Oil Painting of Abraham & Mary and Their 3 Boys

[Eagleeye1965]

Even though I don't think they ever had a daughter, it sure looks like a little girl to me with that long hair.. don't think they allowed boys hair to be long back than

[LincolnMan]

That's a good point. The child is also not dressed at all like the boys. This is getting more interesting.

[Eagleeye1965]

You know something Bill I could almost swear I read that they did have a little girl but she died at a very young age..I want to say I definatly read that somewhere but I cant say for 100% I did..read some darn much I cant keep track of it all..but my brain wants to say I did..so I am gonna say I must have read that..hows that hahaha

[L Verge]

Sorry guys, but boys definitely had long hair and even wore what would appear to be dresses during this time. They were not considered ready for pants until age 4-5 or older. I have family pictures from the early-1900s showing male children dressed this way and with long finger curls that came past their shoulders.

As for the Lincolns losing a girl child, I am completely in the dark on that one. It would be interesting to see a source for that. As much attention as historians have paid to the deaths of the Lincoln sons, it would certainly seem that their having and losing a girl would be in nearly every book.

The small child in this particular print is curious because Willie was older than Tad and (one would assume) larger. I didn't check the provenance on this print, but is a date given? I suspect this is another case of a company not checking facts before offering goods to the American public.

[Eagleeye1965]

I think the little child is wearing shows for young ladies??

[RJNorton]

You know something Bill I could almost swear I read that they did have a little girl but she died at a very young age..I want to say I definatly read that somewhere but I cant say for 100% I did..read some darn much I cant keep track of it all..but my brain wants to say I did..so I am gonna say I must have read that..hows that hahaha

Dave, whoever wrote that was incorrect. All of the Lincoln children were boys.

[Eagleeye1965]

You know something Bill I could almost swear I read that they did have a little girl but she died at a very young age..I want to say I definatly read that somewhere but I cant say for 100% I did..read some darn much I cant keep track of it all..but my brain wants to say I did..so I am gonna say I must have read that..hows that hahaha

Dave, whoever wrote that was incorrect. All of the Lincoln children were boys.

Rodger that's just what I thought but could swear I read that somewhere while doing some researching

[L Verge]

Those shoes are appropriate for boys or girls of that era. Think Little Lord Fauntleroy.

[Gene C]

What about the lace trim on the pants at the bottom of the leg?

[Linda Anderson]

Here's a photo of Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was young.

http://chrisblattman.com/files/2011/07/p...velt-2.jpg

After his mother died in 1941, Roosevelt's secretary Grace Tully brought him a box he had never seen before. Inside were his first pair of shoes, baby toys, christening dress and a lock of his baby hair.

"Roosevelt's eyes filled with tears. He told Tully he would like to be alone. She hurried from the room. No one on the President's staff had ever seen the President weep."

FDR by Jean Edward Smith.

[Gene C]

I'd cry too if someone took a picture of me in that getup.

[Linda Anderson]

I'd cry too if someone took a picture of me in that getup.

Oh, you are bad, Gene. But I'm still laughing.

[LincolnMan]

That was FDR as a child? That is right up there with those embarrassing photos our parents took of us naked when we were children .

[Eagleeye1965]

Holy Smokes I cant believe that's FDR !! That's amazing right there and exactly why I am so darn glad I joined the site!

[Eva Elisabeth]

..and I'm learning a lot of amazing new phrases...

I was also reminded of the Little Lord. And I doubt girls wore pants in that era or played the drums (Laurie?). The proportions of all the depicted persons are quite odd. Robert looks like a giant!

Linda, how old was FDR at the time the photo was taken? Do you know if this was all his own hair and haircut, or was it a whig?

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You know something Bill I could almost swear I read that they did have a little girl but she died at a very young age..I want to say I definatly read that somewhere but I cant say for 100% I did..read some darn much I cant keep track of it all..but my brain wants to say I did..so I am gonna say I must have read that..hows that hahaha

Dave, whoever wrote that was incorrect. All of the Lincoln children were boys.

Rodger that's just what I thought but could swear I read that somewhere while doing some researching

Unfortunately not every source, not even every book, is a credible one. (Most likely) true is that the Lincoln's wished to have a girl. E.g. on Okt., 19, 1860, he wrote 11-year-old Grace Bedell: "I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters - I have three sons - one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age...". (His fourth son, Eddie, had died on Feb.1, 1850.)