Oakland in Coles County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Matson Slave Trial
Looking for Lincoln
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Dr. Hiram Rutherford was a key person involved in Abraham Lincoln’s famous slave case, the only instance in his career where Lincoln represented the rights of a slave owner. Robert Matson brought slaves from Kentucky to work his farm north of Independence each year until after the harvest. By doing so, Matson was taking advantage of a common loophole in Illinois law, which allowed slaves to be held here while in transit. In 1847, one of Matson’s slaves, Jane Bryant, argued with his housekeeper and future wife, Mary Corbin. Mary threatened to have Jane and her children sent south to be sold. Jane’s free husband, Anthony, learned of the threat and sought help from Gideon Ashmore and Hiram Rutherford of the village of Independence (now Oakland.) Rutherford and Ashmore concealed the runaways in Ashmore’s hotel while Matson brought suit against them for the loss of his property, hiring Usher Linder and Abraham Lincoln as his lawyers. Lincoln made his case that under the law, the runaways should be returned to Matson because he had publicly declared that they were not held permanently in Illinois, but were in the state for temporary labor.
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While the outcome of the Matson trial resulted in freedom for the Bryant family, Hiram Rutherford and Gideon Ashmore realized the Bryants couldn’t stay in Illinois. Black Codes written into the Illinois constitution discouraged free blacks from living in Illinois. Many abolitionists and other favored returning freed slaves to Africa including Abraham Lincoln, an early advocate of this movement.
With the help of Rutherford and Ashmore, and a donation from Lincoln’s law partner, William Herndon, money was secured to transport the Bryant family to Liberia, Africa, which was established as a home for freed American slaves. In 1848, Reverend S. S. Ball of the Colored Baptist Association of Illinois, traveled to Liberia to report on conditions there and found the Bryants in a “deplorable situation” and wishing to return to America, a task that he could not accomplish.
Erected 2008 by Oakland Landmarks Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • 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 year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 39° 39.25′ N, 88° 1.632′ W. Marker is in Oakland, Illinois, in Coles County. Marker is on North Pike Street north of Illinois Route 133, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oakland IL 61943, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Home of Dr. Hiram Rutherford (here, next to this marker); Civil War Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gristmill Stone Recovered from the Little Embarras River (about 400 feet away); Oakland, Illinois Community W. W. I War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Newman Veterans Memorial (approx. 10.2 miles away); The Streibich Blacksmith Shop (approx. 10.2 miles away); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (approx. 10.6 miles away); Grandview Township Veterans Honor Roll (approx. 12.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
Also see . . .
1. Matson Trial. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 1, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
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 May 19, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
3. 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 May 19, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,082 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 10. submitted on May 22, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.