William Wallace "Willie" Lincoln (December 21, 1850 – February 20, 1862) was the third son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. He died at the age of 11. He was named after Mary's brother-in-law Dr. William Wallace.
Willie became ill in early 1862, and his condition fluctuated from day to day. The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, contracted from drinking contaminated water. Gradually Willie weakened, and both parents spent much time at his bedside. Finally, on Thursday, February 20, 1862, at 5:00 p.m., Willie died. Abraham said, "My poor boy. He was too good for this earth. God has called him home. I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him so. It is hard, hard to have him die!" Both parents were deeply affected. Willie's younger brother, Tad, cried for nearly a month because he and Willie were very close brothers. Lincoln generated no official correspondence for four days. Mary was so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Tad was sick with the same illness at the same time, though he survived.
Willie was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. After his father's assassination in 1865, Willie's casket was exhumed and he was moved to a temporary tomb. He was reinterred at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, on September 19, 1871 alongside the remains of his father, mother and his brothers, Tad and Eddie holding a blue handkerchief (Willie).
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