Cameron in Clinton County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Abraham Lincoln
⎯⎯⎯
John Wilkes Booth

Abraham Lincoln side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C Lintner, July 1, 2022

1. Abraham Lincoln side of the marker

Inscription. Abraham Lincoln
1809 - 1865
16th President of the United States In 1859, the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was the first to cross Missouri. That same year a little-known attorney from Illinois was traveling through Missouri by train. When the train arrived here at Second and Walnut there was no fanfare, brass bands or proclamations since the passenger wasn’t a celebrity at the time. The little-known attorney was Abraham Lincoln. A few years later when a snowstorm stranded a small group of actors here, they were led by a man named John Wilkes Booth. Now we look back at the historical significance of these two men and realize their paths crossed in Cameron.

John Wilkes Booth
1838 - 1865
American Stage Actor, Assassin of President Abraham Lincoln In the frigid winter of 1863, a small group of traveling entertainers who had performed at Fort Leavenworth were attempting to return to the east coast. After spending a few blustery snowbound days in St. Joseph, they hired wagons to bring them east to catch a train in Breckenridge. On the way they stopped at the Cameron depot to rest overnight. Their leader was John Wilkes

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Booth. Three years earlier in August 1859 a little-known Illinois attorney named Abraham Lincoln had traveled through the same location. Now we look back at the historical significance of these two men and realize their paths crossed here at Second and Walnut Streets.

Erected 2022 by City of Cameron in conjunction with the Cameron Historical Society, a Paul Fiddick Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 39° 44.413′ N, 94° 14.146′ W. Marker is in Cameron, Missouri, in Clinton County. It is at the intersection of North Walnut Street (Business Interstate 35) and East 2nd Street, on the left when traveling south on North Walnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 202 S Walnut St, Cameron MO 64429, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Missouri and in Greater Kansas City.

John Wilkes Booth side of the marker image. Click for full size.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 1, 2022

2. John Wilkes Booth side of the marker

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

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,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cameron Railroads (a few steps from this marker); Jesse James (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lee Purcell / Michael Douglas (approx. 0.2 miles away); John T. Walker (approx. ¼ mile away); Herbert Clark Hoover (approx. ¼ mile away); 1st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade (approx. ¼ mile away); Harry S. Truman (approx. half a mile away); William Jennings Bryan (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cameron.

More about this marker. This is a two-sided marker with Lincoln's story on the north side and Booth's story on the south.

Abraham Lincoln side of the marker at Cameron Depot Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C Lintner, circa July 1, 2022

3. Abraham Lincoln side of the marker at Cameron Depot Museum

John Wilkes Booth side of the marker at the Cameron Depot Museum image. Click for full size.

July 1, 2022

4. John Wilkes Booth side of the marker at the Cameron Depot Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2023. This page has been viewed 1,178 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 27, 2023, by C Lintner of Cameron, Missouri. 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 27, 2023. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Abraham Lincoln⎯⎯⎯John Wilkes Booth

Abraham Lincoln
⎯⎯⎯
John Wilkes Booth