This account written by Mrs. Bob Placke first appeared in A History Of Lee County, published in 1974 by the Lee County Historical Survey Committee.


Although there was a good settlement in this area, Lincoln did not become a town or receive a name until after the railroad had become a reality in 1890.

Many people believe that Lincoln was named after the great emancipator, but that is not true. The town was named after an old Campellite circuit rider by the name of John A. Lincoln. He lived on a farm nearby and had conducted many revivals and saved many souls in the vicinity. Some railroad officials as well as some of the business men of this new township decided to honor Bro. Lincoln by naming the new town after him.

After the railroad had come through and the town had been named, new businesses were started. People were buying farms not far out from town and soon it was busy little place.

There were stores at Dime Box, Fedor, Manheim, and Lincoln became the shipping point for these communities. These out-of-town businesses would have all their freight shipped to Lincoln, and they would send over big wagons pulled by four or six horses, depending on how much rain had fallen in the last few days.

Also, there was a Post Office, three general stores, two blacksmith shops, and a depot, the water tower, where the trains stopped to take water, several old time saloons, and a big lumber yard.

The W. E. Schubert merchandise store was the first to open for business. He used to boast that he sold everything from a baby's pacifier to coffins. Zwernemann & Schkade opened up across the street, Herman Marburger opened up a store, and all did a thriving business.

With so many people moving into town the townspeople decided a school was needed. A certain spot was designated, the lumber was paid for by the citizens of the town, and a school house was built. It was located almost in town, a one­room building painted white.

After the school was built, church was conducted in the building. A Campellite preacher came over most every week and preached on Saturday night as well as Sunday. This was a Rev. Dewey. When the weather was fair and warm he made the trip with a horse and buggy, but cold, bad winter days, he came on the train. His home was in Elgin.

There was always a rather large enrollment, far too many for one teacher. Some years there would be as many as thirty-five in attendance.

Some of the students were as large as the teacher and almost as old. It was rather difficult to keep any kind of order. One day while trying to discipline one of the older boys that had been giving the teacher trouble all the year, a student and his brother took matters into their own hands, and gave the teacher a good thrashing. The teacher was so embarrassed and mortified, she left town and never came back. So school was suspended about ten days while the trustees were out hunting another teacher. Miss Willie Waltman from Giddings was hired, and school continued. A Miss Duty was the first teacher. Others were Miss Cora Garner, Miss Maggie Gillian, Miss Fala Fay Elsner and Miss Bess Halbert.

In 1905 the school was moved about a fourth mile upon the hill. It was decided the school was too close to the stores, and offered too many temptations to the children.

Mr. August Mucke gave the land for the new building. This was a one-room building and new desks were added.

Then in 1926 another tract of land was bought by the trustees, not too far from the old building. Again a new one­ room building was erected, but this was a bit more modern with windows on each side to let in more light, also a big wood circulating heater. A library was started and many maps, pictures, and a dictionary stand were provided.

In 1932 another room was added and it now became a two-teacher school.

This was always a tax free school, and the teacher was paid more than many of the other rural teachers in the county.
The parochial school was located about two miles south­west of the public school, and this sounded the death knell to the Lincoln public school. Every year the enrollment dropped at the public school and at last the school didn't have sufficient pupils to meet the state standards. In 1945 the Lincoln school was annexed to the Giddings District.

Miss Lona Braun taught this school for many, many, years. Some of the last teachers were: Miss Louise Milburn, Miss Allene Pruess, Miss Allene Symmank, Miss Dorathy Symmank, Miss Louise Handrick, Miss Vera Placke, Miss Bernice Peterson, Miss Ruby Gehrs, and the last teacher employed was Mr. Ernest Kutschke.