Madison County Historical Society MCHS News May 2018 Opening Doors to Madison County History Vol. 6 No. 3 January, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 1 Historical Museum ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S and the up-and-coming Democratic Party politi- 715 N Main Street cian, James Shields, began innocently enough. Edwardsville, IL 62025 JOURNEYS TO MADISON COUNTY Early in 1842, the State Bank of Illinois closed, By Stephen Hansen the result of a crushing state debt caused by Hours: reckless spending on internal improvements The museum is Abraham Lincoln holds a seemingly never- and by irresponsible banking practices. By currently closed for ending fascination for us. Nearly 153 years after renovation August, Governor Thomas Carlin, a Democrat, his assassination, we still find inspiration in his ordered the State Auditor, James Shields, to in- deeds and in his words. It is only natural, there- form county tax collectors not to accept the pa- Archival Library fore, that we should be curious about Lincoln’s 801 N Main Street journeys through Madison County. When was Hours: he here? What did he do? Was there anything in his actions that would indicate his future Wed-Fri 9 am - 4 pm greatness? Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm Even though Madison County is relatively Group Tours Available close to Springfield, Lincoln did not have many reasons to travel to the county. Madison County Phone: was not part of the 6th Judicial Circuit in which 618-656-7569 he practiced law, and his early political career focused on the Congressional and Legislative districts around Sangamon and Morgan Coun- Web Address: ties. Lincoln did correspond with a number of madcohistory.org Madison County residents on legal and political matters, but historians have documented only three occasions when he came to Madison E-mail: County; once in 1842 and twice in 1858. Each [email protected] visit was unique, and each visit has its own lore and legend. About Us: The MCHS museum LINCOLN’S DUEL, 1842 complex, consisting of On the morning of Sept. 22, 1842, Abraham a modern archival Lincoln climbed into a boat at Alton along with library, a museum in Dr. Elias H. Merryman, William Butler and Albert This portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Alexander Hesler the 1836 Weir House Taylor Bledsoe. They rowed across the was taken in Springfield, Illinois on June 3, 1860, just and the Helms Mississippi River to Missouri, a state where du- two years after Lincoln’s last visits to Madison County. (Illinois State Historical Society) Collection Center, is eling was not illegal. Along the muddy shores that morning, Lincoln and his seconds met owned by the per notes from the State of Illinois Bank. Flood- James Shields accompanied by his second, nonprofit Madison ed with now worthless paper currency, the Gen. John D. Whiteside, to settle a matter of Illinois economy collapsed. County Historical honor. Looking back upon the incident years The Whig Party politicians pounced on the Society and operated later, an embarrassed and wiser Lincoln pur- opportunity to attack their Democratic foes. jointly with Madison ported to have said to an acquaintance, “I do not deny it, but if you desire my friendship, you Whig leaders focused their attacks on Auditor County. will never mention it again.”(Source: Donald 93). James Shields, a young, ambitious, and promi- nent Democrat, a man obviously marked for Like many arguments, the dispute between higher office. Young and ambitious himself, the young Whig Party lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, The Madison County Lincoln’s Duel continued page 4 Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable MCHS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS The Society is very grateful for all the generous and supportive members who renewed their organization. membership in the Madison County Historical Society for another year. Thank you! 1 About Us ARCHIVAL LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT MCHS Board By Mary Westerhold Candace Ladd, Pres Gary Denue, V-Pres New books are always being added to veteran’s name in an article when doing Arnold Meyer, Treas the Archival Library collection. One of the research or a veteran’s tombstone when Tallin Curran, Sec more recent additions is “Remembering researching in a cemetery, she would Norma Asadorian Marine Area Veterans” by local historian make a note and later compile information Mary J. Bade Shirley A. Daiber. Over on that veteran. When Leslie Bednar 700 veterans are includ- the idea of a memorial William Eaton ed in this book who for Marine area veterans Mae Grapperhaus meet the criteria that began to be discussed, Stephen Hansen “they must have been Daiber volunteered to Murray Harbke born, lived, died or bur- compile her research in- Don Huber ied in Marine (the settle- to a book. In addition, Lacy McDonald ment, town, or village) she