Carthage, IL – Staff from the Illinois Looking for Lincoln program has evaluated eleven possible Hancock County sites where roadside markers might be installed.
Economic developer Brenda Pyatt says if they're approved, the state will pay two-thirds of the cost of the markers, which tell about Abraham Lincoln's connection to a particular site. Those sought for Hancock County would cost about $35,000.
Pyatt says the sites include the courthouse, where Lincoln lost a trial, and other places where he spoke during his 1858 Senate campaign against Stephen Douglas.
Pyatt believes the county's documentation will help its request for the grant money. She says it includes a letter from a follower of LDS leader Joseph Smith.
In it, the writer says he was at first not impressed by seeing Lincoln. However, he continued ... after 10 minutes he was captivated.
The Looking for Lincoln program is trying to mark each site in Illinois that has a connection to the 16th president.
Pyatt says staffers say they are trying to get some of the visitors to Nauvoo to also visit Springfield.