Pontiac in Livingston County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lincoln Speaks at Church

Looking for Lincoln

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

1. Left Section - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

(Click any of these photos to see details.)

Inscription.

Lincoln Speaks at Church. Looking for Lincoln. Left Section, Abraham Lincoln spoke in the little Presbyterian Church on the northwest corner of Livingston and Mill streets on. Jan. 27, 1860, shortly before being nominated for the presidency at the Republican National Convention in Chicago on May 16. Lincoln had received two invitations to speak to the Young Men’s Literary Society from his friend Jason W. Strevell, a prominent young attorney of Pontiac and President of the group, which was composed of educated young men who met to debate issues of the day and hold instructive entertainments. It was not known until noon that day that Lincoln would appear, but a crowded house greeted the future president. Lincoln told the group he was “very, very tired,” having just returned from the East, where he had been on the road continuously and “was worn out talking on political subjects.” Reviews of the speech were mixed. Many were disappointed in his topic, “The Wheel and Axle,” having wanted him to speak on the great question confronting the American people - - slavery. Strevell, in a letter to his son in 1901, said the lecture was one of the most interesting he had heard “before or since.” , Middle Section , Although Strevell thought it a most interesting lecture, Augustus Cowan who founded the first abstract company here, wrote his sweetheart: “. . . last night the citizens of Pontiac were favored with a lecture by Hon. Abe Lincoln. . . . He is a “Big Gun” in the political world, but, I think the people generally were disappointed. . . . He was, I thought, decidedly inferior to many a lecturer I heard. . . .“ But, then, Mr. Cowan was a Democrat. , Right Section, On May 19, 1857 lots were deeded to both the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and a sharp rivalry developed as to which would erect and dedicate Pontiac’s first church building. The Presbyterians won the race, dedicating their church in November that year, about thirty days ahead of the Methodists. Families rented pews as a means of supporting the church. The first Presbyterian service in Pontiac had been held in Buck’s Tavern in 1852, after which services were held several times in the first courthouse. The church officially organized in November 1855, and regular preaching began in the small schoolhouse on the Livingston County Jail grounds. By 1874, the building where Lincoln spoke had become too small for the congregation, and it was sold to Wallace Lord who moved it to Howard Street to be used as an opera house. . This historical marker was erected in 2009 by The City of Pontiac. It is in Pontiac in Livingston County Illinois

Left Section

Abraham Lincoln spoke in
the little Presbyterian Church
on the northwest corner of
Livingston and Mill streets on Jan. 27, 1860, shortly before being nominated for the presidency at the Republican National Convention in Chicago on May 16. Lincoln had received two invitations to speak to the Young Men’s Literary Society from his friend Jason W. Strevell, a prominent young attorney of Pontiac and President of the group, which was composed of educated young men who met to debate issues of the day and hold instructive entertainments. It was not known until noon that day that Lincoln would appear, but a crowded house greeted the future president. Lincoln told the group he was “very, very tired,” having just returned from the East, where he had been on the road continuously and “was worn out talking on political subjects.” Reviews of the speech were mixed. Many were disappointed in his topic, “The Wheel and Axle,” having wanted him to speak on the great question confronting the American people - - slavery. Strevell, in a letter to his son in 1901, said

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the lecture was one of the most interesting he had heard “before or since.”

Middle Section

Although Strevell thought it a most interesting lecture, Augustus Cowan who founded the first abstract company here, wrote his sweetheart: “. . . last night the citizens of Pontiac were favored with a lecture by Hon. Abe Lincoln. . . . He is a “Big Gun” in the political world, but—I think the people generally were disappointed. . . . He was, I thought, decidedly inferior to many a lecturer I heard. . . .“ But, then, Mr. Cowan was a Democrat.

Right Section

On May 19, 1857 lots were deeded to both the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and a sharp rivalry developed as to which would erect and dedicate Pontiac’s first church building. The Presbyterians won the race, dedicating their church in November that year, about thirty days ahead of the Methodists. Families rented pews as a means of supporting the church. The first Presbyterian service in Pontiac had been held in Buck’s Tavern in 1852, after which services were held several times in the first courthouse. The church officially organized in November 1855, and regular preaching began in the small schoolhouse on the Livingston County Jail grounds. By 1874, the building where Lincoln spoke had become too small for the congregation, and it was sold to

Center Section - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

2. Center Section - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

Wallace Lord who moved it to Howard Street to be used as an opera house.

Erected 2009 by The City of Pontiac.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Events. 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 May 1903.

Location. 40° 52.926′ N, 88° 37.802′ W. Marker is in Pontiac, Illinois, in Livingston County. Marker is on West Livingston Street, on the right when traveling west. Located on the south lawn of the First Presbyterian Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 West Livingston Street, Pontiac IL 61764, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pontiac City Hall and Fire Station (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Original Route 66 Wishing Well & Sign Countryside, Illinois 1941-2007 (about 500 feet away); Original Washington Street Route 66 Bricks (about 500 feet away); The Bob Waldmire Road Yacht (about 500 feet away); Historic Route 66 Illinois (about 500 feet away); Pontiac, Illinois (about 600 feet away); Lincoln Visits Strevell (about 600 feet away); Livingston County War Memorial (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pontiac.

Also see . . .

Right Section - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

3. Right Section - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

1. Visit Pontiac: Attractions. This web link has a number of links to other historic items in Pontiac, Illinois. Informative and very helpful. (Submitted on April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

2. 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 April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

3. Looking for Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area website entry:
Many resources for tracking Lincoln through History and Illinois, for all ages. (Submitted on April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

Center Section - - Sketch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

4. Center Section - - Sketch

Courtesy of Lisa Mayback

Right Section - - Sketch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

5. Right Section - - Sketch

The original unsigned sketch and painting of the first Presbyterian church building was drawn by Catharine Yost for the Centennial from a newspaper clipping loaned by Grace Williams (The Williams Mill Street Mill)

Courtesy of City of Pontiac

Looking for Lincoln image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Larry Gertner

6. Looking for 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 April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Click for more information.

Full View - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

7. Full View - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

Looking North/West - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

8. Looking North/West - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

Wide View - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

9. Wide View - - Lincoln Speaks at Church Marker

Marker can be seen in the lower left of photo. Also note the church bell to the lower center.

<- - - Marker & Church Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

10. <- - - Marker & Church Bell

1872 Church Bell - Markings image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

11. 1872 Church Bell - Markings

(Click photo to see details.) Readable casted markings: ". . . Troy. N. Y. 1872." (There seems to also be the number five ("5) on the lower section.)

Pontiac - First Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, April 10, 2010

12. Pontiac - First Presbyterian Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 906 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 6. submitted on June 8, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on April 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.