As an 11th-generation Lincoln, Ralph C. Lincoln traces his heritage to Abraham Lincoln’s great-uncle, and his extraordinary likeness has made him one of the most recognizable Lincoln presenters in America.
A Face From History, Living In The Present
At first glance, Ralph C. Lincoln could be mistaken for a man who stepped straight out of the 1860s. His tall frame, solemn features, and unmistakable Lincoln profile evoke the 16th president so strongly that strangers frequently stop him to say, “You look just like Abe.”
Ralph answers with a grin: “Which one? There are several Abrahams in the family.”
Though Abraham Lincoln has no direct living descendants, Ralph is an 11th-generation Lincoln, descended from the president’s great-uncle Mordecai Lincoln. The genealogical tie is distant, but the physical resemblance is startling.
And unlike most who share the president’s ancestry, Ralph has turned his likeness into a mission: keeping Lincoln’s story alive.
How Ralph Lincoln Is Connected To Abraham Lincoln
Ralph Lincoln grew up in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, not far from where several Lincoln ancestors are buried. Among them is Mordecai Lincoln, the brother of Abraham Lincoln’s grandfather, Captain Abraham Lincoln.
Mordecai’s line remained in the eastern United States, while Captain Abraham’s children, including the grandfather of the president, moved westward into Kentucky and Illinois. From this eastern branch comes Ralph’s lineage, connecting him to Abraham Lincoln as a third cousin, multiple times removed.
Family lore remains strong around these grave sites, including the dramatic story of Captain Abraham Lincoln’s death. According to accounts passed through generations, and later recalled by the president himself, Captain Abraham was killed by a Native American while working in his fields. His son Mordecai, armed with a rifle, killed the attacker and saved his younger brother’s life.
Abraham Lincoln wrote that this family story was “the legend more strongly than all others imprinted on my mind and memory.”
Life As Lincoln’s Modern Look-Alike
Ralph Lincoln’s resemblance to the president was first recognized by those closest to him. When he trimmed his mustache at his mother’s urging, she immediately handed him a photograph of Abraham Lincoln and told him to look in the mirror.
“You look just like your cousin,” she said.
From that moment forward, Ralph embraced the role. He joined The Association of Lincoln Presenters, a group dedicated to reenacting Abraham and Mary Lincoln at events nationwide. With more than 150 professional Lincoln lookalikes, the organization keeps the president’s legacy in the public eye, through lectures, historical programs, and appearances.
Ralph Lincoln quickly became one of its most recognizable members.
He has appeared at schools, historical societies, community events, and even Ford’s Theatre, the site of Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. His mission, as he writes on his website, is to “educate, entertain, inspire, and honor [Lincoln’s] words and works.”
He captures not only the president’s face, but his manner of speaking, posture, and presence, providing audiences with a surreal sense of stepping back into history.
A Family Unfazed, And A Man With A Mission
Despite their famous ancestry, Ralph says the Lincoln clan doesn’t make a big deal of their genealogical ties.
“For us,” he explained, “it’s basically ‘Ok. Next subject.’”
But Ralph himself has embraced the responsibility that comes with his unique resemblance. His life’s work is to share Lincoln’s legacy with new generations, especially young people encountering the president’s story for the first time.
Yet Ralph’s own life story carries its own hardships. In 1982, he suffered a brain tumor that caused significant memory loss. Today he keeps a journal to help him retain personal experiences, noting milestones and meaningful moments he doesn’t want to forget.
But one thing he never loses track of is his pride in being part of the Lincoln family.
“I’m honored to be related to the 16th president,” he says, and he proves it by bringing the Great Emancipator’s story to life time and again.
The End Of Lincoln’s Direct Bloodline, And Those Who Carry The Legacy Forward
Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln had four sons:
- Robert Todd Lincoln (the only child who reached adulthood)
- Eddie Lincoln (died in childhood)
- Willie Lincoln (died in childhood)
- Tad Lincoln (died at age 18)
Robert Todd Lincoln’s children and grandchildren continued the direct line into the 20th century. But when his great-grandson Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith died in 1985, leaving no heirs, the president’s direct bloodline came to an end.
Before his death, Beckwith donated family heirlooms to Illinois, ensuring that the president’s belongings and artifacts would remain preserved for the public.
Despite the end of the direct line, many Americans, like Ralph Lincoln, share ancestry with Abraham Lincoln through collateral family branches. Some, like actors Tom Hanks and George Clooney, trace their lineage to Lincoln’s maternal relatives, Nancy and Lucy Hanks.
Given the size of the extended Lincoln family in the 18th and 19th centuries, there are likely many more distant relatives whose genealogical ties simply haven’t been documented.
But none resemble the 16th president quite like Ralph Lincoln.
A Living Connection To America’s Past
Ralph Lincoln’s commitment to portraying Abraham Lincoln makes him far more than a historical curiosity. He acts as a living conduit between past and present, a reminder of how close history truly is.
Through his lifetime membership in the Association of Lincoln Presenters, Ralph ensures that the stories of emancipation, leadership, and sacrifice remain tangible for modern audiences. His uncanny likeness sparks curiosity, and his dedication turns that curiosity into meaningful historical engagement.
As long as Ralph Lincoln continues to take the stage, the Great Emancipator will never be far from view.
Featured Image from: A Lincoln Cousin