The
Lincoln Highway and its communities have been the setting
for many historic figures and events.
- As a young military officer, lawyer and aspiring politician,
Abraham Lincoln frequented the communities along the
byway.
- Abraham
Lincoln visited Dixon and other nearby communities in
1858 during the Lincoln-Douglas debates for the U.S.
Senate.
- Abraham Lincoln visited Dixon and other nearby communities
in 1856 as he helped organize the Illinois Republican
Party based on the principle that “slavery was a vastly
powerful, sinister force that had captured the federal
government and was fast extending its tentacles into the
western territories, and threatened even Illinois” (Jensen).
- Ronald Reagan grew up in Dixon before moving on to
a career that culminated in his presidency.
- Ronald Reagan
championed conservative ideals and was instrumental in
ending the Cold War.
- John Deere opened the prairies to modern
agriculture by the development of his “selfpolishing” plow.
This is the story of Yankee ingenuity and American
industrial development.
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