TAYLORVILLE - Alan Bower - author, researcher, historian and public speaker - confesses that, in the beginning, he groaned at the prospect of "authoring the five thousand and first book written about Lincoln."

However, "The Last Stop" will soon be published and provide generations with a history of Abraham Lincoln and his relationship with Christian County.

Q: So why Lincoln or even more specifically why Lincoln and Christian County?

First, the title, said Bower, refers to the fact that Taylorville was the last stop on the Eighth Judicial Circuit before Lincoln, other lawyers and the judge returned home.

A couple of years ago, Bower attended a meeting in Taylorville where local residents indicated interest in documenting Lincoln's presence in Christian County. He accepted their proposal and began his research.

"My initial efforts revealed very little compiled information about Mr. Lincoln and Christian County," said Bower.

"However, there was a preponderance of research material available on Lincoln, (which) if gathered, would enable me to piece together the material I needed. In the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the pure volume of information available concerning Mr. Lincoln.

"It appeared as if any and everything the man had done in his entire life was known," he continued.

"Armed with some of the information I had acquired, I gave several speeches to a variety of groups about Lincoln and his relationship with Christian County until someone in an audience asked, 'When is the book coming out?'

"The book's fate was sealed, and I began in earnest."

Q: What resources did you find helpful in your research?

Bower said, "One always wonders if what they are beginning was done by anyone else.

"I found only one example of a similar book, written in 1928, on Lincoln in Coles County, Illinois. I also discovered a gem of a book, written by Herald and Review Editor Otto Kyle, published in 1957, titled 'Lincoln in Decatur.' His book was well researched and written. I enjoyed his book a great deal."

Bower used a variety of sources including documents from the Taylorville courthouse, from House Legislative Journals and other archived sources, books, articles and public records.

"If I had to pick one resource, other than the courthouse, that was valuable it would be 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements about Abraham Lincoln.'"

Q: Is there something in the book which is a particular favorite of yours?

Bower suggested a couple of answers to this question.

"My favorite area to write and research was the cases Lincoln had in Taylorville."

There was a wide variety of cases he and other lawyers encountered during their circuit riding days, Bower said, some funny, some sad, some reading like headlines of a tabloid. Slander was a major issue of the time as were lawsuits for failure to pay outstanding debts.

"Two of the cases in the book are still legends in Taylorville. One (is) the 'Watermelon Patch Caper' and the other Lincoln's request for a 'Writ of Quietus' concerning the hogs and their porcine serenade under the original courthouse while arguing a case.

"The statue of Lincoln, located on the square, smiling down at a pig is the only monument ever dedicated to Lincoln's wit and humor."

And a photograph of that statue is being used to promote the book until the book jacket is formally available.

But Bower also added, "One chapter is devoted to Horatio Vandeveer, both a friend and legal adversary of Lincoln's.

"No book on Christian County could be written without including the county's most successful citizen and his relationship with Lincoln. Both men studied the law under the same mentor, Lincoln's first partner, John Stuart.

"In 1830, both the Lincolns and Vandeveers left Indiana. The Lincolns went to Macon County and the Vandeveers to Sangamon County within six months of each other. In Indiana, they lived less than 50 miles apart.

"The similarities between these men I found chilling."

Q: And Alan Bower's connection to Christian County?

"I am directly descended from Joseph Durbin Sr., one of the first settlers who came to Christian County in 1829 and lived on Bear Creek, Christian County, a part of Montgomery County at that time.

"His brother, John, arrived a year earlier. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Springfield) is a direct descendant of my great-great-great-great grandfather's brother John "Stumpy" Durbin.

"Both (Joseph and John Durbin) are buried in the Durbin ancestral cemetery on Bear Creek. They knew Lincoln as he represented members of their families in several legal cases. In addition, many were jurors of cases he tried."

Arlene Mannlein can be reached at amannlein@herald-review.com or 421-6976.

About the book

TITLE: "The Last Stop" by Alan Bower

PUBLISHER: Oak Tree Press, Taylorville

AVAILABLE: Aug. 1, from http://oaktreebooks.com

NOTABLE: Alan Bower will discuss his upcoming book during the 13th Taylorville Garden Walk Saturday, June 21, at the Christian County Farm Bureau.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tuesday's Life section will feature a story on the garden walk.