Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jessie Harlan Lincoln (later Beckwith; Johnson; Randolph) |
| Birth | November 6, 1875 — Chicago, Illinois (some accounts: Mount Pleasant, Iowa) |
| Death | January 4, 1948 — Rutland Hospital, Rutland, Vermont (age 72) |
| Resting Place | Initially placed in a vault; later burial reported either at Arlington National Cemetery or Dellwood Cemetery near Hildene |
| Parents | Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926) and Mary Eunice Harlan Lincoln (1846–1937) |
| Siblings | Mary “Mamie” Lincoln Isham (1869–1938); Abraham “Jack” Lincoln II (1873–1890) |
| Spouses | Warren Wallace Beckwith (m. 1897, div. 1907); Frank Edward Johnson (m. 1915, div. 1925); Robert John Randolph (m. 1926) |
| Children | Mary “Peggy” Lincoln Beckwith (1898–1975); Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904–1985) |
| Education | Piano studies at Iowa Wesleyan University, summer 1886 |
| Affiliations | P.E.O. Sisterhood, initiated December 31, 1895 |
| Notable Residences | Washington, D.C. (1881–1885); London (1889–1893); Hildene, Manchester, Vermont (1946–1948) |
| Distinction | Granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln; mother of the last direct Lincoln descendants |
A Granddaughter in the Shadow of a Giant
Jessie Harlan Lincoln was born into history. As Robert Todd Lincoln’s youngest child and Abraham Lincoln’s granddaughter, her childhood unfolded in places where American power gathered—Washington, D.C. while her father served as Secretary of War (1881–1885), and London when he was U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1889–1893). The family’s European chapter was marred by loss: her beloved brother, Abraham “Jack” Lincoln II, died in 1890 at age 16 from blood poisoning after a minor surgery, a blow that rippled through the household.
In this vast ancestral shadow, Jessie developed a spirited independence. She studied piano as a girl and joined the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 1895, signs of a life shaped by cultural polish yet inclined toward her own choices. That independence would define her adult years.
Love, Elopement, and Three Marriages
Jessie’s romantic life read like a turn-of-the-century melodrama: swift decisions, social scrutiny, and second acts. She eloped at 22 with a college football star—not at all the match her powerful father had in mind.
| Spouse | Marriage Date & Place | Notes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Wallace Beckwith (1874–1955) | November 10, 1897 — Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Iowa Wesleyan football standout; later played baseball; father opposed the union | Two children; divorced 1907 |
| Frank Edward Johnson | 1915 | Fewer details survive; no children | Divorced 1925 |
| Robert John Randolph | 1926 | Electrical engineer from Virginia’s Randolph family | Married until Jessie’s death |
Her first marriage produced her only children, Mary “Peggy” and Robert “Bob” Beckwith—names that would become pivotal to the Lincoln family line. Her later unions were quieter, marked by stability and privacy rather than headlines.
Children: The Last of the Lincolns
Jessie’s two children became the final chapter in Abraham Lincoln’s direct line. Their lives, like their mother’s, seemed to balance privilege with retreat.
| Child | Life Dates | Distinctions | Marriages/Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary “Peggy” Lincoln Beckwith | 1898–1975 | Aviator; built a landing strip at Hildene; private, athletic, and independent | Never married; no children |
| Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith | 1904–1985 | The last undisputed direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln; gentleman farmer; avoided publicity | Married three times; no children |
With Robert’s death in 1985, the undisputed direct line of Abraham Lincoln ended. Jessie, who had once eloped in defiance, unwittingly became the matriarch of that final branch.
Money, Trusts, and a Socialite’s Life
Jessie never held a formal career; she was a socialite whose lifestyle rested on family wealth and the care of an exacting father. In 1919–1920, Robert Todd Lincoln created substantial trusts to support her, reportedly out of concern for her handling of money.
Trusts Established by Robert Todd Lincoln
| Year | Holdings | Face Value (then) |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 | 1,000 shares Commonwealth Edison | $101,750 |
| 1919 | 1,000 shares National Biscuit | $85,000 |
| 1920 | 1,250 additional shares Commonwealth Edison | Over $100,000 |
Totaled together, these holdings exceeded $286,750 at the time—worth several million in today’s dollars. They reveal both the strength of the Lincoln fortune and the parental instincts of Robert, a businessman who preferred ledgers to uncertainty. Jessie, for her part, lived comfortably, with Hildene in Vermont serving as a final refuge from 1946 to her death in 1948.
