Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1898 — WHERE ABE PRACTICED LAW. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHERE ABE PRACTICED LAW.

Old Courthouse at Lincoln, 111., Has Connection with the Martyr. The city of Lincoln, 111., still contains one building in which Abraham Lincoln practiced law over forty years ago. It is known as the “Postville” court house, although that village was long ago absorbed by the present city. The first county seat of Logan County was Postville, and the old court house, which still stands in the western part of Lincoln, was occupied as such from 1839 to 1848. In the latter year the courts were removed twelve miles south to Mount Pulaski, which village was the county seat until 1855. At almost every term of court from the time of the organ-

ization of the county as a separate local, district and until his nomination for the presidency, Mr. Lincoln was one of the lawyers in attendance, and that he was a favorite with the people of the county is evidenced by the fact that the city bears hi* name. His stories are yet repeated surviving pioneers who were county

officials at that time, and his legal services in many of the trials of those time* ore still remembered. When the Chicago and Alton Railroad was built through the county it did not pass through the new county seat. Mount Pulaski, nor the old one of Postville, but it did pass within a mile of the latter town. At this point a new town was founded and named in honor of Mr. Lincoln, who was was a friend of the men who were its founders. At the sale of lots in the new town on Aug. 29, 1853, Mr., Lincoln was present and expressed his regrets at having no money with which to buy some of the town lots. However, two lots opposite the block set aside as the court house square were given to him by Messrs. Gillet, Hickox and Latham as an attorney fee for services in the work of securing the charter and deeds for the new city. These lots Mr. Lincoln owned until his death and were not sold by his heirs until about seven years ago.

OLD POSTVILLE COURTHOUSE.