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

Lennington Small

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

1. Lennington Small Marker

Inscription. Born June 16, 1862, in Kankakee
Died May 17, 1936
Farmer and newspaper publisher
First Lady: Ida Moore Small

Northern Indiana Normal School (today Valparaiso)
• At 21, secretary of the State Board of Agriculture
• Rose to President of the State Board of Agriculture
• Elected State Senator 1900
• Elected State Treasurer 1904 and 1916
• Only sitting governor of Illinois to simultaneously serve as the president of a County Farm Bureau
• Gov. Small Memorial Park named in his honor
• Elected 26th Governor of Illinois (1921-1929)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Communications • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is June 16, 1862.

Location. 41° 7.186′ N, 87° 51.656′ W. Marker is in Kankakee, Illinois, in Kankakee County. It is on Court Street (Illinois Route 17) near Indiana Avenue ( Route 50), on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of the Kankakee County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 East Court Street, Kankakee IL 60901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: George Ryan (here, next to this marker); Samuel Shapiro (here, next to this marker); Kankakee County Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial Flag (within shouting distance of this marker); Gettysburg Address (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial Day Order (within shouting distance of this marker); Kankakee County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Last Camping Ground of the Potawatomie Indians (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kankakee.

More about this marker. The marker is part of a plaza honoring the three Kankakee men who served as governor of Illinois; the

Plaza for Kankakee men who served as Illinois governor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

2. Plaza for Kankakee men who served as Illinois governor

The bench in front of the memorials was erected in 2003 in honor of Gov. George Ryan, who grew up in Kankakee and served as governor from 1999-2003.

other two are Sam Shapiro and George Ryan, the latter of whom spent more than five years in jail for bribery. (Len Small was tried but acquitted for embezzlement, but later was found liable in a civil court case.) Plans for this memorial were approved in 2018 and the memorial was erected by 2021.

Regarding Lennington Small. Born in Kankakee, Len Small attended school in Valparaiso, Indiana, before returning as an adult to own a farm as well as the local newspaper, The Daily Journal. Small twice served as the state treasurer before winning election as governor in 1920. Small's two four-year terms were riddled with accusations of corruption. Six months after his election, he was indicted on charges of embezzling more than 1 million dollars during his stint as treasurer; although he was acquitted, accusations of tampering followed him after eight of the jurors were given state jobs. He was later convicted in a civil case. He died in 1936 and is buried at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee.

Also see . . .
1. The 12 Most Corrupt Public Officials In Illinois History: Len Small. From NBC Chicago.

Excerpt: "Small grew up in Kankakee,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 30, 2026

3. Kankakee County Courthouse and grounds
where was a banker and a farmer. He served two years in the state senate, and two terms as treasurer -- which gave him his first opportunity to profit from public office. Early in his governorship, Small was indicted on charges of embezzling more than $1 million while he was treasurer, making him the first Illinois governor arrested while in office -- and the last, until Rod Blagojevich. After his acquittal, Small showed his appreciation to the jurors by giving eight of them state jobs."

(Submitted on June 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. City plans monument to 3 Illinois governors; 1 jailed, another acquitted. (Submitted on June 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Lennington Small (1862-1936) image. Click for full size.

Chicago Daily News Collection, Chicago History Museum (DN-0073733), 1921

4. Lennington Small (1862-1936)

Governor Small (middle) stands with his attorney (left) in Waukegan, Illinois, during Small's trial for embezzlement. Small was acquitted in this criminal case, but later paid a fine in a related civil case.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.