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Mr. Lincoln Christens his Namesake City Lincoln, Illinois
- Creator:
- Lloyd Ostendorf, Lincoln Savings and Loan Association
- Location:
- unknown place made
- Origin Date:
- 1970
- Materials:
- paper
- Measurements:
- overall: 12 in x 16 in
- Item ID:
- 71.2009.081.1185
- Holding Institution:
- Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum
- Available for Viewing:
- No
- Category:
- Fine Art
Description
This print was done from a painting by artist Lloyd Ostendorf of his conception of the christening ceremony for the town Lincoln, Illinois, on August 29, 1853. Abraham Lincoln, having assisted with the platting of the town and working as counsel for the newly laid railroad which led to the town's founding, was asked to participate in a naming ceremony for the town. It is the only town named after Lincoln before he became the 16th president of the United States. According to town tradition, Lincoln used the juice of a watermelon to christen the town on the public square while three proprietors (Latham, Hickox, and Gillette) and a little boy watched. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum