Mahomet in Champaign County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Champaign County's Lincoln
Looking for Lincoln
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
1. Top Section - - Champaign County's Lincoln Marker
(Click on any photo to see the details.)
Champaign County was always on Lincoln’s circuit. Abraham Lincoln spent nearly 20 years of his life practicing law on the 8th Judicial Circuit, traveling from one county seat to another. Even as the circuit shrank while population grew (from 8 counties in 1841 to 15 counties in 1845 to 8 in 1853 to 5 in 1857) the county seat of Urbana in Champaign County was always on Lincoln’s circuit. Each fall and spring, Lincoln traveled the dusty roads, on horseback or by carriage from Decatur to Urbana to Danville often with a group of lawyers and a judge assisting in whatever civil and criminal cases were before the court.
Lincoln unsuccessfully defended the first person accused of murder in Champaign County. Ironically, the defendant escaped shortly after the trial. He defended the interests of the Illinois Central Railroad at the Urbana courthouse. All the while Lincoln was becoming a familiar face in the county and a friend to many early residents.
Lincoln not only practiced law, he also politicked in Champaign County when he heard about the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, and spoke against it. Lincoln spoke for Fremont (in his presidential campaign against Buchanan) at an all day rally in Urbana. In his famous senatorial campaign against Stephen
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Erected by The Dodds Family Descendents of Benjamin Franklin Harris.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Looking for Lincoln series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1863.
Location. 40° 12.335′ N, 88° 23.644′ W. Marker is in Mahomet, Illinois, in Champaign County. Marker can be reached from Lake of the Woods Country Park Road east of Route 47. located at (the Entrance Door of) the "Early American Museum". The museum is located due North on State Road 47 from Mahomet, Illinois - a short distance after crossing I-74. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mahomet IL 61853, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
2. Close-up Photo - - ' Abraham Lincoln '
The marker's photo text reads: " When Samuel Alschuler, an Urbana photographer; met Abraham Lincoln he was wearing a linen jacket. The photographer suggested that he should wear his black coat. Lincoln replied that he left his black coat at home. Alschuler loaned Lincoln a black jacket with a velvet collar. Legend has it the arms were about a foot short and “Lincoln laughed at the misfit.” This was the fourth known photograph Lincoln had ever posed for."
Also see . . .
1. Looking for Lincoln Video - on P. B. S. Follow Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "...from Illinois, to Gettysburg, to Washington, D. C., and face to face with people who live with Lincoln every day...". (Submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
2. Looking for Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area website homepage:
Many resources for tracking Lincoln through History and Illinois, for all ages. (Submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
3. Bottom Section - - Champaign County's Lincoln Marker
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
4. Close-up Photo - - The Third Courthouse in Urbana
The marker's photo text reads: " Shown here is the third courthouse in Urbana which may have been built around the brick core of the second courthouse. Lincoln practiced law in the second courthouse, and explained his "House Divided" speech here."
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
5. Full View - - Champaign County's Lincoln Marker
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
6. Wide View - - Champaign County's Lincoln Marker
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
7. Sign - Early American Museum
Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009
8. Early American Museum -&- Marker
Click photo to see the details - the marker is on the left side of the buildings front door.
Photographed By Larry Gertner
9. Travel with Lincoln
All the HMDB Lincoln Circuit Markers, and a few others, following Lincoln's travels while a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District from 1847 - 1857.
Climb into Lincoln’s buggy and take a trip with Lincoln and his fellow lawyers on the job traveling Illinois as Circuit Lawyers. See all the Lincoln Circuit Markers (and a surprise or two), in the order of his travels while a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District (of Illinois) during 1847-1857. Use the “First >>” button in the upper right to see these markers in sequence, starting from Springfield.
(Submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Click for more information.
Climb into Lincoln’s buggy and take a trip with Lincoln and his fellow lawyers on the job traveling Illinois as Circuit Lawyers. See all the Lincoln Circuit Markers (and a surprise or two), in the order of his travels while a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District (of Illinois) during 1847-1857. Use the “First >>” button in the upper right to see these markers in sequence, starting from Springfield.
(Submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,656 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on November 10, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 9. submitted on June 24, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
