Several of the Sparrow children moved to Anderson County, and their branches include Mitchells, Shipleys, Brumfields, McChords and Berrys.
"We've known about this Lincoln connection for 30 years, but the world hasn't known about it," says Sheperson.
The March 1 event, which includes music and living history, has attracted interest from people from Louisville and even as far away as Texas.
"At first, we just thought we were serving light refreshments, but now we have people saying, 'I'm coming to stay all day,'" Sheperson says, noting food will be for sale.
A special guest of the day will be actor George Clooney's mother, Nina Clooney, who descends from Lincoln.
"One lady called me and said, 'I knew I was related to Lincoln, but I didn't know I was related to George Clooney,'" says Sheperson.
State grant kicked off event
The event began with a $2,350 state grant to help display the information pertaining to the Lucey Shipley Hanks Sparrow family. Thurman thinks the community center received the grant because of its niche of examining this part of the family.
The community center board decided to contribute to the effort.
One of the former classrooms received a new ceiling, paint and repairs. Guy Ingram, who with his wife, Anna, will portray Lincoln's stepgrandfather, Henry Sparrow, and his grandmother Lucey Shipley Hanks Sparrow, made rails for displaying many items in the room.
"It's kindly snowballed because people are interested," Sheperson says. These objects are things we've collected for 30 years."
One object they are particularly proud of is a bronzed 1860 Lincoln life mask. It is on loan from Ron Chapel, a nationally-known sculptor and friend of C.T. Whitehouse, who is a bronze artist and a Lincoln descendant.
The mask was created from plaster placed on Lincoln's face in 1860. An artist named Volk did the original mold.
"Charlie (Whitehouse) said he thought there were only three," Sheperson says.
Garrard County musicians Lewis and Donna Lamb will perform.
"They've played for the Queen of England and for J.F. Kennedy," says Sheperson.
Singers Annette Cooper and her daughters, Kylie and Madison, will perform some of Lincoln's favorite songs, which include "Amazing Grace" and other hymns.
"One of his very favorite songs is 'Dixie,'" Sheperson says.
In addition, Kylie will portray a young Nancy Hanks.
Once Sheperson and Thurman realized the interest in the event, they began to organize additional exhibits. Eula Ray Kirkland will set up the genealogy display downstairs that normally is seen during the October festival at the community center.
Sheperson says the publicity about the event already has meant contributions to the display. For instance, they received a copy of a letter written to Gov. Isaac Shelby asking for help in finding Lucey Sparrow's niece, who had been captured by Indians at Crab Orchard. The girl, Sarah, was held captive for five years.
"I have a typewritten copy, but this is a copy of the letter," Sheperson says.
Thurman says they hope to gain more artifacts for the museum.
"We know there are artifacts in this county that people are hanging on to and may not know the connection."
"Roots Trunk and Branches"
Family connections of the people of Forkland and Lucey Shipley Hank Sparrow
10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 1 at Forkland Community Center Lincoln Museum
Free
10:15 a.m.: Greetings by Shirley Sheperson, Lincoln descendant
10:45 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.: Singing of Lincoln's favorite songs by Annette Cooper and her daughters, Kylie and Madison, Pat Russell and Betsy Underco.
10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: Monologue by young Nancy Hanks
11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: Dialogue by Henry and Lucey Shipley Hank Sparrow
1:30-2 p.m.: Nina Bruce Warren Clooney talks about her Hanks/Sparrow connections to Forkland
11 a.m., noon and 1:15 p.m.: Music by Lewis Lamb and his daughter, Donna Lamb, and Jerry Scott
10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Demonstrations of weaving on Kirkland loom by Diane Evans, tools used in everyday life in the late 1700s and early 1800s by Cambron Williams, images of descendants slide show, and interview room.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Gift shop featuring historical books and genealogical materials for sale.
For more information, call Shirley Sheperson at (859) 936-2061 or Wayne Thurman at 936-7489.
