Logan County Historical Society
begins new year with a little fun:
sharing oldest family photos
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[January 21, 2017]
LINCOLN - The
Logan County Genealogical and
Historical Society held their first
monthly meeting of the New Year on
Monday. As with previous years, the
call went out to members to bring
something unique of their own to the
meeting rather than follow the usual
format of inviting a speaker.
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In
the past, members were asked to
bring the oldest cook book in their
family. One year, a favorite tool in
each family was featured. Some of
the items were so old that no one
knew what they were designed to do.
Guesses flew around the table until
the owner finally revealed what it
was. This year members were asked to
bring the oldest photo of family
members.
Those who brought photos presented
the gathering with a history of
Logan County and of the immigrant
experience of older generations to
the United States. In some cases,
brave souls departed their home
countries while leaving family
members behind. In other cases whole
families departed together for the
new world.
Some of the oldest family members
came to central Illinois before
there was a Logan County or the town
of Lincoln. Remember that Logan
County only existed after a little
known Illinois state legislator kept
a campaign promise to cleave a new
county out of Sangamon County. This
occurred in 1839.
The legislator was Abraham
Lincoln. Lincoln was present at the
founding of his namesake town in
1853.
Many of the photos feature one or
two relatives while others show
generations. In all cases it was
obvious that having a photo taken
was a serious event. The subjects of
the photos dressed in their best,
and stared into the camera without a
smile. Many photos showed very young
children all wearing what appear to
be dresses, even the boys, no doubt
a tradition from way back. How
things have changed.
Think about it. The LCGHS members
who brought 19th and early 20th
century photos represent a
continuation of their family lineage
still living in central Illinois.
Many still have children and
grandchildren living in the area.
But Logan County is not where
families migrated to and stopped.
The LCGHS receives requests for
genealogical research from all over
the United States by family members
who have moved on but want to find
their forebears in the area and
learn about what they did. Central
Illinois and Lincoln are a hotbed of
genealogical research.
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Inquiries come to
the LCGHS, perhaps as example it is
from a technology employee in
California who heard from older
family members of this far away
place where their family once lived.
“Can you find anything about the
corner grocery store that was
located in Lincoln that I heard
about,” they will ask. Or someone
from Minnesota may ask, “Can you
find anything about my farming
heritage in central Illinois and
where the farm was located? I even
heard that Abraham Lincoln stayed at
my great, great, great grandfather’s
farm while he rode the judicial
circuit.”
The LCGHS is known for their
extensive archives and ability to
incorporate sources at the Logan
County Courthouse or the Lincoln
Public Library to find answers to
these questions. They will even
check the cemetery records.
The LCGHS meets the third Monday of
the month at their research center
in Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. The public
is invited to attend and the program
is always fascinating.
Be sure to check out the ever
changing imaginative displays in the
window at 114 North Chicago Street.
Many of the displays are constructed
of items in the LCGHS collection.
[Curtis Fox]
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