Abraham Lincoln visited Pontiac, Illinois, on five separate occasions. Lincoln visited Pontiac twice in 1840 and was the lawyer who represented William Popejoy on his lawsuits with Isaac Wilson. Lincoln was the lawyer in another Pontiac case with County Sheriff Blue in 1843. In 1855, Lincoln spent several nights in Pontiac after he was rescued from a train stuck in a snowstorm.

Lincoln’s last visit to Pontiac was in January of 1860 when he gave a speech at the Presbyterian Church. After the speech, Lincoln spent many hours at the home of Jason Strevell before he caught his train to Bloomington. While at the Strevell house, Jason Strevell measured Lincoln’s height and put a mark in the doorway at six feet four inches. The Strevell house in Pontiac has been fully restored by the Livingston County Historical Society and is open to the public for periodic tours.

Jason Strevell went on to serve in the Illinois State Legislature and Senate. He then moved to Montana and became a distinguished Judge. The adopted son of Jason Strevell became a very successful hardware store merchant in Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah.

This book focuses on Lincoln’s visit to the Strevell home in Pontiac and the history of the Strevell family. It is hoped this book will help to inform future generations about the history of the Strevell family and Abraham Lincoln’s visit in 1860.