Near Lerna in Coles County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Reuben Moore Home

Photographed By Al Wolf, May 15, 2010

1. Left Panel

Inscription.

The Reuben Moore Home. . . Left Panel: , “This will certify that the foregoing plot of the town of Farmington laid by me as proprietor is correct. Witness my hand and seal this 30th day of April 1852.” J. J. Adams, John Adams laid out this land in Pleasant Grove Township in 1852 hoping to build a town. Lots were available to anyone who could afford them. First named Farmington after Mrs.Adams’ Tennessee birthplace, this name was not officially recognized as there was already a Farmington in Fulton County. Campbell became the official name after Zeno Campbell moved the nearby post office into town shortly after its organization. The town has since been known by both names., During the 1850s, mail arrived from Charleston three times a week., Farmington enjoyed its heyday in the 1870s, when it had grown to about 100 residents. It boasted four stores, a carriage shop, blacksmith shop, steam flour mill, school, and two churches. The boom days, however, were short lived. When the railroad passed up Farmington in favor of Jamesville a few miles to the south, local residents moved elsewhere. Today, only a few houses and a church remind passersby of the village. , Center Panel The Reuben Moore Home. One of the houses built in the town of Farmington in the 1950s was the house belonging to Reuben Moore. Moore was a well-to-do landowner involved in farming and land speculation. He and his first wife Mary emigrated to Coles County in 1839. In 1840, he traded 80 acres of land to Thomas Lincoln, which today is Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. After his wife Mary died in 1855, Reuben married Matilda Johnson Hall, Abraham Lincoln’s stepsister., The Moore Home is a frame house constructed from rough-sawn 2 x 4 framing, lathe and plaster interior, and clapboard siding. Reuben Moore owned four city lots in Farmington. This included lot numbers 14, 15, 16, and 17, bordered on the east by Main Street, on the west by Washington, and by Jefferson on the north. Many people kept livestock in town so owning several lots was not uncommon. Space was also needed for a kitchen garden and a small orchard. Our concept of space within a town today is much different than that of the 1850s. , Restoration. In an era when log homes with fireplaces dotted the country-side, the Moore Home represented a more urban style of home. It has plaster walls, clapboard siding, wood burning stoves, and balloon-frame construction. The home consists of four rooms and a loft furnished to show the living conditions of a middle class family after the Civil War. The State of Illinois acquired the Moore Home in 1929. The Civilian Conservation Corps renovated the home in the 1930s. At that time, the original brick foundation piers were replaced with a concrete foundation and the frame was built with a sag to make the house look “old”. Beginning in 1996, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency restored the house to its original appearance, complete with brick foundation, no sagging floor, correctly-sized windows, stenciled walls, and painted exterior. , Right Panel The Moore Home Connection To Abraham Lincoln. On January 31, 1861, president-elect Abraham Lincoln visited the Moore Home and Coles County for the last time before his inauguration as president of the United States. Sarah Lincoln was staying with her daughter (Matilda Johnston Hall Moore) in Farmington while repairs were being made to the cabin at Goosenest Prairie. Lincoln visited his father’s grave at Shiloh Cemetery while the women of the town “brought their nicest cakes and pies, baked turkeys, and chickens” to the Moore Home. He found upon his return “tables set clear from one end of the house to another,” filled with food for a grand dinner. After dinner, Lincoln bid farewell to his stepmother. She embraced him and said, “My dear boy, I always thought there was something great in you.” He returned to Charleston that night in order to catch the train to Springfield the next day., The Marriage of Reuben and Matilda. Reuben Moore married Matilda Johnston Hall (Abraham Lincoln’s stepsister) on June 19, 1856. There were six children in the family, three from Reuben’s previous marriage and two from Matilda’s. A sixth child, named Giles, was born to Reuben and Matilda in 1856. The marriage of Reuben and Matilda was not a happy one, for when he died in July of 1859, he had all but disowned her. Matilda sued Moore’s estate for her “dower rights” and won title to the house and one third of Moore’s estate. Miles Moore, Reuben’s oldest son, inherited most of the remainder of his father’s property.

Left Panel:

“This will certify that the foregoing plot of the town of Farmington laid by me as proprietor is correct.
Witness my hand and seal this 30th day of April 1852.”
J. J. Adams

John Adams laid out this land in Pleasant Grove Township in 1852 hoping to build a town. Lots were available to anyone who could afford them. First named Farmington after Mrs.Adams’ Tennessee birthplace, this name was not officially recognized as there was already a Farmington in Fulton County. Campbell became the official name after Zeno Campbell moved the nearby post office into town shortly after its organization. The town has since been known by both names.

