On the Campaign Trail

Clifton H. Moore, DeWitt County's first resident attorney, built this stately brick home in 1857 - 58 on an eighty-acre tract of land purchased from Judge David Davis.  The original house suffered damage from a windstorm and now lacks the west wing as pictured.  In 1880, Moore purchased and moved into another large Clinton home known as "The Homestead."

Clinton's newspaper, The Central Transcript, strongly supported the Republican Party and Lincoln's participation in his campaign for President, including his four speeches delivered in Clinton, 1856-59.  The paper publicized and urged attendance to Clinton's Lincoln Club and parades of the Wide Awakes organized prior to the 1860 election.  Phrases such as "old familiar face is again amongst us" and "he never fails to receive a hearty welcome," even "Old Abe" reveal a friendship between the editor and Lincoln...  

Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois.  Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story.  Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with.  There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.    

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