President Lincoln admonishes all to study our history at the Railsplitter Festival

 

[September 22, 2021] 

On Sunday afternoon at the National Railsplitter Festival at Postville Courthouse, Gary Simpkins of Heyworth filled the role of Abraham Lincoln prior to his presidency.

Simpkins is a Lincoln re-enactor who has visited Logan County on many occasions in the persona of Lincoln in both his pre- and post-election days.

The annual christening of the city of Lincoln re-enactment was scheduled to take place in front of the Postville Courthouse at 3 p.m.



Leading up to that time, folklorist and musician Chris Vallillo was entertaining the crowd in the front lawn. When “President Lincoln” arrived, Vallillo gladly turned the microphone over to the President, who wished to share some wisdom with the audience.



Speaking as Simpkins, the white haired gentleman in the stove pipe hat said that he was very concerned about the days in which we live. He has heard that our history is at risk and that even statues of Abraham Lincoln, the great emancipator, are being removed from public areas because it is “offensive” to sensitive people.

For him personally, it was incomprehensible that any race would be offended by the actions of the 16th President. He urged everyone to read their history and come to an understanding of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the battles of the Civil War. He said that destroying monuments could not destroy or change our history, but understanding our history would enlighten us and give us a clearer understanding of the actions of the President and the sacrifices of all those who fought in the war.
 

Simpkins switched to his role as the 16th President-elect and recited the speech that Abraham Lincoln gave as he departed Illinois heading for Washington D.C. and his new role as President of the United States.

My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

Lincoln smoothly transitioned back to Simpkins who concluded his time at the microphone with a few additional comments.

“Let us see the day when we are no longer destroying our history; [but] taking the time to study our history, good or bad, rich or poor. We must learn from our history we know that history repeats and we do not want another four years of war on American soil. So then ladies and gentlemen, let it be an end to the destruction of our monuments and the defacing of our Abraham Lincoln monuments. Let it be a new birth of freedom and that government “of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the face of the earth. Good bye my friends, good bye.”

Lincoln left the microphone area and Vallillo returned to entertaining the crowd.

In addition to playing the part of Abraham Lincoln around the country, Simpkins also has a museum in his hometown of Heyworth.

On Sunday he brought with him to the festival a couple of different items from the museum to share with visitors.

The first was a print of a pencil drawing by Lloyd Ostendorf in 1970 entitled Mr. Lincoln christens his namesake city Lincoln, Illinois. The reprint of the original was leveled as “Original commissioned by Lincoln Savings and Loan Association.”

While that print is much loved in the community, it was the second piece by Ostendorf dated in 1977 that received the most attention.



The drawing featured the likenesses of Charles (Charlie) Ott, Daris Knauer and James T. Hickey standing at the foot of the “Lincoln the Scholar” statue on the grounds of Lincoln College.

Ott was very well-known in Lincoln as our personal Abraham Lincoln. He re-enacted that role on countless occasions throughout his lifetime.

In addition, it was Ott, Knauer and Hickey who first devised a plan to host a rail splitting festival in Lincoln and all three participated in christening re-enactments at the festival for a number of years.



Of the three, Knauer remains. On Sunday he was once again part of that re-enactment much to the delight of all in attendance.

[Nila Smith]

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