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

Colonel William Ross House

Lincoln Stayed Here

— Looking for Lincoln —

Colonel William Ross House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Emily Pursley, December 21, 2018

1. Colonel William Ross House Marker

Inscription. Built 1845-1846, partially destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1896. Lincoln stayed here during his 1858 Senatorial campaign visit. Ross served as an aide to Gen. Atkinson and was responsible for Lincoln's appointment to company captaincy during the Blackhawk War. Col. Ross held several positions in Pike Co. government including Judge of Probate, Clerk of Circuit & County Courts, Col. of the Militia and Justice of Peace. He was a member of the Illinois House and Senate having first been elected in 1835. Ross was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago & helped secure Lincoln nomination for President of the United States. Other delegates from Pike co. were Reuben Hatch, Daniel Gilmer and William A. Grimshaw.

Erected by The Abe Lincoln Project and Looking for Lincoln in Pike County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. 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 1858.

Location. 39° 36.405′ N, 90° 47.027′ W. Marker is in Pittsfield, Illinois, in Pike County. Marker is on East Washington Street (Illinois Route 106) west of Lashmett

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Lane, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsfield IL 62363, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Michael J. Noyes House (approx. ¾ mile away); The Printer's Devil (approx. 0.9 miles away); Charles Lame House (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Shastid House (approx. one mile away); Site of the Daniel H. Gilmer Home and Law Office. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Site Of The Free Press Newspaper (approx. 1.1 miles away); Star Hotel (approx. 1.1 miles away); In Memoriam (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsfield.

Colonel William Ross House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Emily Pursley, December 21, 2018

2. Colonel William Ross House

circa 1860

3. Colonel William Ross House

This is the house as Lincoln would have seen it. This is a photo taken of a drawing from an 1860 plat book atlas of Pike County. The home was nearly destroyed by fire around the turn of the century and was rebuilt in the Folk-Victorian style that was popular in this area at the time. The brick portions of the house are original or slightly modified, while the wood portions are what were rebuilt.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on January 17, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 30, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.