Family Web: From Thomas and Nancy to Hildene
The branches of Jessie’s family tree reach from the Kentucky frontier to Gilded Age boardrooms and diplomatic salons. Understanding Jessie means seeing the people around her.
| Family Member | Relationship | Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Todd Lincoln | Father | Lawyer, U.S. Secretary of War (1881–1885), Minister to Great Britain (1889–1893), Pullman executive; built Hildene |
| Mary Eunice Harlan Lincoln | Mother | Daughter of Senator James Harlan; family’s Iowa connection; died 1937 |
| Mary “Mamie” Lincoln Isham | Sister | Married Charles Bradford Isham; one son, Lincoln Isham |
| Abraham “Jack” Lincoln II | Brother | Died in London at 16 (1890); a loss that marked the family |
| Abraham Lincoln | Paternal Grandfather | 16th U.S. President; assassinated 1865 |
| Mary Todd Lincoln | Paternal Grandmother | Influential First Lady; complex public and private life |
| James Harlan | Maternal Grandfather | U.S. Senator from Iowa; Secretary of the Interior; tied the Lincolns to Iowa |
| Thomas Lincoln & Nancy Hanks Lincoln | Paternal Great-Grandparents | Frontier roots that framed the Lincoln story |
| Sarah Bush Lincoln | Paternal Step-Great-Grandmother | The steady stepmother who helped raise Abraham Lincoln |
Between these figures, Jessie’s life resembles a river fed by many streams: politics, industry, diplomacy, and midwestern fortitude.
Residences and Timeline
A life of movement and milestones anchors Jessie’s story—both ordinary and extraordinary, public and profoundly private.
| Year(s) | Event |
|---|---|
| 1875 | Born November 6; youngest child of Robert and Mary Lincoln |
| 1881–1885 | Lives in Washington, D.C., during her father’s cabinet service |
| 1886 | Piano studies at Iowa Wesleyan University |
| 1889–1893 | Family in London for her father’s diplomatic post |
| 1890 | Death of brother “Jack” in London (age 16) |
| 1895 | Joins P.E.O. Sisterhood on December 31 |
| 1897 | Elopes with Warren W. Beckwith on November 10 |
| 1898 | Daughter Mary “Peggy” Beckwith born (August 22) |
| 1904 | Son Robert Beckwith born (July 19) |
| 1907 | Divorces Beckwith |
| 1915–1925 | Married to Frank Edward Johnson |
| 1919–1920 | Robert Todd Lincoln creates large stock trusts for Jessie |
| 1926 | Marries Robert John Randolph; father dies July 26 |
| 1937–1938 | Mother dies (1937); sister Mamie dies (1938) |
| 1946–1948 | Lives at Hildene in Manchester, Vermont |
| 1948 | Dies January 4; funeral at Hildene on January 14 |
Legacy and Public Memory
Jessie never sought fame, yet she became a quiet hinge between Abraham Lincoln’s past and the family’s end. Her personal choices—elopement, divorce, remarriage—troubled a Victorian era edging into modernity. Her children’s solitude in adulthood, particularly Peggy’s devotion to flying and privacy, foreshadowed a lineage that would narrow to a point.
Hildene, the Vermont estate her father built, frames the family’s later narrative: gardens designed with familial affection, rooms that remember, and, in Peggy’s time, even a grass landing strip carved into the fields. Public memory of Jessie surfaces in historical tours, family-tree explorations, and the occasional social-media thread that marvels at how the great emancipator’s line came to a quiet close. Even her resting place—reported as either Arlington or Dellwood—retains an air of mystery, as if the story itself prefers to dwell in soft focus.
FAQ
How is Jessie Harlan Lincoln related to Abraham Lincoln?
She was Abraham Lincoln’s granddaughter, the youngest child of his only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln.
Where and when was Jessie born?
She was born on November 6, 1875, with most accounts citing Chicago, Illinois, and some noting Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Did Jessie have a career?
No formal career is documented; she lived as a socialite supported by family wealth.
Whom did Jessie marry?
She married three times: Warren W. Beckwith (1897–1907), Frank E. Johnson (1915–1925), and Robert J. Randolph (1926–1948).
Did she have children?
Yes, two: Mary “Peggy” Beckwith (1898–1975) and Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904–1985).
What happened to Abraham Lincoln’s direct line?
It ended with Jessie’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, who died in 1985 without children.
Why did her father establish trusts for her?
Robert Todd Lincoln reportedly considered Jessie financially irresponsible and created large stock trusts in 1919–1920 to secure her support.
Where did she live later in life?
She lived at Hildene, the Lincoln family estate in Manchester, Vermont, from 1946 until her death.
Where is she buried?
Reports vary; her remains were first placed in a vault and later buried at either Arlington National Cemetery or Dellwood Cemetery near Hildene.
What marked her early family life?
High-profile residences in Washington and London and the devastating loss of her brother “Jack” in 1890 shaped her youth.
