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Lincoln church finds evidence of Lincoln link

Posted September 04, 2007 11:00 pm

Pete Sherman

Historians have doubted the story. Locals have long filed it under "urban legend."

But some Lincoln Christian Church members continued to believe that Abraham Lincoln really did work as a lawyer and judge in their church when it temporarily doubled as the Logan County Courthouse from 1857 to 1858.

Now, it seems their faith may have paid off.

While researching its history in preparation for an upcoming launch of new outreach plans, the church discovered that Lincoln appears to have argued a few cases and presided as judge there in March 1858. A new courthouse structure was being built at that time after a fire destroyed the original. (The church was founded in 1853).

Chris Schnell, assistant editor at the Papers of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, where the church found its smoking gun, says, based on a cursory review of the archives there, Lincoln was practicing law in Logan County that month.

Up until now, the Lincoln church's claim was based on very scanty evidence. Years ago, a plaque hung in the church that told the story. Although the sign is now missing, a Lincoln historian once disputed its veracity even when it was still hanging.

Then there's the display case that had been donated to the church. It housed a boot jack, fireplace poker and tongs, all supposedly belonging to the church during the time of Lincoln's visit. The display, donated to the church years ago by a judge who was born in 1853, is also now missing.

"The further we got from the actual sources, the more it became urban legend," said Lincoln Christian Church executive minister Todd Parmenter.

"We would love to get our hands on the plaque and display. We have no idea where they are."

Parmenter said the cases Lincoln appears to have tried and adjudicated were relatively minor. In one, he represented the owner of some cows who sold them and was having trouble receiving payment. The case he presided over as judge, sitting in for his friend David Davis, involved a dispute over two mules.

The church found Lincoln's signature on four cases altogether that corresponded to the timeframe the church served as a courthouse.

Parmenter said the church, at the corner of Mclean and Pekin streets in Lincoln, is holding open houses at 8:15, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Church services will be held during those times, but they partly will consist of presentations discussing its history and plans for the future.

Pete Sherman can be reached at (217) 788-1539 or pete.sherman@sj-r.com.

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