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 The service began at 1 p.m. and concluded at approximately 2 p.m.
Just one hour later the skies opened up, and heavy rain drenched the
city.
The service began with several people gathering around the statue as
guests filled the lawn area, some bringing lawn chairs, others
sitting in spring green grass and still others, standing about in
groups taking in the service.
Several state representatives were on hand for the dedication. Tim
Butler, Representative of the 87th District, and his predecessor
Rich Brauer, and Illinois Senator Bill Brady. Also on hand was
Illinois Senator Darin LaHood, who is currently running for the
vacated seat of Congressman Aaron Schock.
The Lincoln Rallies the People statue is the final reward for a
committee of Logan County citizens who worked untold hours raising
the funds for the statue without financial assistance from any local
or state funding. The members of the committee included co-chairs
Chuck Conzo and Paul Gleason; secretary, JoAnne Marlin; treasurer,
Bill Donath, and members Mary Ellen Martin, Joe Mintjal, Wanda Lee
Rohlfs, John Sutton and Roger Matson.
Opening remarks by Bill Donath
On Saturday afternoon, Bill Donath opened the dedication welcoming
all. Donath quoted Abraham Lincoln, “Determine that a thing can and
should be done, and we will find a way.” He said that four years ago
a committee of people determined that a statue needed to be erected
on the courthouse lawn, and through their determination, they found
a way to accomplish this.
Introduction of special guests by Chuck Conzo
Co-chair Chuck Conzo introduced local elected officials present --
Logan County Clerk Sally Turner, Logan County Board members Kevin
Bateman and Gene Rohlfs, Lincoln Alderwomen Marty Neitzel and Jonie
Tibbs, Lincoln City Clerk Susan Gehlbach, Village of Emden Trustee
Alberta Hellman. Conzo also recognized Brauer, who is currently the
Assistant Secretary for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Conzo went on to express appreciation for the many supporters of
fundraising efforts. Inside the program there was a list of all
those who purchased the 30 limited edition bronze miniatures, those
who supported the raffle of the carousel horse Old Bob, and a
special mention of the Students of Northwest School and their
teachers who conducted their own fundraiser for the statue. Joe
Mintjal was the first person to purchase a statue and the State Bank
of Lincoln purchased the second statue. He also commented that State
Bank was a huge supporter of the project and in addition to buying
the bronze did numerous other things to help promote the committee
fundraisers.
Conzo recognized Ron Craig as the person who donated the Old Bob
horse for the raffle and John Sutton, who painted the horse and
added much appreciation for the contribution of the Woods
Foundation. He thanked Bill Hoagland of the former Main Street
Lincoln organization for the donating prints of the original
painting “Lincoln in Lincoln” painted by artist Jennifer Boeke.
Representative Tim Butler
Representative Tim Butler was the first speaker of the day. Butler
began by outlining his connection to the city of Lincoln - he
resided in the town for three years, his brother attended college
here, and he recently hired an office administrator who is from the
community. As a Representative of the 87th district, Butler has been
appointed to the state tourism committee, and he said that was a
task he was taking seriously because his district is the heart of
the Lincoln Heritage. “Abraham Lincoln is someone whom I believe is
as alive today as when this city was named for him when he was
alive.” Butler said he wanted to make sure that all our Lincoln
sites and Lincoln legacy are protected in this district.
He also noted a comment recently made by his predecessor Rich Brauer.
The 87th District is the “Four score and seven District.”
Senator Bill Brady
Continuing in line with Lincoln connections, Senator Bill Brady said
that he does not live in Lincoln, but he has a business connection
in town. With a chuckle he quipped, “If any of you need to buy
another home, Brady Realty here in Lincoln is happy to serve you.”
Brady shared his favorite Lincoln quote, “It is not the years in
your life, but the life in your years.” He went on to say, “I don’t
think anyone ever got more out of the life in his years than Abraham
Lincoln. Not only in his experiences, but in what he gave us.”
Brady also sent good wishes from Governor Rauner. The Governor was
in Effingham on Saturday morning, then heading to the western part
of the state. But he asked the Senator to share a message. He wanted
me to make sure to mention “how proud he is of what you all are
doing here; how proud he is of Abraham Lincoln.”
