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STEPHEN DECATUR CHAPTER
NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Decatur, Macon County, IL

This page updated October 11, 2002


SITE OF MACON COUNTY'S FIRST COURT HOUSE

Located Southwest corner Lincoln Square, Decatur, Illinois

Marked June 5, 1973




MACON COUNTY'S
FIRST COURT HOUSE

IN WHICH ABRAHAM LINCOLN ONCE
PRACTICED LAW STOOD JUST WEST OF
THIS MARKER
1829 - 1838
REPLICA PLACED BY DECATUR AND
MACON COUNTY HERITAGE COMMITTEE
PLAQUE BY STEPHEN DECATUR CHAPTER
NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
JUNE 5, 1973

Excerpts from Decatur Review Tuesday, June 5, 1973 page 24:

COURTHOUSE REPLICA DEDICATED

Abraham Lincoln's stay in Macon County was recalled during this morning's dedication of the replica of the first Macon County courthouse and memorial site. Approximately 150 persons attended the ceremony on the southwest corner of Lincoln Square. Howard E. Brown, superintendent of the educational service region, Macon County, expressed pleasure at the number of young people present. Brown was master of ceremonies.

Dr. Wayne Temple, archivist, Illinois State Archives, spoke of the great Lincoln tradition in Decatur and Macon County in his dedication remarks. He recalled how the Lincoln family camped on the square March 14, 1830, before moving on to the homesite about 10 miles west of Decatur. He said Lincoln participated in at least one case in the courthouse and his first political speech was here. The rails Lincoln split for the homestead and his political start as the Rail Splitter candidate for president also were recalled.

The replica was unveiled by William Thomas Cuttill, a grandson of State Rep. A. Webber Borchers, R-Decatur, and Deborah Kay Scott, a great-great-granddaughter of the *first Macon County sheriff. The ceremony included a few remarks by Otto Kyle, of Decatur who has done much to perpetuate local history. The remarks were read by Brown.

Mrs. Raymond R. Rowland, regent of the Stephen Decatur Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of American Revolution, was to have presented a plaque to the Heritage Committee. Mrs. Rowland announced that because of circumstances beyond her control, the plaque had not arrived. It is due in a few days. Mrs. Amelia Mulrooney, Heritage Committee president, was to have accepted the plaque and in turn present it to the City of Decatur.
   *Note: The first sheriff of Macon County was William Warnick