826. Two years later he became a lawyer in Springfield, IL. Met Lincoln when an officer in Black Hawk War and encouraged him to study law. Over.

(Reverse) Lent Lincoln law books and they were law partners, 1837–1841. He was a Whig in IL legislature and US Cong. Backed John Bell over Lincoln in 1860 election and went to Cong. as Democrat in 1862. Was frequent White House visitor despite disagreeing with some of Lincoln’s policies. Was pres. of Natl. Lincoln Monument Assoc. Presented by the Ky A. Lincoln Bicent Commission

Location: On Main Street, Danville, KY across the street from Danville Presbyterian Church and in front of Stuart Hall on Centre College campus. Erected by the Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways in 2007.

  Today's marker is about a man who was a friend and law partner of Abraham Lincoln. I have read many historical accounts of Lincoln over the years and there are many things to admire about Lincoln and his place as one of the most respected U.S. President's is well deserved. One characteristic of Lincoln, I have come to admire is his ability to surround himself with people who did not hold the same opinions or viewpoint about the nation and politics as he held. This ability to maintain friendships with people who held different views, I believe made him a stronger leader. I believe our current political climate in the U.S. could be enriched and learn from Lincoln's prospective rather than only surrounding ourselves with people who hold the same viewpoints. I know I have benefited through conversations I have had with people who hold a different view than mine.

  As you read this marker, it makes a person wonder what if Lincoln had never met Stuart, would Abraham Lincoln had become the U.S. President? What if, in fact, he had never entered into politics or law and had simply become a...blacksmith? According to Lincoln's bio this might have happened had it not been for John Todd Stuart. If not for Stuart's influence, it is conceivable that Lincoln might never have been interested in the law - and thus, might not ever have become president.