Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-16
D. A. R. DELEGATES
LINCOLN TABLET ON
COUNTY Bull DING
BRONZE PLATE CoMMEMoRAT
ING MARTYRED PRESIDENTS
APPEARANCE HERE BEFORE
SUPREME COURT GIVEN PEG.
PIE BY DAUGHTERS OF REvo,
LUTON.

I
/ A handsome bronze tablet which
has been placed on the large stone
pillar just west of the main entrance
at the north door OF the court house
was dedicated in memory OF Abraham
I Lincoln ut exercises held this after
noon at . o'clock The tablet was
placed on the court house pillar BY
the lllni Chapter of the Daughters
OF the American Revolution, TO which
/ Ottawa owes much for the marking
of her historic and sacred spots.
The dedicatory exercises were NJ
! tended by a large number OF inter
Iestcd Ottawans. TO Mrs. s. +, Parr
| Sr.. a senior member of the ID. A. r..
who has been active in the workings
of the organization for many yeats,
was accorded the honor of unwilling
! the tablet Mrs. PARIS daughter, Mrs,
| &. w lriou. and her granddaughter
/ Mrs. Charles Ryan Of Mount Vernon
Ohio, are both members OF lllini Chap
! ter.
| The Invocation was offered by Rev.
/ William Whitsitt and John Hoff led
( in the singing of America
The address of the afternoon was
| delivered by Attorney Clarence GriggS,
who with a brilliant and polished ora
| ton, paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln,
who practiced law in the old court
house in Ottawa before the civil war.
Mir. Griggs said in part
Ladies and Gentlemen,
eve are gathered here today to
dedicate to Abraham Lincoln tablet
erected In his honor by the lllini
Chapter. Daughters OF the American
Revolution.
These ladies have already erected
in Washington Park boulder com
memorating the first Lincoln-Douglas
debate, an event which marked the
beginning of that prominence which
led to his election to the presidency,
because there, for the first time, the
mettle of the man and his greatness
became an outstanding factor with
the whole American people.
AT the multh OF the Fox river
has been erected a sundial comment
Grating the fact that here Abraham
Lincoln was mustered out as a cap
tain ana rc-enliated as private IN
the Blackhawk war OF 1882.
The chapter is expecting some
time to place tablet on the house
now owned by IL. Burrows, because
here Lincoln spent the night after the
debate CT 1858.
I'VE of La Sale county are fortu-
nate in that in this LOCALITY We u
in our past history an intimate and
personal connection with Mr.. Lincoln,
In the old court house. on this site,
completed in 1912, Mr. Lincoln prac-
tlcea law before the Supreme Court.
BY the constitution OF lS4S it was pro
vided that the term of the court for
this division should be held at OF
tawa. 1t was not, however until
March 10, 1857, that the state &C.
CURED the title to the lots on which
the building then used as the 81
preme Court house (now used by the
Appellate Court, was cOnsruct"1
and we find in 1859 that an appropria'
ton was made to compelte the court
house and library room, and in the
meantime the sessions OF the Supreme
Court were held in the county court
house.
Mr.. John f. Nash, whose reliabil-
ity and accuracy would be questioned
bv no che who knew him, stated in
public address given by him that for
four or five years while he was
deputy in the office Of the circuit
clerk and aftc1the became clerk ~
1857. the sessions of the Supreme
Court where held in the old cou't
house; that Mr.. Lincoln frequently
came down with the other lawyers
into his office after the adjournment
of the sessions of the Supreme Court,
and there would tell his inimitabie
stories,
Volumes Of the Supreme Court re-
ports showing Mr.. Lincoln's appear
ance before the Supreme Court here
confirm the statement CT Mr.. Nash, II
ary confirmation were necessary.
"These memorials serve two pur-
poses-one just recognition OF the
greatness of the man and the other
as a reminder to this and to all com
ing generations, calling attention 10
this inspired man and the services
he rendered to us by preventing as
union of these United States. so that
we can say, as did Mckinley in that
wonderful phrase, One country again
and one country always; and this we
owe to Abraham Lincoln.
The Him CHARTER Daughters OF
the American Revolution, presents
this tablet to the county OF La Sale
They ask you to accept 1t anu
ratth"'lly preserve it, so that, through
ali the coming years, all who pass
ms way win be reminded that once
here Was seen the form and heard the
voice of Abraham Lincoln.
The tablet Was made to mt Just
inside the stone c0lonnade on the
building and is a very handsome
marker. The inscription on the face
reads: