Abraham Lincoln

Photographed By Sean Flynn

1. Abraham Lincoln Marker

"Whatever shall appear to be God's will, I will do."

Click or scan to see
this page online

Photographed By Sean Flynn

2. Memorial altar and Abraham Lincoln marker

The Lincoln marker is on the far right of this photo. The inscription at the bottom of the altar reads: "In honor of those who fought. In memory of those who fell." The golden tablet in the middle lists the names of men from the parish who died in the Civil War, what unit they were part of and where they died. The other golden tablets on either side list major battles of the Civil War.

Excerpt: "The next morning, the Lincolns attended Sunday services at St. James Episcopal Church on Huron Street. They were accompanied by Hamlin and their friend Isaac N. Arnold, and surrounding pews were occupied by Chicago’s most prominent officials and business leaders. Afterward, the Lincolns returned to their suite at the Tremont Hotel for their Sabbath midday dinner. But this was interrupted by John V. Farwell, a local merchant who reminded the president-elect that he had promised to visit a Sunday school in a less privileged section of town.

"Lincoln and Farwell took a carriage to the North Market Mission Sabbath School,

Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023

3. St. James Cathedral

The bell tower, to the left, was the only portion of the church to survive the Great Chicago Fire. It was incorporated into the rebuilt post-fire church; note the blackened, soot-stained stones at the very top. The Civil War memorial inside the foyer, where the Lincoln plaque is located, also survived the fire.

where Reverend Dwight Moody delivered a sermon to about 600 youths. Word quickly spread that the visitor among the audience was the president-elect, and Moody announced that Lincoln was there only on the condition that he not be required to speak. However, 'if Mr. Lincoln finds it in his heart to say a few words for our encouragement, of course, we will listen attentively.'



"Lincoln reluctantly came up to the pulpit and delivered a brief, unrehearsed speech to the children. He urged them to obey their teachers and if they 'put into practice what you learn from them,' then 'some of you may become President of the United States.' Later that night, Lincoln and Hamlin dined at the home of Illinois legislator Jonathan Y. Scammon.

"The Lincolns left Chicago the next morning. Unlike the crowded railroad car they took into the city on the 21st, the Lincolns took a private car home. Freezing rain kept most onlookers away from the stations where the train stopped, so Lincoln didn’t have to deliver any more impromptu speeches. The president-elect returned to his Springfield home at 6:30 p.m., and according to reporter Henry Villard, he looked 'rather the worse for wear.'"

Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, circa 1870

4. St. James Church, pre-fire

The church as it would have appeared to Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The bell tower to the left survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and was incorporated into the rebuilt church.

Courtesy of the British Library, circa 1860

5. Ruins of St. James Church, after the 1871 fire

St. James' bell tower survived the Great Chicago Fire, as did some of its walls and its recently erected memorial to the parish's Civil War dead. The bell tower was incorporated into rebuilt cathedral.