An early Bloomington settler and one time friend of Abe Lincoln was also a southern sympathizer. Sarah Withers wrote on May 4th 1861, "This day our nation is to be disgraced by the inauguration of Abe Lincoln as President. How Humiliating!"
A selection from the Withers Diary is part of this episode of GLT's recurring series, McHistory.
Contributors to this episode of McHistory include McLean County Museum of History Archivist Bill Kemp, and Museum Development Director Beth Whisman. GLT's Charlie Schlenker produces McHistory, which is a co-production of WGLT and the Museum of History using the letters, diaries, and documents of days gone by.
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