Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, November 11, 1860
Residence of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln at Springfield, Illinois.
The simple home of this American Statesman, and President Elect of the United States, is situated on the corner of Eighth and Edward streets, and here he has resided twenty years out of the three and twenty he has been a dweller in Springfield. It stands on a sort of platform of brickwork, and is two stories high, having two windows on each side of the door and five on the upper story. The side view shows that it has an extension and side entrance, with a receding stoop running the whole length of the extension. In the rear are the stables and barn. The edifice is painted of a pale chocolate color, and the window blinds are of deep green. The roof extends a little over the edges, like that of a Swiss cottage. The rooms are elegantly and comfortably furnished with strong, well-made furniture, made for use and not for show. On the front door is a black door plate, on which, in silvered Roman characters, is inscribed the magical name,
“A. LINCOLN.”
Here dwells the great exponent of Republicanism and the victor of Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. It has no ornaments, no deftly-trimmed shrubberies, no marble vases; it is all in keeping with the man—plain, unpretending, comfortable and substantial.