asked veterans or Jeff Pauk or Marine Township.” All their families to submit Cindy Reinhardt wars and all branches of information for the book, Sue Wolf service are included in especially for veterans Staff this book with the en- beyond the World War I tries arranged by the era. Jon Parkin Museum Superintendent war in which they This book is a MUST for served or dates of ser- anyone with Marine area Mary Westerhold vice if their enlistment Archival Research Mgr. veterans in their family. was during peace time. Check out your local LaVerne Bloemker Archival Research Asst. The book started as library or visit the a personal research Madison County Archival Carol Frisse project by Daiber. Library to read about Archival Research Asst. When she noticed a these veterans. Jenn VanBibber Curator Mary Z. Rose MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT Asst. Curator By Jenn VanBibber Volunteers The Importance of Provenance history when donating the item. Infor- The Society has two items in its collec- mation that donors provide help the staff to There are abundant and create more interesting exhibits. With a lit- varied opportunities for tion with a Lincoln connection, the blade of volunteers at either the a hoe, and a piece of wood from Lincoln’s tle provenance, a simple pair of leather museum or the archival Springfield law office. But, although the la- shoes becomes wedding slippers that library. Please call if bels identify them as having belonged to were part of a wedding ensemble the bride interested. Lincoln, it is difficult to substantiate any saved for by working as a housekeeper. such claims without a trail of evidence. That is not to say that an item without Memberships MCHS has a number of items with ques- provenance is not of importance. Many tionable ties to the past. That is to say that items in the collection are from various Several membership levels are available to their history is a bit murky. Provenance, Madison County businesses, events, or those interested in the proof of history for an object, is an ex- places. These representative objects all fill supporting the work of tremely important and useful tool for both an important role in the MCHS collection. preserving Madison the museum and archival library. It helps County history through an the staff determine if the donor has clear The label on this MCHS membership. title to give the item to MCHS and the ab- item donated by Memberships run on the sence of provenance also restricts the sto- Augusta Isensee calendar year, Jan 1-Dec reads: “This hoe 31. Applications are ry that we can weave in regards to its once belonged to available on our web site, Madison County story. A waistcoat pur- Abraham Lincoln; it at the MCHS Museum or chased at a yard sale somewhere in the was given to Miss at the Archival Library. county is a neat piece, and a county resi- Augusta Isensee dent may have worn that particular coat or by a former pastor something very similar, but without docu- of the family.” Publications While this hoe does have a bit of prove- mentation, it is just a coat, not an historical nance, there is not a direct connection to Mr. MCHS News artifact. Lincoln. There are a lot of questions left to be 6 issues annually Some of an object’s history is collected answered. Was the man a former pastor of the Cindy Reinhardt, Editor when the item is donated, but it is very Lincoln family or Miss Isensee’s? If the latter, how did he come across the item? helpful when the donor includes a written 2 MCHS NEWS RENOVATION NEWS 2018 PROGRAMMING Progress on the renovation of the museum continues as MCHS programs this year are focusing on early preparations are made for some of the major projects like plas- Illinois history in recognition of the Illinois Bicentenni- ter repair, painting and floor restoration. To that end, many al. Please note that until further notice MCHS smaller projects are underway or already completed. Prepara- programs will be held at Immanuel United Methodist tion work is also nearly complete for contractors to begin Church at 800 N. Main Street in Edwardsville which is installation of HVAC units. directly across the street from the Archival Library. The MCHS Board and Museum/Library staff have been at- SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION IN ILLINOIS tending dozens of meetings and appointments each month, all working towards a common goal of creating a new museum. SUNDAY, JUNE 10 - 2 P.M. The Society extends an invitation to interested MCHS MCHS will host a program by Professor Bryan members to join any of the following committees tworking Jack on slavery and emancipation in Illinois on towards completion of the renovation. Sunday, June 10, at 2 p.m. The issue is often more complicated than people real- Fundraising Committee: The MCHS Board recently ac- ize, and Illinois serves as an in- cepted a contract from Inland Design, a local graphic design teresting case study.