John Cromwell Lincoln

John Cromwell Lincoln was born in Painesville, Ohio, to William Edward Lincoln (1831–1920), an abolitionist minister, and Frances Louise Marshall Lincoln (1839–1918), a physician. There he received his primary and secondary education. In 1888, he graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in electrical engineering and soon after became a construction superintendent. He trained under Charles F. Brush, who invented the arc light and engineered America's first electric street car. In 1891, Lincoln patented his first invention, an electric brake for street-railway cars.

In 1889, Henry George visited Cleveland to speak about his ideals. George was an American political economist and journalist whose writing was immensely popular in the 19th century, and sparked several reform movements of the Progressive Era. His writings also inspired the economic philosophy known as Georgism, based on the belief that people should own the value they produce themselves, but that the economic value derived from land (including natural resources) should belong equally to all members of society. Lincoln was among those in the crowd who attended the political meeting. He was impressed with George and read George's book Progress and Poverty three times. His enthusiasm was such that he became a member of the Single Tax Georgism movement.

The Single Tax Party, a political party, was renamed in 1924, and became the Commonwealth Land Party. The party's logo included an image of the earth with the phrase, "The Birthright of All Mankind". New York City served as the Party headquarters with state branches in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The party platform was the following:

That the Earth is the Birthright of All Mankind and that All have and Equal and Unalienable Right to its Use.

That man's need for land is expressed by the rent of land; that land rent results from the presence and productive activities of the people; that it arises as the result of natural law, and that it therefore should be taken to defray public expenses.

Lincoln became a member of the Commonwealth Land Party and in 1924, was nominated by the party for vice-president with William J. Wallace, from New Jersey, running for president in the presidential elections of 1924. The Wallace and Lincoln team received 2,778 of the popular vote and 0 electoral votes in comparison with the Republican Party's candidates Calvin Coolidge and Charles G. Dawes who received 15,725,016 of the popular votes and 382 electoral votes thus, winning the presidential election.

Publications by and about John C. Lincoln and the Lincoln Foundation

John C. Lincoln, The Lincoln Letter (October 1949)*

John C. Lincoln, The Lincoln Letter (July 1951 – June 1952)

J.A. Wadovick, "John C. Lincoln Here on Birthday" Cleveland Plain Dealer (July 16, 1955)

John C. Lincoln, "Stop Legal Stealing" (1958)

"Millions for Single Tax" The Oregonian (July 20, 1959)

George J. Harmann, "John Lincoln Bequests..." Cleveland Plain Dealer (September 20, 1959)

William Feather, "Those Single Taxers" Cleveland Plain Dealer (March 24, 1961)

N.R. Howard, "John C. Lincoln Left Deep Impact on Land" (Spring 1962)

Tony Ortega, "Georgist Burns," New Times (November 2–8, 1995)

John C. Lincoln, "Dear Friend" (undated)

John C. Lincoln, "The Importance of Natural Relations" (undated)

John C. Lincoln, "The Natural Source of Revenue for Government" (undated)

John C. Lincoln, "Scientific Taxation" (undated)

John C. Lincoln, "Should Land Having Selling Value" (undated)

John C. Lincoln, "Some Important Axioms" (undated)