Pittsfield in Pike County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Site Of The Free Press Newspaper

Free Press Newspaper Office Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Emily Pursley, December 27, 2018

1. Free Press Newspaper Office Marker

Inscription. John Nicolay was only 16 years old when he gained employment as a printer’s devil at this site; he would eventually become the sole proprietor of the Free Press Newspaper. When old friends Tom Shastid and Abraham Lincoln met one day in Pittsfield, Lincoln asked to be directed to an ‘honest printer’. So Tom took his friend right to the Free Press office on this site; and that meeting would eventually lead both Lincoln and John Nicolay (the honest printer) to the White House.John Hay, who wrote editorials and a portion of his famous Pike County Ballads in the Free Press office, joined Nicolay as Lincoln’s personal secretaries.

Erected by The Abe Lincoln Project and Looking for Lincoln in Pike County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Looking for Lincoln series lists.

Location. 39° 36.447′ N, 90° 48.268′ W. Marker is in Pittsfield, Illinois, in Pike County. It is on North Monroe Street north of East Washington Street (U.S. 54), on the right when traveling north. Pikeland Motors stand there today. The best way to see the sign

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is to park by the sidewalk or stop in the alley. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 N Monroe St, Pittsfield IL 62363, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Memoriam (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the Daniel H. Gilmer Home and Law Office. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); In Memory of John Thomson Hodgen, M.D. and Henry Hodgen Mudd, M.D. (about 300 feet away); Commemorating (about 300 feet away); John G. Nicolay (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named John G. Nicolay (about 400 feet away); Abraham Lincoln (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsfield.

Regarding Site Of The Free Press Newspaper. The newspaper office mentioned on the sign is no longer standing.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. This page has been viewed 564 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on January 17, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. Photo 1. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.