Alton in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Elijah Parish Lovejoy

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 3, 2019

1. Elijah Parish Lovejoy Marker

Inscription. Elijah Parish Lovejoy was the first pastor of Upper Alton Presbyterian Church, now College Avenue Presbyterian Church. A minister, teacher, newspaper editor, and martyr to free speech and the abolition of slavery, he was fatally shot on Nov. 7, 1837, defending his printing press from an angry pro-slavery mob. His death attracted national attention, including that of young lawyer Abraham Lincoln, who two months later spoke against "mob law" as contrary to the "fabric of freedom." In 1863, twenty-two years later, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in the presence of Elijah's brother, Owen, a senator from Illinois.

Erected 2012 by College Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Communications • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Illinois State Historical Society series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 7, 1837.

Location. 38° 54.205′ N, 90° 8.808′ W. Marker is in Alton, Illinois, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of College Avenue (Illinois Route 140) and Clawson Street

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, on the left when traveling east on College Avenue. Marker is located at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, to the right of the entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1702 Clawson Street, Alton IL 62002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: College Avenue Presbyterian Church (here, next to this marker); College Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Old Rock House (within shouting distance of this marker); John Mason Peck (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert Pershing Wadlow (approx. 0.2 miles away); A National Cemetery System (approx. 1.3 miles away); Alton National Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Cost of Freedom (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Elijah Parish Lovejoy (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alton.

More about this marker. According to the ILHS's website, the marker was dedicated on November 11, 2012.

Also see . . .
1. Elijah Parish Lovejoy on Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 4, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Alton Observer, Nov. 7, 1837. This is a reprinted article on the final moments of Elijah Lovejoy. (Submitted on November 4, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

College Avenue Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 3, 2019

2. College Avenue Presbyterian Church

Marker is seen on the right (in front of trees)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 544 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.