Looking For Lincoln

THIS DAY IN LINCOLN HISTORY On May 30, 1836, the New Salem post office is discontinued.

On May 7, 1833, Lincoln was appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois. In this position, "Honest Abe" would carry letters in his top hat for the chance encounter with their intended recipients.

In addition to a salary, his position as Postmaster entitled him to send and receive mail free of charge and receive free delivery of one newspaper. Lincoln worked as New Salem’s postmaster for three years until his election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1836.

Documentation of Lincoln's work as postmaster of New Salem exists. The Official Registrar of the United States indicates that Lincoln received $55.70 in pay in 1835, along with $19.48 for a quarter of a year's worth of work two years later.

Visit Lincoln's New Salem today, a top site in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area:
https://visitspringfieldillinois.com/LocationDetails/?id=Lincoln%27s-New-Salem-State-Historic-Site

Photo is of Lincoln's New Salem State Historic site. Info from www.thelincolnlog.org, plus additional info from https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/lincoln-from-postmaster-to-president/postmaster-lincoln

THIS DAY IN LINCOLN HISTORY On May 28, 1863, Lincoln authorizes Gen. Rosecrans to give James Jaquess furlough to go into Confederate territory to seek out members of Methodist Church and others opposed to war.

James Jaquess, the first president of the Illinois Conference Female Academy, which became MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. His home in Jacksonville (pictured) is featured with a Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibit.

Jaquess, a Methodist minister, first met Lincoln when he was preaching and Lincoln was practicing law in central Illinois. During the Civil War, Lincoln entrusted Jaquess with important missions.

In 1863, Jaquess met with Confederate officials to discuss ending the war. The following year, Jaquess met with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who declared that the South would accept peace only if it could remain independent. Jaquess gave an oral report to Lincoln that was transcribed and printed as campaign literature for the Union Republican Party.

Jaquess traveled a lot for his missions, and Lincoln claimed he would pay him back for the expenses, but he was assassinated before he could do so. Jaquess was however paid back an amount of roughly $6,719 by the U.S. on what would have been Lincoln's 64th birthday. Jaquess had also given multiple speeches to aid in the reelection of Lincoln in 1864.

Learn more about seeing the Jacquess house in Jacksonville at
https://jacksonvilleil.org/business-directory/james-jaquess-house/

Info from the www.thelincolnlog.org, https://theclio.com/entry/49000, and the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

THIS DAY IN LINCOLN HISTORY On May 23, 1860, Lincoln writes to George Ashmun, who presided over the Republican National Convention, and accepts the party's nomination for President of the United States.

Lincoln writes, "Imploring the assistance of Divine Providence, and with due regard to the views and feelings of all who were represented in the convention; to the rights of all the states, and territories, and people of the nation; to the inviolability of the constitution, and the perpetual union, harmony, and prosperity of all, I am most happy to co-operate for the practical success of the principles declared by the convention."

Info from www.thelincolnlog.org. Photo from Library of Congress and Wikipedia.