Category Archives: Lincoln, Abraham

New Salem residents: ‘hard to cheat, hard to whip, and still harder to fool’

Posted on September 14, 2026 by editor

The site of New Salem, the village where Abraham Lincoln lived as a young man, is in Menard County today. When Lincoln lived there, however, New Salem was part of Sangamon County. See below. In researching his foundational biography, Herndon’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Markers, Museums, Parks, Presidents, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Springfield city charter brawl, 1840

Posted on January 19, 2025 by editor

A brawl between two of Springfield’s leading citizens enlivened the 1840 election that converted the community from a town to a city. The fight was over who should be allowed to vote in the referendum. The combatants were Dr. Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Springfield | Leave a comment

Oliver R. Barrett, Lincoln collector

Posted on December 18, 2024 by editor

Over a lifetime, starting at age 13, Oliver Barrett amassed an immense collection of documents, relics and source materials related to Abraham Lincoln. When Barrett died in 1950, his heirs offered his entire archive to the Illinois State Historical Library … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Histories, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham, Museums, Prominent figures, State government | 4 Comments

Mary Lincoln funeral, 1882

Posted on July 8, 2024 by editor

Thousands of people viewed Abraham Lincoln’s body between the time of his assassination on April 14, 1865, and his burial two weeks later. By contrast, only relatives and friends were given access to a private viewing following the death of … Continue reading →

Posted in Lincoln, Abraham, Presidents, Prominent figures, Spectacles, Women | Leave a comment

Edmund D. Taylor, (not the) ‘father of the greenback’

Posted on March 22, 2024 by editor

Edmund “Dick” Taylor was a legislator, businessman and investor. He was one of the winners in the only direct election Abraham Lincoln ever lost. And he probably wasn’t “the father of the greenback.” Taylor (1804-91) lived in Springfield in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Lincoln, Abraham, Politics, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

The Hammerslough/Rosenwald family, clothiers

Posted on January 22, 2024 by editor

The Capitol Clothing House opened in Springfield in 1856 with the slogan “Low Prices and Good Goods.” Aside from providing inexpensive, ready-to-wear clothes to pre-Civil War Springfield, the Capitol Clothing House is the reason Springfield can boast that it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Historic Sites, Jewish, Lincoln Home, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures | 1 Comment

German newspapers

Posted on July 31, 2022 by editor

German-language newspapers came and went for more than 60 years in Springfield. Abe Lincoln even had a hand in one. But the Staats Wochenblatt had staying power. German immigration to the U.S. took off after the failure of the German … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Communications, Ethnic groups, Germans, Journalism, Lincoln, Abraham, Media, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Lincoln Tomb statuary (added 1931)

Posted on July 12, 2022 by editor

The statuettes inside the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site were supposed to be urns. And the Gutzon Borglum bust just outside the tomb – the one people rub the nose of – was supposed to be indoors. The interior of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Historic Sites, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham, Museums, National Register, Presidents, Prominent figures, State government, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

July 4 balloon ascension, 1858

Posted on July 6, 2022 by editor

Two balloonists were the talk of Independence Day 1858 in Springfield. The balloons were a traveling show, piloted by the “celebrated aeronauts … Messrs. White and Brooks,” the Illinois State Journal reported on July 6, 1858. “An immense crowd congregated … Continue reading →

Posted in Air travel, Amusements, Celebrations, Lincoln, Abraham, Spectacles | Leave a comment

‘Advice to Housekeepers’ (1871)

Posted on June 30, 2022 by editor

“Advice to Housekeepers” is a general introduction to Mrs. Owen’s Illinois Cook Book, compiled and written in 1871 by, apparently, Mary Hurst Owen of Springfield. (Why “apparently”? See below.) Owen (1826-1907) wrote that her  Cook Book was aimed at “middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures, Women | 1 Comment