City celebrates Abraham
Lincoln's birthday    

[FEB. 13, 2004]  Ceremonies began at the Lincoln Depot. A small crowd of local dignitaries and officials from city, county, chamber of commerce and tourism, along with historians and citizens gathered downtown for ceremonies honoring the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and the city of Lincoln. Ron Keller of Lincoln College Museum and Mayor Beth Davis led the dedications, which began at the Centennial Park at the Lincoln Depot.  [Click here for pictures]

There was a mock burial of a time capsule to be opened in 2103. Had the ground not been frozen below a deep snowbank, the capsule would have been buried. As it is, the delay gives businesses and organizations opportunity to join in posterity by adding a small item to the collection. Donations can be taken to the mayor's office in City Hall.

Sesquicentennial time capsule list

1. Christening scene souvenir afghan
2. Souvenir stove pipe hat
3. Souvenir sesquicentennial history book
4. Lincoln Courier, daily editions, Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2003
5. Lincoln Daily News, daily editions, (same as above)
6. Sesquicentennial stationary, advertisements, brochures, thank-you from mayor
7. Various Logan County tourism brochures, coloring book
8. Lincoln College handbook
9. Logan County Civil War record
10. Sesquicentennial "Staff" and "Security" T-shirts
11. Christening scene ornament, sesquicentennial pin
12. Several editions of current national newspapers
13. Numerous pictures of the sesquicentennial week
14. Copy of signed letter from President George W. Bush
15. Lyrics for song composed and sung by Carroll Catholic School students
16. Several restaurant menus, several organization and business brochures and pamphlets (many more yet to come in)

17. Postville well brick (No. 11 of 1150)

Some additional items were added after this list was compiled.

The capsule will be buried in the spring next to the capsule that was buried 50 years ago, which will be opened in another 50 years, in the year 2053.

Following the time capsule ceremony the group moved to the west side of the square, to the site where Abraham Lincoln shared an office with law partner Samuel C. Parks. Lincoln and Parks often worked on cases there together. A new marker was posted at the site.

The marker reads:

Logan County Historical Markers

Samuel C. Parks

At this site was located the law office of Samuel C. Parks—a friend of Abraham Lincoln. Born in Vermont in 1820, he eventually moved to Logan County, where he served with Lincoln on the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The two men shared law offices in Mt. Pulaski and Lincoln, IL. Both men were jointly associated with several legal cases. Aside from his legal duties, Parks was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1854.

Parks was a delegate to the first National Republican Convention in 1856 at which Abraham Lincoln received 110 votes for the nomination of Vice President. Parks also worked to secure Lincoln's nomination for President in 1860. In 1861 President Lincoln appointed Parks the Territorial Judge of the Wyoming Territory, and he would be appointed by other Presidents into several judgeships across the country. Parks chaired the first formal observance of Memorial Day in Logan County in 1868. In 1911, Logan County Judge Lawrence Stringer cited Parks "as one of the few remaining examples of the old school of public men whose stock in trade was their ability, integrity, and pure patriotism."

The group expanded when they reached the indoor warmth of the third site of the celebration. About 135 people crowded into the Lincoln Museum, located in the library building at Lincoln College. There they enjoyed the unveiling of a beautifully preserved 1865 oil portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

The celebrations culminated in a reception at the museum.

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