Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
August 26, 1858, Abe Lincoln spent the night in Mendota. The accounts of his personal friends, Norman B. Judd and Ebenezer Peck give great credibility to that happening. Furthermore, John G. Nicolay who was Lincoln's Chief White House secretary did the interviews of these men in 1876 shortly after the Civil War ended in 1865. This information was fresh in their minds.
The day before the 2nd debate with Douglas in Freeport, Abe Lincoln was in Mendota. The Passenger House was the best place to stay. Lincoln was an Illinois Central Lawyer and nor president, yet. He had no real fame except just being a politician in the house of representatives in Illinois. Not a big deal. Others at the time didn't think it was a big deal either. The stopover at Mendota was unexpected and a last-minute decision. The newspapers are missing from that week. Hence Lincoln had to telegraph Judd and Peck to get on a train and come to Mendota where he would be staying. There was no time to lose. Even if it was the midnight train out of Freeport and an arrival at Mendota at 2:00. Lincoln's answers to the 7 Douglas questions were vitally important and he wanted to bounce them off his closest advisors. I am sure they were all tired and worn out. The passenger house walls, the brick heard those conversations.
The Freeport debate was a turning point
.
The Passenger House was the nucleus of Mendota's earliest history. As you will see in this video. I hope you enjoy it.
August 26, 1858, Abe Lincoln spent the night in Mendota. The accounts of his personal friends, Norman B. Judd and Ebenezer Peck give great credibility to that happening. Furthermore, John G. Nicolay who was Lincoln's Chief White House secretary did the interviews of these men in 1876 shortly after the Civil War ended in 1865. This information was fresh in their minds.
The day before the 2nd debate with Douglas in Freeport, Abe Lincoln was in Mendota. The Passenger House was the best place to stay. Lincoln was an Illinois Central Lawyer and nor president, yet. He had no real fame except just being a politician in the house of representatives in Illinois. Not a big deal. Others at the time didn't think it was a big deal either. The stopover at Mendota was unexpected and a last-minute decision. The newspapers are missing from that week. Hence Lincoln had to telegraph Judd and Peck to get on a train and come to Mendota where he would be staying. There was no time to lose. Even if it was the midnight train out of Freeport and an arrival at Mendota at 2:00. Lincoln's answers to the 7 Douglas questions were vitally important and he wanted to bounce them off his closest advisors. I am sure they were all tired and worn out. The passenger house walls, the brick heard those conversations.
The Freeport debate was a turning point
.
The Passenger House was the nucleus of Mendota's earliest history. As you will see in this video. I hope you enjoy it.
