Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Abraham Lincoln

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 8, 2026

1. Abraham Lincoln Marker

Inscription.
Abraham Lincoln was a guest at the John Scheel Home on this site and spoke from its balcony to the citizens of Belleville on October 18, 1856.

Erected 1936 by Daughters of the American Revolution (Belleville chapter).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 18, 1856.

Location. 38° 30.678′ N, 89° 59.046′ W. Marker is in Belleville, Illinois, in St. Clair County. It is on South Illinois Street (Illinois Route 159) south of West Lincoln Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 S Illinois St, Belleville IL 62220, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of John Scheel Home (here, next to this marker); Site of Old St. Clair County Courthouse 1861-1972 (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Belleville Public Square (about 800 feet away); Belleville Savings Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deidesheimer's Dry Goods Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Audrey Marsh King (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ruth A. Sterling (approx. 0.2 miles away); Christian "Buddy" Ebsen (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belleville.

Regarding Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln had come to Belleville to campaign for Republican presidential candidate John Freemont and gubernatorial candidate William Bissell. This was Lincoln's third time visiting Belleville, as the first time was in 1840, campaigning for Whig Party candidates.

Scheel (1808-1864) was a German immigrant who came to the United States in 1823 with other German families and

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 8, 2026

2. Abraham Lincoln Marker

Marker is mounted on the YMCA building

they all settled in or near Belleville, Illinois. Starting as a civil engineer, he would eventually work in local government and was elected County Assessor and County Clerk and unsuccessfully ran for Illinois State Senate in 1860. He was a brother-in-law and good friend to Gustavus Koerner (a marker is outside his historic home nearby), who was Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in the 1850s. Both men assisted Lincoln during his historic 1856 visit.

The Scheel residence was described (in a later interview with Scheel's daughter, Mina) as a 14-room Colonial brick mansion with ten fireplaces. It was eventually demolished and was replaced by Central Junior High School. In 2006, a YMCA building opened in its place. The iron balcony railing is on display at the St. Clair County Historical Society building in Belleville.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 8, 2026

3. Abraham Lincoln Marker

Looking south on IL-159

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 8, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.