From Moultireonline.com is a Lincoln history which includes:
"Lincoln’s final visit to Moultrie County precipitated amemorable r iot on the Sullivan square during his unsuccessfulSenatorial campaign a gainst Stephen Douglas.
On Monday morning Sept. 20, 1858, Ben D. Hamlin got on his horsea nd started to school near what is now Coles Station. He was soonoverta ken by a crowd of people.
Some of the people knew him and called “Ben, go to Sullivan andhe ar Douglas and Lincoln.” He had seen Douglas and Lincoln atCharleston w hen they debated, but not knowing when he would see suchgreat men agai n, he joined the procession.
Farther down the road Abraham Lincoln was riding inCunningham’s c arriage with John Will True driving the fine,cream-colored, matched te am with white manes and tails.Cunningham’s son, John, was riding in th e carriage with Lincoln.
The mile-long procession which Ben had joined, consisted ofwagons , the Bowling Green, Ind. brass band, and horsemen with bannersand fla gs waving. They crossed the river at Nelson Ford, passed theCharles Sh uman farm and came into town on the same road that theLincoln family h ad taken when they came to Illinois in 1830. Lincolnwas taken directly t o the home of Judge James A. Elder, 1/2 mile eastof town, where the Ti m Singiser residence is now. (None of the Eldersresiding in the county n ow are direct descendants of this family, butthe News-Progress has lea rned that the late Art Palmer’s mother wasan Elder.)
Judge Douglas came to Sullivan that day along the Charleston roadw hich passed Old Julian and near what is now the Illinois MasonicHome. H is procession was headed by a band, followed by a delegationof ladies o n horseback with their colored scarves and bright huedflags waving. Ne xt came Douglas, the charming Mrs. Douglas, Mr.Merrick and Bob and Liz zie Ginn riding in a fine carriage which BobGinn had purchased in Chic ago for the occasion."
7/19/1870 At age 36 and a farmer, Robert still lived at home with hisf ather. However, he himself had personal property worth $10,000.
1880 E Nelson Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. Recorded as a farmer in thecensu s, Robert was head of the house with sisters, Mary and Lizzie,and cous in, Eliza Johnson, 50, living with him as well as a CharlesHiggby, 30, f arm laborer. He had no wife at that time.
The 6/25/1891 Decatur newspaper, in reporting on the Seass trial,liste d jurors and their occupations. About Robert it said: "RobertGinn, a w ealthy and good looking bachelor, one of the jurorsexamined, was born a nd raised in this county. He as modestly as awoman evaded the questio ns as to his age and time he has lived in thecounty. Everybody knows B ob, and his efforts to keep the public fromfinding how long he had bee n living here caused considerablemerriment."
2/25/1892 Results of an auction published in the paper says Amelia, ab rown mare, eight years old, was sold to Robert Ginn, Sullivan for$175.
2/27/1892 At another auction he bought Edward Hyde, sorrel gelding, 3y ear old for $100.
1893 N Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. He apparently inherited his father's2 55 acre farm. The county plat map recorded him as the currentowner.
1900 E Nelson Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. He probably never moved at allbe cause the census taker found him back at the same place as before.Appa rently he never married but rather kept the sisters Mary and Lizwho st ill lived with him. Charles Higby, 50, and Eliza Johnson, 65,were sti ll there as well but listed as boarders.
4/27/1906 Decatur Daily Review carried the following story under boldh eadlines:
CONFERRING OVER TRACTION ROUTE
Robert Ginn Hopes to Get Line Through Cooks Mills
Robert Ginn was called to Mattoon Thursady to meet with theoffice rs of the Decatur Sullivan and Mattoon Traction company. Mr.Ginn is w orking for the route via Cooks Mills which will give him anoutlet from h is fine farm six miles east of Sullivan.
12/8/1909 The Decatur newspaper reported: "Robert Ginn of east ofhere r eturned home from Chicago Monday afternoon where he has beenattending t he Fat Stock show. Mr. Ginn has some fancy cattle onexhibition there. "
1913 N Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. The next plat map showed he stillowne d the same piece of ground.
10/28/1913 At the second annual Moultrie County horse show, Robert'sp ercheron colt, grade 8 months and under, won $10 for second place.
He birthdate as posted is engraved on his headstone. However, the1880 c ensus listed him as 43 yrs old, making his birthdate 1837 andthe 1900 c ensus recorded 9/1846. Just what is it?? If he were bornin Ireland a s all census have said, one would lean toward the earlierdate before t he family arrived in IL.
His obituary in the 8/16/1915 newspaper said:
RICH MOULTRIE LANDOWNER DEAD
ROBERT GINN, ONE OF BEAN CREDITORS EXPIRES SUDDENLY
Robert Ginn, one of the wealthiest land owners in Johnathan Creekt ownship, died at his home this morning of acute indigestion after anil lness which only lasted a few hours. He became ill Sunday evening.
ONE OF BEAN CREDITORS
Mr. Ginn was in Sullivan, Saturday, looking after his interest int he Bean case, he being one of the creditors. He held a note for $1,03 2.
At that time he seemed in perfect health. Mr. Ginn and hissister , Miss Lizzie Ginn have lived together at the old home placefor a numb er of years. he never married. no arrangements have beenmade for the f uneral.
