Hillsboro

The Lincoln Trail, located at 1035 Seymoure Ave., commemorates the place where Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech on September 9, 1858, during his campaign for the United States Senate. 

At that time, what is now the campus of Beckemeyer Elementary School, was the Hillsboro Fairgrounds, where crowds attended agricultural exhibits, political rallies and horse races. A portion of the one-third mile Lincoln Trail follows the original racetrack. The Trail is used by students and physical education classes on school days, and is popular with the walking public when school is not in session. 

In 1858, when Lincoln and Judge Stephen A. Douglas were running for the U.S. Senate, both spoke at the Hillsboro Fairgrounds one month apart – Douglas on August 2nd and Lincoln on September 9th. Their famous debates in seven other Illinois towns occurred between August 21 to October 15. 

On Sept. 9th, the Spaulding and Rodgers Circus was at the Hillsboro Fairgrounds, and Lincoln spoke inside the circus canvas. Published reports of his speech are varied. 

In a published account, a local resident who obviously liked what he heard Lincoln say in Hillsboro, wrote in a letter to the Illinois State Journal, “It continued to rain a perfect torrent during the whole time of the speaking. The seats and pits were packed full of men who hoisted their umbrellas and stood until the last word was heard. At the close, cheer after cheer was given, and a thousand hats were thrown in the air in token of the principles and soul of our own Abe Lincoln.”

Lodging and food have been provided at this location since John Rutledge first opened the Rutledge Tiger Inn in 1825, when Hillsboro was just two years old. The inn was a wooden frame structure that served as a tavern and hotel. Rates that Mr. Rutledge could charge were set by the County Commissioners and included no more than 37-1/2 cents for a pint of whiskey, brandy or wine, and 12-1/2 cent for a quart of cider. Lodging could be not more than 12-1/2 cents per person per night and this was also the fee for stabling a horse. 

Two frame additions had been added to the inn by 1851, when John M. Hagee purchased it and re-named it Hagee House. This tavern/hotel was the one that Abraham Lincoln would have passed by after departing the train depot which was located to the north down what was then the Taylorville Road. He micht have sat on the tavern’s porch to chat with guests and townspeople. 

Part of the current brick structure replaced the Hagee House, which was cut into three sections and moved, to be used as private residences. Two remain and are in use as single family dwellings, at 719 Jefferson St. and 530 W. Summer St. The third section was at 423 W. Tremont St. and was torn down some years ago. Hotel Hillsboro was built in 1902 and other brick additions were built as needed over the years. 

Hotel Hillsboro was owned and operated by others over the coming years. Mrs. Otillia Brinton purchased the hotel and she and members of her family operate it for over 70 years. Mary Virginia (Brinton) Imle operated the hotel for 40 plus years, and it was during her tenure that the name was changed to the Red Rooster Inn. Later, competition with hotel chains and few guests caused financial setbacks and a deteriorating physical condition. 

The building stood empty for some time befoe John and Kendra Wright purchased the hotel in 2017 and over the next five years poured their hearts and finances to meticulously restore the entire structure. Today, the Historic Red Rooster Inn includes 13 hotel rooms, two suites, six apartments, bar/tap room restaurant, outdoor beer garden, and a state-of-the-art brewery and distillery. 

Local historians believe that the original iron hitching post on the west lawn of the Red Rooster Inn was located there during the time of the Hagee House. It’s quite possible that horses pulling Abraham Lincoln's carriage were secured to that post.

Discover all the historic sites, including Lincoln related locations, on the Lincoln Among Friends Walking Tour. Begin at Courhosue Square, and you use the website noted below to explore the sites of the community.