Abraham Lincoln & U.S. Grant Historical Locations in Coles County Illinois

Authoring, Researching, Reporting and other Work

A Resource Page by Howard Taylor

COLES COUNTY & CHARLESTON HISTORICAL SITES WITH & WITHOUT MARKER DESCRIPTIONS
In Chronological or other Order  State Official Historical Markers are indicated by *

 Site to find out where all Illinois historical markers are located:    http://www.historyillinois.org/Markers/markers_county.htm

A Virtual Tour of Coles County's Historical Spots

*4)  Tildy Moore House-- This is the actual point and structure
Location: Westside of Lincoln National Memorial Highway at Campbell, southwest of Charleston  N  39o 23.753   W 088o 12.667

Here on January 31, 1861 President-elect Abraham Lincoln visited his stepmother Mrs. Sarah Bush Lincoln and her daughter Mrs. Reuben Moore (Matilda Johnston). This was his last visit to Coles County before leaving Illinois for his inauguration. Mrs. Lincoln returned with him to Charleston that night and their farewells were said the next morning.

. . . Abraham Lincoln's Life Story:  A Son's Final Goodbye,  A Feast at Farmington

 
. . . Sarah Bush (Johnston) Lincoln in Coles County
The President's Step Mother
. . . A Winter Family Story in Farmington
 . . . Matilda "Tildy" (Johnston) Hall Moore, Step Sister of the President Elect
1

 

 . . . Moore Home Historical Site, Farmington--  fully restored the way it would have been in 1861

 
Quiite a feast and get-together was held in the house in January of 1861.   There are other remaining structures from the same era in Farmington.  One site is now owned by the State of Illinois, and will be restored in future years.  This is a view from the back of the house.
 2
Inside Views of the Moore Home show it as a very colorful and beautiful little house.  It is quite a contrast to the 1845 homes on the Lincoln Log Cabin (Thomas Lincoln Farm) site.  There were several houses and a school in Farmington in the second half of the 19th Century

THE MOORE HOME IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF SEVERE WATER DAMAGE.  NO RE-OPENING DATE HAS BEEN SET

3
The hearth and mantle of the living room are very warm and inviting.  Note the stencil designs on the walls (not wallpaper)

The carpet is made up of woven rug squares.  The furniture is like what would be used in the house in 1861

 

 4
 
5
At left is the rope mattress bed with quilt

At right is the dining area of the kitchen

 
6

 

7
At left is storage bin and the sewing machine.

At right is the kitchen stove. 

 
8

 
9

 

 At left is the gravestone of Thomas Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's Father who died in 1851.  Abraham would visit his father's gravesite while at Farminton, before the meal and final goodbyes to all. 

At right is the Charleston door-size Mural at 5th and Jackson, depicting a final goodbye between Abraham and his step-mother.
10

 

11

This long mural on the side of a business building at the corner of 5th and Monroe, Charleston depicts Abraham Lincoln getting off the train from Springfield. The season was very wintry, and President Elect Abraham is greeted by two women and a man.  He is walking from the rear of the freight train.

 
After seeing the pictures of what the Moore House and furnishings would have looked like,
can't you imagine the high emotions of the grown up son of Sarah Bush and all the family members,
knowing that her son, their uncle, cousin and friend was going on to something very
great.  Would he ever return?  No doubt everyone wondered.  Abraham wanted to return
to practice law in Springfield.  We know what happened in the end.