Westfield in Chautauqua County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lincoln in Westfield

— Lincoln Commemorative Marker —

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

1. Lincoln in Westfield Marker

Inscription.
On February 16, 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln traveled to Westfield. While here, he told the crowd that a local young lady had "advised me to let my whiskers grow, as it would improve my personal appearance."
— Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.

Twelve-year-old Grace Bedell had sent Lincoln a letter the previous year recommending that he grow a beard as "all the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be president." When Grace emerged from the crowd, Lincoln kissed her and thanked her for the advice, thus creating an endearing part of Lincoln lore.

(image captions)
— This picture was taken of Abraham Lincoln just after the election of 1860. It is the first picture of Lincoln with what would become his trademark beard. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
— Westfield Train Station as it appeared, when President-elect Lincoln stopped in 1861. Courtesy of the Patterson Library, Westfield, NY
— The letter that Grace Bedell sent then Republican nominee, Abraham Lincoln, on October 15, 1860. Courtesy of the Historical Collection at the Detroit
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Erected by Heritage New York.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1861.

Location. 42° 19.32′ N, 79° 34.71′ W. Marker is in Westfield, New York, in Chautauqua County. It is at the intersection of North Portage Street (New York State Route 394) and North Main Street ( Route 20), on the right when traveling south on North Portage Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 N Portage Street, Westfield NY 14787, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Southern Tier.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

2. Lincoln in Westfield Marker

Beyond the marker are statues of Abraham Lincoln & Grace Bedell

walking distance of this marker: Chautauqua County Civil War Memorial (here, next to this marker); The Lincoln-Bedell Statue Park (here, next to this marker); Where the Vines Meet, 2025 (within shouting distance of this marker); Concord Grape Vines (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memoriam (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory (within shouting distance of this marker); Vincent M. Powers (within shouting distance of this marker); McClurg Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westfield.

Also see . . .
1. Abraham Lincoln (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Grace Bedell (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Abraham Lincoln and Grace Bedell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

3. Abraham Lincoln and Grace Bedell

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 16, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.