Courthouse gets replica of historic Lincoln photo

A reproduction of a famous Abraham Lincoln photograph was presented and unveiled at the Randolph County Courthouse in Chester on July 13.

The original photograph was taken in Springfield on June 3, 1860 by Alexander Hesler, a well-known photographer of that era. It was done for Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign. Historians consider it to be one of the best taken of Lincoln during his pre-presidential years.

Printed on canvas, the high-quality replica image of the beardless Lincoln is encased in a stained wood frame and measures 30 inches wide and 40 inches tall. It hangs on the third floor of the courthouse rotunda in Chester.

The permanent installation of the framed photograph was made possible by donations from the Illinois Judges' Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and respective foundations - the Illinois Judges' Foundation and the Illinois Bar Foundation.

The four organizations are partnering with the Illinois State Historical Society, which owns the glass-plate positives of Hesler's Lincoln portrait. The ISHS is leading a statewide campaign to place a framed copy in each of Illinois' 102 counties, in observance of the state Bicentennial this year.

Elaine Shemoney Evans, representing ISHS, spoke briefly at the ceremony. The Ellis Grove native, who is a longtime resident of Springfield, said it meant a great deal to her to see the portrait hanging in the county seat of her home county.

Serving as spokesmen at the ceremony were Judge Richard A. Brown of the 20th Judicial District and Marc Kiehna, chairman of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners.

"This famous portrait shows a young Abraham Lincoln at the start of his presidential run," said Judge Brown. "In honor of the state's bicentennial, it is particularly appropriate that we have found a home for it in the county 'where Illinois began.'"