History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 103
THE NATIONAL LINCOLN MONUMENT.
I have intentionally left this article South. They came from all classes of
until the last, hoping to be able to an- citizens, from almost every denominanounce the day on which the Monument tion of christians, from Jews, from eduwill be dedicated. cational, industrial and benevolent orIt is too indelibly impressed upon the ganizations of all kinds. The largest
minds of the American people to be proportion came from the colored people,
readily forgotten, that on the morning and the children of the Sunday schools.
of April 15, 1865, the sad news flashed When sufficient funds had been receivover the wires, that Abraham Lincoln ed to justify it, the Association took
had fallen by the hand of an assassin. measures to commence the erection of the
monument. Early in 1868, it advertised
Many days before the funeral cortege
a "l Notice to Artists," offering a liberal
arrived in Springfield an organization
premium for a suitable design for a motnwas effected, for the purpose of collectument, and invited those interested to
ing funds preparatory to erecting a monw send in drawings, naming Sept. 1st a
ument to his memory. HIis remains were the day for examination. At the time
deposited in the receiving vault of Oak the
specified thirty-one designs were placed
Ridge Cemetery, on the 4th of May, and.on exhibition. That presented by Laron the 11th the organization took a legal
kin G. Mead —a native of Brattleboro,
form under the title of THE NATIONAL
LnqU'COLN 3~ONUMST ASSOCIATIOn. Vermont, but who had spent several
years in Florence, Italy-was adopted.
A Board of Directors were chosen, The monument to be constructed of
who elected Gov. R. J. Oglesby, Presi- granite and the statuary of bronze.
dent; Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, Vice Presi- A contract was entered into with Mr.
dent; Hon. James H. Beveridge, Treasu- Mead to mould and cast all the statuary,
rer; Clinton B. Conkling, Secretary. consisting of four groups, representing
Circulars were sent out to all parts of the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and
the country, soliciting contributions for Navy; also, a statue of Mr. Lincoln and
the purpose designated. The first act of the coat of arms of the United States.
the Association was to erect a temporary A price was fixed on each piece and
vault in Oak Ridge Cemetery, in which group of statuary, and the Association
to deposit the remains until the monu- reserved the privilege of ordering the
ment could be completed. On the 21st work to proceed on a single piece at a
of December, 1865, the body of Mr. time, or more, as its finances would jusLincoln was removed from the receiving tify. Orders were at once given for the
vault of the Oak Ridge Cemetery to artist to mould and cast the statue of
that prepared by the Association for its Mr. Lincoln and the coat of arms of the
reception, within the grounds of the United States.
cemetery. The Association then entered into a
During the year 1865, contributions contract with W. D. Ricllardson, of
came in from all parts of the conntry- Springfield, to erect the architectural
East, West, North, and some from the part of the monument. Ground was