William B. Warren to Abraham Lincoln, 30 June 18581
Jacksonville, Ill,June 30th 1858Hon. A. Lincoln,Dr[Dear] Sir,
Yourself and family are respectfully invited to partake of a dinner to be given by
the citizens of this place, on Saturday, the 3d day of July, in commemoration of our National Anniversary.2
W. B. WarrenChmn Com[Chairman Committee]; &c[etc]
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[Envelope]
Hon A. LincolnSpringfieldIll.
2No response to this letter has been located, and it does not appear that Abraham Lincoln
attended the dinner. According to the Illinois State Journal, Lincoln arrived in Jacksonville to celebrate American Independence on the morning
of July 3; there is no mention of his wife or his sons Robert, Willie, or Tad traveling with him. The town hosted a procession of fire companies, bands, German
gymnasts, marshals and officers, and a carriage carrying Lincoln and other politicians.
After a reading of the Declaration of Independence and several speeches, everyone
attended a barbecue. The evening included a hot air balloon and fireworks. At 9 p.m.,
Lincoln embarked on a train to return to Springfield.
Citizens of Princeton, Illinois invited Lincoln to join them for Fourth of July festivities, but Lincoln instead spent the
day in Springfield. Lincoln also declined an invitation to attend Independence Day celebrations held on July 5 in Chicago. He attended an afternoon dinner in Springfield honoring the Springfield Pioneer Fire Company.
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 6 July 1858, 2:2-3; The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 3 July 1858, https://thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-07-03; 4 July 1858, https://thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-07-04; 5 July 1858, https://thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-07-05.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).