Senator Darin LaHood
Senator Darin LaHood offered similar congratulations and thanked all
the dedicated people who had made the statue a reality, “Things like
this don’t happen overnight, it takes dedicated people.”
He said the statue and the day were about pride in the community,
“You can’t get enough Lincoln. Lincoln is remembered and should
continue to be remembered for what he stands for, and that is about
today. As somebody in public service, he is an example to everybody
in public service about what is the best about public service, about
being a leader.”
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Local Historian Paul Beaver
Local historian and Lincoln author Paul Beaver then introduced the members of
the statue committee as well as the keynote speaker for the day.
Beaver said, “I want to say to the committee who worked to make this possible,
how proud I am of them. I was a little skeptical if they’d get this done, but
they got it done, and I am extremely proud of them.” All the members of the
committee were present at the dedication with the exception of Paul Gleason.
Beaver said that the statue was going to be a great attraction for tourists who
would come to get their pictures taken with Lincoln. He also acknowledged the
painting “Lincoln in Lincoln” that was the inspiration for the statue, and he
expressed gratitude for those who supported the fundraisers, and the Logan
County Board who supported having the statue placed on the courthouse lawn.
Beaver concluded by introducing Guy Fraker, an Abraham Lincoln historian who has
written books on the local hero, as well as other local history topics. His most
recent book ‘Lincoln ladder to the Presidency’ is the story of Lincoln in the
eighth judicial circuit, and his run for public office including the Presidency.
Fraker also served as the primary consultant in the PBS production “Lincoln,
prelude to the Presidency.”
Keynote speaker Guy Fraker
Fraker began by thanking the committee for inviting him to speak. He said,
“There was no town in Illinois that was more influenced by (Abraham) Lincoln
than Lincoln Illinois.” While an author himself, he said that the foundation of
his discussion for the day was the book written by Beaver entitled “Lincoln in
Logan County.”
Fraker said he would charge local leaders to continue the work of keeping and
saving the Lincoln sites in Logan County because they were of great value.
In his discussion, he recounted the days before Abraham Lincoln came to the city
in 1858 to deliver the speech that inspired the statue. He recalled a trip into
the city when unbeknownst to Steven Douglas or his followers, Lincoln attended a
speech given in town by Douglas. Lincoln’s friend David Davis warned Lincoln
that he needed to visit Logan County and rally support there, and Lincoln heeded
that advice.
Fraker also commented that in the election for Senate, even though he lost on
the whole, Abraham Lincoln carried Logan County; in the general assembly race he
carried Logan County; in the first presidential election he carried Logan
County; and he did in the second election as well.
Fraker spoke for several minutes about Abraham Lincoln, but also talked about
how honored he was to be a part of the dedication. He noted that one of the
greatest local historians was Lawrence Stringer. He noted that Stringer was an
historian he admired very much. He said the 1911 history was the best record of
Lincoln in Logan County. “I greatly admire Stringer and that work. In 1931, a
statue was installed in Clinton, and who was the speaker that day - Lawrence B.
Stringer. So today, in my mind at least, you elevate me to the stature of
Lawrence B. Stringer.”
Closing remarks by Wanda Lee Rohlfs
Wanda Lee Rohlfs began by offering Fraker an appreciation gift of one of the
limited edition “Lincoln in Lincoln” Christmas Ornaments. She too expressed
appreciation to all who had contributed to the fundraising efforts of the
committee. She noted there were names listed of approximately 100 people listed
in the program who did contribute financially. She also said that in addition to
those listed, there were those who purchased the ornaments. She said because the
ornaments were sold in multiple locations, there was no written record of who
purchased them. However, she said, based on the number sold she could say there
were another 100 people who contributed to the statue.
Rohlfs also mentioned a guest book that would be passed around and asked
everyone in attendance to be sure and sign it.
When Conzo announced the conclusion of the dedication service, he invited
everyone into the Logan County Courthouse rotunda for refreshments.
[Nila Smith]
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