Lincoln Homestead and Cemetery
Also known as: Lincoln, Jacob, House
Why it's listed
Set in the Mennonite farm country along Linville Creek in Rockingham County, this two-section brick farmhouse was built by Jacob Lincoln, a younger son of John "Virginia John" Lincoln. John Lincoln moved from Pennsylvania in 1768, and his grandson Thomas, born on Linville Creek in 1776, became the father of President Abraham Lincoln. The front section has a six-room plan with a center stair hall, Flemish bond brick on the facade, a wooden cornice with Wall-of-Troy molding, and limestone lintels. Its Federal-style doorway, attributed to a local cabinetmaker named Schultz, is the main surviving original feature; the mantels have been removed. A rear ell was added in 1849 and later joined to the house. The house passed out of the family in 1874. On a hill to the north, the family cemetery holds five generations of Lincolns, including Virginia John and Jacob, and is now maintained by the Rockingham Historical Society.
Significance in brief: The house was the seat of the Virginia branch of the Lincoln family, whose members included the great-grandfather and grandfather of President Abraham Lincoln. It is described as an unusually sophisticated example of Federal-style architecture in an area dominated by Pennsylvania German farmhouse traditions. The cemetery holds five generations of Lincolns.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001414, listed December 5, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of jct. of VA 684 and 42, Broadway |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | December 5, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001414 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Lincoln (builder); cabinetmaker Schultz reputedly made the front doorway and mantels |
| Architectural style | Federal (Shenandoah Valley Federal-style) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. The cemetery is being restored and maintained by the Rockingham Historical Society. |
| Acreage | 350 |
| Coordinates | 38.55999, -78.82877 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001414.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15242384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.