Family:Alvin Lincoln and Catherine Grames (1)

Alvin Hovey Lincoln was the seventh child of Gurdon Lincoln and Lola (Sanderson) Lincoln. In the record of his birth, which was recorded at Danville, Vermont, the last name was spelled "Linkon," the spelling favored by his ancestors. Alvin grew up in Vermont. The family was still living in Vermont as late as 1850. Sometime after 1850, the family moved to Ohio.

Alvin's parents settled in Madison Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, along with two of their children, Oliver and Emmeline. Alvin, along with his sister Prudence and her husband Hiram Works, settled in Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa. In the 1860 U.S. Census, Alvin's occupation was listed as "laborer," while Hiram's occupation was listed as a "lime burner."

On September 1, 1861 Alvin enlisted in the armed services of the United States at Davenport, Scott County, Iowa as a private in Company C, commanded by Captain Bell, in the 8th Regiment of the Iowa Volunteers. Alvin was one of many young men of Iowa who served their country in the Civil War. About one-half of all the men of military age in the state--more than 76,000--served in the army. There were 46 Iowa infantry regiments, with from 800 to 1,000 men in each regiment. Iowa, in proportion to its population, supplied more men to the Union forces than any other state; few states suffered a higher percentage of lives lost.Over 13,000 Iowans were killed in the war; 8,500 were injured.

While serving, family tradition has it that Alvin had an opportunity to meet and speak to President Abraham Lincoln. The President must have been reviewing the troops; perhaps he decided to speak to Alvin because they shared the same last name. According to Alvin's grandson, William Pierce, Alvin and the President spoke about whether they were related and decided that they were. (Later, I've learned that Alvin and Abraham Lincoln came from different Lincoln families, so the families are not related.)

Toward the latter part of the war, Alvin's company was stationed at Memphis, Tenn., where they came face to face with Confederate troops under the command of Nathan Bedford Forrest. On August 21, 1864, in a daring early morning raid, Forrest's men occupied Memphis. The Confederates held the city for part of the day, nearly captured two Major Generals, and left with few losses.

During the raid, Alvin was wounded in the left leg, with a gunshot through the thigh, breaking the bone. Alvin received treatment at the local military hospital on the same day. After his injuries healed enough for him to travel, Alvin returned to Davenport, where he received his honorable discharge on September 28, 1864, after three years of service.

Alvin always suffered from the wound he received at Memphis; according to his pension records, the injury left him partially lame and unable to work at the same capacity to which he was accustomed.

Sometime after his honorable discharge at Davenport and before 1870, Alvin moved to Osakis, Douglas County, Minn., where he took a homestead and established a 160 acre farm (Homestead Certificate No. 45;Application 772). His mother, now widowed, lived with him. According to the 1870 U.S. Census, mother and son also had a servant girl living with them, Alice Wiles, who was fourteen years old.

On October 18, 1874, Alvin, then 47 years old, married Catherine Louisa Grames, who was 17. Catherine was the daughter of a local farmer, Isaac Grames and his wife Sarah Jane (Biddle) Grames. According to the 1875 State Census, Alvin's household at the time included his mother, aged 79, Catherine, 17, a farm worker, William T. McCalliffs, 15 (born in Austria), and Catherine's sister, Mary M. Grames, 12.

1.   Vital Records of Danville,Vermont, in Certificate of Birth.