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

This page updated October 11, 2002

Bouldermarking site of Abraham Lincoln's
first home in Macon County, Illinois

Located Lincoln Trail Homestead Park, Macon County, Illinois

Originally marked June 24, 1904 - moved and rededicated November 17, 1990


      

THIS TABLET MARKS THE SITE OF
THE FIRST HOME IN ILLINOIS OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
- 1831 -
ERECTED BY THE DECATUR
CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - 1904

****

DEDICATED
STEPHEN DECATUR
CHAPTER
NSDAR
1990




Excerpts from Illinois DAR News February 1991 p10

  The secretary's book of the Decatur Chapter indicates that informal discussions on marking the Lincoln Home were first reported on December 3, 1903. A large boulder weighing 4,000 pounds was located about 300 yards from the south end of Colfax Street in Decatur. Mrs. George Haworth, Regent, was taken to the site and was delighted with the exceptionally interesting species of granite with beautiful markings. The huge stone was moved to the Grindol Monument Co. to be dressed for a bronze tablet.

After this was completed the huge stone was moved by horses to the Harristown Twp site about 8 miles west and south of Decatur. Due to inclement weather, the dedication did not take place until Flag Day, June 14, 1904. Daughters, guests, and school children took the interurban cars from Decatur to Harristown and were met by surreys, buggies, and wagons and taken to the site. Following the dedication everyone enjoyed box lunches and had a general good time.

In the passing of years a new park came into being, a short distance from the original home site, and a large plaque was erected by the State commemorating Lincoln's first home. In the meanwhile the DAR monument was becoming lost and almost forgotten by the public and most DAR members. The land around it was being farmed. The stone began to be covered with weeds and debris. In the fall of 1989, Mr. Arthur Wells, our foremost researcher on this project, took Mrs. Ruth Kinser, Chapter Regent, and his sister-in-law, Lois Sayre Wells, to the site. He thought the DAR should be aware of how unsightly it was becoming.

A committee headed by Historian, Mrs. Mary H. Walter, was appointed to study and carry out the moving of the boulder to the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park. Permission was granted and the move was accomplished. The rededication ceremony took place on Saturday, November 17, 1990. It was a beautiful Indian summer day. The boulder was unveiled by Jennifer Matteson, DAR Page and granddaughter of Mrs. Kinser. Among those present were: State Regent, Rosalie Clary; Division III Director, Mrs. Victor G. Marty; and Dr. David Hamilton, Site Superintendent of Spitler Woods and Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park.

The boulder is now resting on a gentle hill, near the Sangamon River, facing the road where tourists can easily see as they drive or walk through the Lincoln Homestead State Park.



picture from Decatur Tribune, December 5, 1990, p4

Among those present for the rededication ceremony were (left to right): Lorraine Peterson; Mary Walter, Chaplain; Rosalie Clary, State Regent; Chloe Hoaglin, First Vice Regent; Ruth Kinser, Regent of Stephen Decatur Chapter; and Jennifer Matteson, DAR Page.