Pittsfield

We checked into our hotel in Pittsfield, Illinois.  This hotel was built in 1838 and called the Mansion House at that time.  William Watson was one of the first settlers of Pittsfield.

Abe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas would gather in this lobby when they were in town.  This hotel was an active place in the 1800s, with rooms above and retail space below including a barber shop and tack shops.

(morning view)

The keys to our room were just laid on the counter top.  As I had come before, I knew this was going to be the way it was.  We might have been confused about there being no one at the front desk otherwise. 

We walked up to our 2nd floor room.  There is no elevator in this building.  Glad we weren't on the 3rd floor.

Al had asked for a room looking out to the courthouse.  It happened to be the same room I had been in when I came by myself.

The view of the courthouse from our room.

We decided to walk to Nucci's Restaurant.  It was just a couple of blocks away, just beyond the courthouse.  There are several eating places closeby or if you want the regular chains, you can drive to the edges of town.  The population of Pittsfield is just above 4,000.  You can't get lost.

This is a great pasta place with excellent service!

The next morning, Allen had to log in to work and we had our morning devotions before packing up and heading out.

Before leaving town, we took a little tour of the inside of the courthouse.  This courthouse was built in 1894.

Stain glass above the doorways!

Magnificent!  Why oh why did so many courthouses in the 1960's get torn down.  Oh, I know why.  Money.  But isn't it sad?  This is fabulous!

If only our town had kept their courthouse....

Old is so much better!!

Abe Lincoln practiced law in Pittsfield.  He worked on 34 cases between 1839 and 1852.  He had many friends here and spent a good deal of time in town.

The former courthouse.

We took a "Talking Houses" drive through the town.

Milton Hay house.  Presidential Secretary John Hay, nephew of Milton Hay, an attorney who studied under Lincoln, lived here while attending Thompson Academy.

Shastid House.  This family entertained Lincoln on his numerous trips to Pittsfield.  One time, he ate all the pigeons the family had caught that day causing the young son to exclaim "You're a hog, Mr. Lincoln!"

Grimshaw House.  Lincoln and Grimshaw participated in several court cases together.  Lincoln spent night here.

The Garbutt House.  Presidential Secretary John Nicolay was taken here at age 16 by foster parents Rev. and Mrs. Zachariah Garbutt.  Nicolay later wrote an article advocating for Lincoln for President.

A couple more cool homes.

What a great time!  This town is worth visiting!!    We stopped for lunch at a Wendy's.  We ordered one baked potato and split it, then topped it with chili.  It was soooo good!

We drove through Rockford and up toward Madison.  We HAD to pull off the road to see the world's largest Culvers in Edgerton, WI.

Hmmm.  Expected more.  But worth a stop for a frozen custard!

We made a stop to pick up a cheese wheel for a friend.

Sun was getting ready to set by the time we got to the kids' home!

A drive along 210 in Missouri

How does one choose which home to go to for Thanksgiving?  None of our children were going to be coming to Kansas but we could go to one of their homes.   But our three children all live in different states. 

Although I had just come back from Wisconsin, Allen hadn't been there since May.  We had recently seen the other two children, so it was decided that we'd go up north.  I was home for only 2 weeks and then on the road again, back to Wisconsin.

We had to stop in Hillsboro for some of Dale's sausage to take to the kids!  We love a drive through the Flint Hills of Kansas!!  I know this looks flat, but it isn't.  

And who doesn't love seeing old schoolhouses!!??

Redneck luxury porta-potties??  Ok, they are actually blinds for hunters.

We decided to take 210 east of Kansas City (in order to take a road we'd never traveled before - which is what we always try to do!).

It was sort of out in the country, but for a while, lots and lots and lots of buildings north of the road belonging to FedEx.

Missouri City. population 267.  Why is it called Missouri "City"?  Shouldn't it be Missouri Village?

The Missouri River

In highschool, I nearly flunked history.  I found it so very boring!  No longer!  I think reading historical fiction from our church library gave me such a love and interest for it!  And I love to read about my family genealogy.  God has placed each of us in a particular time in history.   

Acts 17:26-27 says "From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.

"Camped near the lower point of an Island on the L [left] Side, party in high spirits.   The Countrey on each Side of the river is fine interspersed with Praries, in which immence herds of Deer is Seen, on the banks of the river we observe numbers of Deer watering and feeding on the young willow. Several Killed to day." William Clark, June 24, 1804    

He also observed "great quantities of Bear Sign".   He speaks of spending two hours jerking the meat so it would not spoil.  During the month of June, they killed 77 deer and 14 bears!

When you travel  back roads, you get to see farmers at work.   My husband, who grew up on a farm, loves to observe farms!  It often leads him to telling me a story from his years growing up.

Pecan capital of Missouri - Brunswick

We stopped at this little pecan shop in the country.

They told us about their operation.

Could not resist the chocolate covered pecans!!

Pecan groves

The house below almost looks like a plantation.  I called the Moberly chamber of commerce and the lady said it was just a private home and she didn't know of any historical significance.  Moberly became a town in 1866, after the war.  This looks to be from that period.   The city was called the Magic City because it grew so quickly.

This also is just a private home, not a country club, like I thought.

Small duplexes?  Motel?

We "flew" by Paris.  Oo-la-la!

We came upon Mark Twain State Park where there are Missouri pelicans!

We took a quick jaunt into the park. 

The house where Mark Twain grew up is enshrined inside but it was closed.

Al always keeps his eyes peeled for deer.

There they are!

We went south at Highway 19 and caught 154 to 54 into Illinois.

It was dark by the time we got to Pittsfield, where we were going to spend the night.  What a fun day of adventure!