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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 THE WIGWAM

Located 200 block East South Park Street - on rail fence

by First National Bank of Decatur parking lot Decatur, Illinois


Marked July 25, 1970




ON THIS SITE STOOD A WIGWAM 120' X 50' IN
WHICH ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS INDORSED
FOR PRESIDENT BY THE STATE REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION MAY 9-10, 1860 AND BECAME
KNOWN AS THE "RAILSPLITTER" CANDIDATE.

BAS RELIEF PLACED BY DECATUR AND
MACON COUNTY HERITAGE COMMITTEE.

PLAQUE PLACED BY
STEPHEN DECATUR CHAPTER NATIONAL SOCIETY
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

JULY 25, 1970

Excerpts from article in "DAR News" 1970:

Saturday July 25th, a plaque was dedicated at the "Wigwam" site of the Republican State Convention, held in Decatur, May 9-10, 1860, where Abraham Lincoln was endorsed for the presidency. A tent, given the frontier name of "Wigwam," served a a convention hall in which the campaign slogan "Railsplitter Candidate" was coined.

Dedication speakers were Mrs. Robert W. Bills, State Historian, and Dr. Wayne Temple, State Archivist. Mrs. Darrell M. Abel, chairman of the Marker (committee), made the presentation. Mrs. John J. Loftus and Mrs. E.A. White, chapter members, unveiled the marker.

Luncheon in the Hotel Orlando followed. State Representative, Webber Borchers, acted as Master of Ceremonies. Other luncheon speakers were: James Hickey, Curator of the Lincoln Collection, State Historical Library, George L. Cashman, Curator of Lincoln Tomb, and Charles Hamm, Supervisor, Tourism.

Mrs. Carl P. Birk, Chapter Regent, introduced DAR guests and noted Mrs. Loftus was a granddaughter of Capt. Joab Wilkinson, one of the five Macon County delegates.