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

On The Campaign Trail

Looking for Lincoln

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

1. Top Section - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

(Click on any photo to see details.)

Inscription.

On The Campaign Trail. Looking for Lincoln. Top Section . Clifton H. Moore, DeWitt County’s first resident attorney, built this stately brick home in 1857-58 on an eighty-acre tract of land purchased from Judge David Davis. The original house suffered damage from a windstorm and now lacks the west wing as pictured. In 1880, Moore purchased and moved into another large Clinton home known as “The Homestead.” , Middle Section . Lincoln and Douglas had numerous speaking engagements other than their scheduled debates. Lincoln gave over sixty speeches, including one in a grove in the west part of Clinton on September 2, 1858., The Republican grand mass meeting and barbecue picnic was preceded by a parade of elaborately decorated horse-drawn floats. An estimated crowd of ten thousand attended the gala affair, despite a heavy morning rain. “The Central Transcript” reported Clifton H. Moore introduced Lincoln, whose speech was “clear and convincing on the usual topics of the time.”, Lincoln and Horace White, a “Chicago Tribune” reporter assigned to cover the event, traveled by train from Springfield, necessitating an early morning transfer at Decatur. Lincoln just barely caught the northbound train and failed to rouse White who finally awakened when the conductor called out “state line” (Indiana)., Consequently, it was evening before the weary White reached Moore’s country home where he and Lincoln were overnight guests. White missed writing his newspaper report and payment for same, but all three men acquired a humorous story to share., Bottom Section. Clinton’s newspaper, the “Central Transcript,” strongly supported the Republican Party and Lincoln’s participation in his campaign for President, including his four speeches delivered in Clinton, 1856-59., The paper publicized and urged attendance to Clinton’s Lincoln Club and parades of the Wide Awakes organized prior to the 1860 election. Phrases such as “old familiar face is again amongst us” and “he never fails to receive a hearty welcome,” even “Old Abe” reveal a friendship between the editor and Lincoln., The editor also wrote that the last time Lincoln was in Clinton, an old acquaintance apologized for naming his very ugly hound dog “Abe Lincoln.” Lincoln’s response was, “I don’t care anything about it if the dog don’t.” Lincoln wrote his desire to subscribe to the newspaper and stated he would “pay at fall court.”

Top Section
Clifton H. Moore, DeWitt County’s first resident attorney, built this stately brick home in 1857-58 on an eighty-acre tract of land purchased from Judge David Davis. The original house suffered damage from a windstorm and now lacks the west wing as pictured. In 1880, Moore purchased and moved into another large Clinton home known as “The Homestead.”

Middle Section
Lincoln and Douglas had numerous speaking engagements other than their scheduled debates. Lincoln gave over sixty speeches, including one in a grove in the west part of Clinton on September 2, 1858.

The Republican grand mass meeting and barbecue picnic was preceded by a parade of elaborately decorated horse-drawn floats. An estimated crowd of ten thousand attended the gala affair, despite a heavy morning rain. “The Central Transcript” reported Clifton H. Moore introduced Lincoln, whose speech was “clear and convincing on the usual topics of the time.”

Lincoln and Horace White, a “Chicago Tribune” reporter assigned to cover the event, traveled by train from Springfield, necessitating an early morning transfer at Decatur. Lincoln just barely caught the northbound train and failed to rouse White who finally awakened when the conductor

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called out “state line” (Indiana).

Consequently, it was evening before the weary White reached Moore’s country home where he and Lincoln were overnight guests. White missed writing his newspaper report and payment for same, but all three men acquired a humorous story to share.

Bottom Section
Clinton’s newspaper, the “Central Transcript,” strongly supported the Republican Party and Lincoln’s participation in his campaign for President, including his four speeches delivered in Clinton, 1856-59.

The paper publicized and urged attendance to Clinton’s Lincoln Club and parades of the Wide Awakes organized prior to the 1860 election. Phrases such as “old familiar face is again amongst us” and “he never fails to receive a hearty welcome,” even “Old Abe” reveal a friendship between the editor and Lincoln.

The editor also wrote that the last time Lincoln was in Clinton, an old acquaintance apologized for naming his very ugly hound dog “Abe Lincoln.” Lincoln’s response was, “I don’t care anything about it if the dog don’t.” Lincoln wrote his desire to subscribe to the newspaper and stated he would “pay at fall court.”

Erected 2008 by Clinton Noon Rotary Club, Lincoln Heritage of DeWitt

Close-up Photo - - Clifton H. Moore - 1858 Brick Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

2. Close-up Photo - - Clifton H. Moore - 1858 Brick Home

County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, the Looking for Lincoln, and the Rotary International series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1900.

Location. 40° 9.731′ N, 88° 56.757′ W. Marker is in Clinton, Illinois, in DeWitt County. Marker is on Marion Street (a.k.a. Jemima Road) east of North Cain Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1044 Marion Street (aka Jemima Road), Clinton IL 61727, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Friends To The End (approx. 0.7 miles away); War on the Horizon (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lincoln's Hat (approx. 0.9 miles away); Warner's Memories / Lawyers and Book Lovers (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lincoln and The Law (approx. one mile away); Lincoln at Work and Play (approx. one mile away); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (approx. one mile away); “You can fool all the people part of the time . . .” (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clinton.

Also see . . .
1. Looking for Lincoln

Close-up Photo - - (Marker) Newspaper Clipping image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

3. Close-up Photo - - (Marker) Newspaper Clipping

. Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area website homepage:
Many resources for tracking Lincoln through History and Illinois, for all ages. (Submitted on November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

2. 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 November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

Travel with Lincoln image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Larry Gertner

4. Travel with Lincoln

All the HMDB Lincoln Circuit Markers, and a few others, following Lincoln's travels while a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District from 1847 - 1857.
Climb into Lincoln’s buggy and take a trip with Lincoln and his fellow lawyers on the job traveling Illinois as Circuit Lawyers. See all the Lincoln Circuit Markers (and a surprise or two), in the order of his travels while a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District (of Illinois) during 1847-1857. Use the “First >>” button in the upper right to see these markers in sequence, starting from Springfield.
(Submitted on November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)
Click for more information.

Bottom Section - - On The Campaign Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

5. Bottom Section - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

Middle Section - - On The Campaign Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

6. Middle Section - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

Full View - - On The Campaign Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

7. Full View - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

Looking South - - On The Campaign Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

8. Looking South - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

Looking East - - On The Campaign Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

9. Looking East - - On The Campaign Trail Marker

Clifton H. Moore - - 1857-58 Brick Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Al Wolf, November 7, 2009

10. Clifton H. Moore - - 1857-58 Brick Home

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,142 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 4. submitted on June 23, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on November 9, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.