Railplitting Festival remembers our history with Abraham Lincoln and the christening of the city of Lincoln

[September 22, 2021]    The city of Lincoln was incorporated on Monday, August 22, 1853. The town was named after Abraham Lincoln, then a local attorney and surveyor who had platted Logan County and named the county after a dear friend John Logan.

A week later, the first lots were sold costing between $40 and $150. Lincoln grabbed a couple of watermelons from a nearby wagon and asked the proprietors to join him in christening the city. The actual christening took place on property that is now the Logan County Tourism Bureau Lincoln Depot Visitors Center and Amtrak wait station downtown.

At that time, Abraham Lincoln was a circuit riding attorney who practiced law at the Postville Courthouse, had been a surveyor for the state, and the private representation of the Chicago and Alton Railroad that had plans to construct a rail line that would pass close by but not through Postville. The town of Lincoln was formed to address the water need of steam locomotives every few miles.
 

Each year since its inception, the National Railsplitting Festival has included a re-enactment of that christening as part of the Sunday activities. Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch read the narrative.

The role of Robert Latham was played by Geoff Ladd. Daris Knauer, who has been involved in the re-enactment for the past 50 years, played Virgil Hickox. Cort Bartman assumed the role of John D. Gillette. The Stevens boy was played by Roan Norin and Gary Simpkins took on the persona of Abraham Lincoln.



Welch read the script as the actors filled their roles.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with pride and dignity that the Railsplitting Festival presents the re-creation of the history making event of August 27, 1853 – the christening of the new town of Lincoln, Illinoi.

Lots were being sold for a new town along the Chicago and Alton right of way. Present were prominent persons of the day and significant characters of American history.



Robert Latham

Latham was an early and strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln in his political life. Latham was one of the three corporate founders of the town of Lincoln.

Virgil Hickox

A director of the railroad who had gone through the planning sessions including establishment of a corporation to bring into existence the new town and make it the county seat.



John D. Gillette

He came to Logan County in 1838 from Connecticut and was a close personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, as was (Gillette’s) son in law, Governor Richard J. Oglesby. He helped to develop the political career of Lincoln the circuit rider.

Each of these men had purchased section of land along the right of way.
 

The Stevens boy

The young lad witnessed the historic event.

Abraham Lincoln

At that time, their friend, 44 year-old circuit riding lawyer Abraham Lincoln, was chosen as their legal advisor. The men chose the name ‘Lincoln’ for the name of their new town and asked Abe to christen it for them.

At the noon hour, Abe bought a watermelon and cut it into two, giving a part to Latham, Gillett and Hickox while keeping a part. Squeezing the juice from the heart of the melon he said “We will now christen the new town Lincoln.”

Thus Lincoln, Illinois is the only city in the world named for and christened Abraham Lincoln before he became famous.

Seven years later, in 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. Although his mortal remains are interred in Springfield – the spirit of Abraham Lincoln lives today and always in his namesake city.

After the christening reenactment on Sunday, Lincoln cut up the portion of the watermelon he had not placed his hand inside and invited the youngsters watching to come grab a piece if they so desired. There was a rush to the watermelon as several kids wanted to do just that.



The ceremony came to its official end with Kaylee Ingram singing the National Anthem.

[Nila Smith]