Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
FAMOUS ILLINOIS TAVERN.
Where Lincoln, When Circuit Rid
ing Lawyer, Snapped Stories.

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Urbana Correspondence st. Louis Globe Democrat.
With the demolition of the old Kelley tav-
ern, torn down last week to make room for
barn. there passed one of the famous old
hostelries of Illinois. Built in 1889, the old
tavern became the stopping place Of all
west bound travellers, it being the only hotel
between Danville and Urbana on the state
road. ~
For years it enjoyed great popularity, es-
pecially during its ownership by Joseph
Kelley, who operated it from 1910 until
1864. During the sos it was the regular
stopping place of the old time circuit riding
lawyers, among whom were Abraham Lin
coin and Judge David Davis. Both Lincoln
and Davis were warm friends Of Kelley,
whose ready wit and great fund Of stories
made him favorite with both men. KEEL
ley was a great story teller, and during the
months intervening between the April and
September terms of court he searched as
siduousy for new stories to tell Abe"
When Lincoln and the retnue of circuit
riding lawyers and judge arrived Kelley
was in his glory. Out on the long porch
of the hotel or before the immense fireplace
he and Lincoln would sit for hours swap
ping stories to the delight Of the other
lawyers.
Often Lincon's coming. being heralded
about the surrounding country, drew scores
Of farmers to the hotel, and not infre-
quently residents of Urbana drove down
to enjoy the contest between the two great
story tellers. However well equipped with
new material was Mr.. Kelley he always
found himself vanquished by Mr.. Lincoln
whose fund Of anecdotes seemed inexhausti-
BILE. Old residents say that the two cham
pions frequently told stories almost all
night, Lincoln sitting m an immense arm
chair with wide rockers and a buffalo robe
cushion, known to the household as "Abe's
chair The old chair is still In the pos
session Of the Kelley family, one of its
most cherished heirlooms.
During the latter days of his circuit rid
ing and while travelling from town to town
on his campaigning tours, the visits Of Mr..
Lincoln became famous for impromptu
political gatherings. Often Lincoln would
sit for hours in the barroom of the tavern,
expounding his Views to the crowds assem-
bled to hear him. Mr.. Kelley frequently
asserted that Lincoln was one Of the few
guests Of the place who never patronized
the bar. This was rare, for good" whis-
ky, brought from the Wabash country by
an itnerant preacher, sold over the bar for
37h cents a gallon. and practically every
man. including the ministers and school
teachers, took his DRAM
The old tavern played an important part
in the social life Of the community. Here
during the winter months assembled all the
young people for miles around to dance and
enjoy themselves 1t the yard were held
the turkey shoots on Thanksgiving and
Christmas when the pioneers assembled to
prove their wonderful skill with their old
muZZle lOa0lng firearms. WHISKY on these
| occasions flowed freely, and some famous
fights have occurred about the old building,
| but for the most part the early settler was
good natured, even in his cups, and no
serious damage was done in these en-
counters
With the coming Of the railroads and the
passing Of a stage coach the old tavern
suffered lamentable falling off in business,
and after a precarious existence 1t was
closed and the building became the home of
a tenant farmer. Later it was used for the
storage of grain and farm implements.
Failing into decay, 1t has at last been torn
down, after an existence Of seventy-five
years. many of its timbers going into the
new barn.