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Historic Lincoln Sites Along Route 66
Discover Lincoln’s Legacy In Pontiac Long before the Mother Road The First Hundred Miles Of Route 66 has quite a history, from the development of the Mother Road to carrying some of our most prestigious figures well before the road was named, none more famous than Illinois own President Abraham Lincoln. Discover the future president’s early days as a young Illinois Circuit Court lawyer in beautiful Pontiac, Illinois.
YOUNG LINCOLN STATUE
COUNTY SEAT ALMOST MOVED
Washington and Mill Streets South of Courthouse
South Side Courthouse Square
This Lincoln statue depicts the young attorney during his employment as a county circuit court litigator at the young age of 31. Resting against a split-rail fence is reminiscent of the labor he endured as a young man growing up on the Illinois prairie. FELL PARK 200 Block North Vermillion Street
Jessie Fell, friend of Lincoln and a true pioneer, was instrumental in the development of the city and county, even the naming of Pontiac after the distinguished Indian Chief. Donating the land for the city park and even having a hand in the naming of some streets, Jessie Fell was truly a visionary for his time.
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Not producing a courthouse as promised back in 1839 resulted in a vote to move the county seat to another location ‘upriver’ as the city of Pontiac was an ‘unhealthy locality, being low and swampy’ as descenders argued. The Lincoln and Pontiac connection would have never been if it were not for Lincoln’s friend, Jessie Fell who led the charge to produce the much needed and promised structure. Although the vote to move was 81 to 56, it failed to meet the two-thirds majority needed and the rest is history! LIVINGSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE Washington and Mill Streets South of Courthouse
Recently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, this county seat saw the likes of both Lincoln and Douglas as practicing Travel The First Hundred Miles
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