Home of one of Looking for Lincoln’s 2015 Signature Events, the Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment in June, Pittsfield and Pike County is proud to share its Lincoln heritage. All three of President Lincoln’s secretaries hailed from Pike County, and he counted many folks from the area among his friends. The homes of many of those friends are still standing. You can enjoy the stories and learn more about these early Pittsfield residents by taking the Talking Houses of Pittsfield tour. While most of the homes are still inhabited today, one small home, the Shasdid House has been restored and is now open for tours. Stop by the Pittsfield Welcome Center while you’re in town. They’re open M – F, from 8:30 am – 5 pm.
For more information:
Abe Lincoln Project/Looking for Lincoln in Pike County
P.O. Box 62
Pittsfield, IL 62363
217-285-6995
http://www.pikelincoln.com/
Location
Legend
8th Judicial Circuit
Courthouse
Friends of Lincoln
Good for Kids
Guided/Self-Guided Tours
Historic House
Historic Site
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Museum
Passport Site
Recreational
Route 66
Top Destination
Underground Railroad
Visitor Information
Wayside Exhibit
Nearby Sites
The Printer's Devil
500 E. Washington Street Pittsfield, Illinois 62363
Zachariah Nairn Garbutt was born in New York in 1814. He studied law in Washington, D. C. Later he moved west settling in Jacksonville, Illinois where he continued the reading of law. In May of 1839 he received his license. In that same year he came to Pike County, Illinois.
Being strong Whig Party supporter he and others started the Free Press newspaper in 1846. Sometime in 1848 Garbutt advertised that he needed an intelligent boy between 14 – 17 years of age who could read and write for the position of printers devil.
Joel Pennington proprietor of the Mansion House Hotel in Pittsfield knew young John George Nicolay from when he lived in Greene County, Illinois. Pennington may have sent word to Nicolay about the job resulting in Nicolay walking to Pittsfield where he spent the night on sacks of wool at the Carding Mill. The next morning he applied for the position at the Free Press.
Mr. and Mrs Garbutt took a liking to John Nicolay treating him like a son. He was always welcome in their home. By 1849 Garbutt retired from the Free Press. In 1853 Nicolay was voted a partner in the ownership. One year later he became the sole proprietor and editor of the paper.