During the 1850s, mail arrived from Charleston three times a week.

Farmington enjoyed its heyday in the 1870s, when it had grown to about 100 residents. It boasted four stores, a carriage shop, blacksmith shop, steam flour mill, school, and two churches. The boom days, however, were short lived. When the railroad passed up Farmington in favor of Jamesville a few miles to the south, local residents moved elsewhere. Today, only a few houses and a church remind passersby of the village.

Center Panel
The Reuben Moore Home One

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of the houses built in the town of Farmington in the 1950s was the house belonging to Reuben Moore. Moore was a well-to-do landowner involved in farming and land speculation. He and his first wife Mary emigrated to Coles County in 1839. In 1840, he traded 80 acres of land to Thomas Lincoln, which today is Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. After his wife Mary died in 1855, Reuben married Matilda Johnson Hall, Abraham Lincoln’s stepsister.

The Moore Home is a frame house constructed from rough-sawn 2 x 4 framing, lathe and plaster interior, and clapboard siding. Reuben Moore owned four city lots in Farmington. This included lot numbers 14, 15, 16, and 17, bordered on the east by Main Street, on the west by Washington, and by Jefferson on the north. Many people kept livestock in town so owning several lots was not uncommon. Space was also needed for a kitchen garden and a small orchard. Our concept of space within a town today is much different than that of the 1850s.

Restoration In an era when log homes with fireplaces dotted the country-side, the Moore Home represented a more urban style of home. It has plaster walls, clapboard siding, wood burning stoves, and balloon-frame construction. The home consists of four rooms and a loft furnished to show the living conditions of a middle class family after the Civil War. The State of

Center Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, May 15, 2010

2. Center Panel

The Reuben Moore Home
Restoration

Illinois acquired the Moore Home in 1929. The Civilian Conservation Corps renovated the home in the 1930s. At that time, the original brick foundation piers were replaced with a concrete foundation and the frame was built with a sag to make the house look “old”. Beginning in 1996, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency restored the house to its original appearance, complete with brick foundation, no sagging floor, correctly-sized windows, stenciled walls, and painted exterior.

Right Panel
The Moore Home Connection To Abraham Lincoln On January 31, 1861, president-elect Abraham Lincoln visited the Moore Home and Coles County for the last time before his inauguration as president of the United States. Sarah Lincoln was staying with her daughter (Matilda Johnston Hall Moore) in Farmington while repairs were being made to the cabin at Goosenest Prairie. Lincoln visited his father’s grave at Shiloh Cemetery while the women of the town “brought their nicest cakes and pies, baked turkeys, and chickens” to the Moore Home. He found upon his return “tables set clear from one end of the house to another,” filled with food for a grand dinner. After dinner, Lincoln bid farewell to his stepmother. She embraced him and said, “My dear boy, I always thought there was something great in you.”

Photographed By Al Wolf, May 15, 2010

3. Right Panel

The Reuben Moore Home Connection to Abraham Lincoln
The Marriage of Reuben and Matilda

He returned to Charleston that night in order to catch the train to Springfield the next day.

The Marriage of Reuben and Matilda Reuben Moore married Matilda Johnston Hall (Abraham Lincoln’s stepsister) on June 19, 1856. There were six children in the family, three from Reuben’s previous marriage and two from Matilda’s. A sixth child, named Giles, was born to Reuben and Matilda in 1856. The marriage of Reuben and Matilda was not a happy one, for when he died in July of 1859, he had all but disowned her. Matilda sued Moore’s estate for her “dower rights” and won title to the house and one third of Moore’s estate. Miles Moore, Reuben’s oldest son, inherited most of the remainder of his father’s property.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1861.

Location. 39° 23.753′ N, 88° 12.664′ W. Marker is near Lerna, Illinois, in Coles County. Marker is on Lincoln Highway Road (County Road 1520E) just south of County Road 150N, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1502 Parakeet Lane, Lerna IL 62440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Wide View - - "Moore House" & The Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, May 15, 2010

4. Wide View - - "Moore House" & The Marker

markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Moore House (here, next to this marker); Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Shiloh Encampment Site (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Last Lincoln Farm (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lincoln's Care for His Family (approx. 1.2 miles away); Thomas Lincoln Cemetery War Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Thomas Lincoln's Grave (approx. 1½ miles away); Shiloh Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away); Thomas Lincoln, Kentucky Militiaman (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lerna.

Additional commentary.
1. The (smokehouse) shed behind the house
If you visit the Reuben Moore home now (2020) , you will notice a shed behind the house. This is actually a "smokehouse" used to smoke meats as used to done after home butchering of a hog, using hickory wood to flavor the hams, bacon and such.

This smokehouse shed came from my Grandpa John L. Long (born 1887-died 1978) property north east of Newton, Ill. My grandpa sold the land, house, shed and barn he had to add to the new Sam Parr State Park area east of Newton and he retained the right to live on the property until he died.

The state noticed the smokehouse was built around 1850 to 1900 and would be nice to save. It was decided to be placed behind the Reuben

Displayed on Left Panel - John Adams image. Click for full size.

5. Displayed on Left Panel - John Adams

John J. and Martha Adams made a twenty hour day trip from Tennessee to arrive in what is now Pleasant Grove Township, Coles County Illinois in December, 1830. After Martha’s death in 1844, he married Nancy Dryden. In 1852 with the help of surveyor Thomas Lytle, he used part of his property to establish the town of Farmington, officially known as Campbell. Widowed again in 1854, he married Sarah Dryden in 1855. In the 1860’s, J.J., Sarah and some of their children lived in the house still standing on what was Madison Street.

Moore home as a representation of what might have been there years ago during Lincoln's lifetime.

So the state took it down, numbered all the pieces and reconstructed it there, I think around 1990. The smokehouse used to sit on a foundation, three foot out of the ground and three foot down, thus having a cellar for potatoes and such. There was a door in the floor to lift after entering and steps down. Inside to the right was a door to the smoking room and inside was a big metal bowl for the smoking fire and above it were beams and hooks to hang the meat.

The smokehouse shed is locked and you can't go in it right now.

Several years ago a Park Ranger took me inside and I can verify it is the same John L. Long smokehouse that I used to play in years ago.

submitted by grandson, Roy Long, age 72 in 2020 .

— Submitted September 6, 2020, by Roy G Long of Altamont, Illinois.

Site Map of Township - Displayed on Left Panel image. Click for full size.

6. Site Map of Township - Displayed on Left Panel

White denotes buildings still standing.
1. Moore Home – Built in the 1850s by Reuben Moore. Owned by the Inyart family. • 2. W.H. Halbrook – One of the original houses dating to the 1860s. • 3. Presbyterian Church – The location of the second building, built in 1866. • 4. J.J. Adams – An original house dating to the 1850s or 1860s and owned by the town founder. • 5. Dr. G. Halbrook – Probably where this doctor lived. • 6. Store – May have been run by Halbrook and Reed. • 7. Seminary – Built in 1853, used as a school and church and later a store. • 8. Store – Probably owned by Leauder and Burlingame. • 9. Matilda Moore lived in a log house here by 1869. • 10. Dr. Nelson Freeman – Original house owned by the Freemans from 1863 until they moved to Charleston in 1893. • 11. Methodist Church – Location of church built in 1860, current church dates to 1920s.

Dr. and Mrs. Freeman / Present Day Freeman House - Displayed on Left Panel image. Click for full size.

7. Dr. and Mrs. Freeman / Present Day Freeman House - Displayed on Left Panel

Dr Nelson S. Freeman, his wife Mary and their children arrived in Farmington in 1856. Their house is still standing at the southern end of the village. He practiced medicine most of his life and served as a Union Army surgeon during the Civil War. In Farmington he held the position of Post Master, Township Trustee and Treasurer and was also a merchant.

Matilda Johnston Hall Moore. Abraham Linoln's Stepsister image. Click for full size.

8. Matilda Johnston Hall Moore. Abraham Linoln's Stepsister

Photo displayed on center panel.

Layout of House and Yard / The Moore Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf

9. Layout of House and Yard / The Moore Home

Displayed on center panel.
Layout of house and yard based on archaeological findings.
The Moore Home prior to 1930s restoration.

The Moore Home After 1930s Restoration - Displayed on Center Panel image. Click for full size.

10. The Moore Home After 1930s Restoration - Displayed on Center Panel

Note the sag in the building as mentioned in marker text.

Photos Displayed on Right Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf

11. Photos Displayed on Right Panel

Left:
Lincoln saying goodbye to his stepmother on January 31, 1861 (Painting by Lloyd Ostendorf)
Right:
Photograph taken in Springfield on January 26, 1861 (Meserve Collection 0-41)

Photo and Sketch Displayed on Right Panel image. Click for full size.

12. Photo and Sketch Displayed on Right Panel

Left:
Sarah Bush Lincoln. 1867
Right:
Lincoln departing from Springfield, Illinois to travel to Washington D.C. to assume the presidency (Drawing by Lloyd Ostendorf)

The Moore Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, May 15, 2010

13. The Moore Home

The Smokehouse at the Reuben Moore Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Roy G. Long, October 20, 2020

14. The Smokehouse at the Reuben Moore Home

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,982 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 14. submitted on October 7, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.