Browse Items (19 total)

  • Tags: Abraham Lincoln

Photograph of the William Warnick Homestead

Photograph of the William Warnick Homestead. This house, seven miles southwest of Decatur, was built by William Warnick after 1833, and became known as the "Thirty-Three Mile House" when owned by John Eckle and used as part of his tavern property to…

Drawings of the Wigwam

Drawings of a recreation of the Wigwam tent set up on S. Park St. across from Central Park where Abraham Lincoln was nominated for president on May 9-10, 1860.

George S. Simpson

Photograph of George S. Simpson; (died 4/14/1923). Pioneer of Decatur and Macon County. He helped to build the political wigwam in in State Street in which Abraham Lincoln spoke during his presidential campaign. He served as alderman from the Third…

Thomas Benton Shoaff

Photograph of Thomas Benton Shoaff, oldest active newspaper printer, Shelbyville Publisher was struck by an automobile and killed. He died 10/20/1932. Mr. Shoaff married Ella W. Lytle Nov. 15, 1871, in St. Paul Episcopal church, Brainerd, MInn. Full…

Judge William L. Hammer

Photograph of Judge William L. Hammer (d. 5/20/1903). Hammer held the following offices: Christian Co. constable (1843-1846), Christian Co. sheriff (1846-1854), Decatur Justice of the Peace (1857-1860), Macon Co. Circuit Clerk (1860-1868), President…

"Immortal J.N." Free

Photograph of "Immortal J.N." (Jacob Newman) Free (d. 6/27/1906). Free was a wanderer who traveled throughout the United States for 50 years by riding for free on every railroad, and staying in hotels at their expense. He was considered harmlessly…

Thomas Davis

Photograph of Thomas Davis (d. 1913). He was a pioneer in Macon County, IL, and owned the first building in Macon, IL. He was the donor of the WCTU water fountain, and knew Abraham Lincoln. The Davis School east of Macon, IL is named after him. …