Springfield, Illinois

We have had lots of visitors this week.  Some were surprises.  I was working at Land and Records helping this nice lady and as I looked around her fan chart I realized that we were related.  Our ancestors James and Ellen Bennett were here in Nauvoo.  They had a large family.  Our great, great grandparents were brother and sister of that large family.  John and Alice Bennett.  This gal's name is Diane Blossom from Montana.  So good to meet her.            

Lesa Bennett Hamilton, me, Jodi Bennett ODriscol, Denean Winterton Vreeland

Then later along came 2 sisters and a friend that grew up in Roosevelt together.  We had a great chat about people we knew in common from Roosevelt all while I helped the two sisters find their ancestors that lived in Nauvoo.                                                  

Loralee White

While serving at the Seventies Hall my cousin Sharon's daughter and family stopped by on their way to visit Sharon and her husband on their mission near Nashville, Tenn.  She looks a lot like her mother.                                                                                         

On Saturday we went on a field trip over to Springfield to see the Lincoln sites.  Our first stop was New Salem, a little village set up in the era of Lincoln's growing up years, before he became a lawyer and lived in Springfield.                                          

Interesting how they did their chimneys and whitewashed the walls inside.  

 A lovely statue of A. Lincoln donated by the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. 

Our good friends the Quirls went with us.  Here we are in front of the Lincoln Presidential Museum.

It was a beautiful museum, done nicely depicting all the major events of his life.

His favorite book was Asoep's Fables

Learning to read by firelight.

Abe reading the paper in the corner, while his boys have a hey day.

Debating about the writing of the Emancipation Proclimation.  Changed our Nation.

A. Lincoln's home in Springfield.

 Sunday evening we had a treat.  Pres. Nelson's daughters, Gloria and Syliva along with their husbands put on a fireside for the missionaries, sharing their growing up times, thoughts, experiences with their father.  We enjoyed this so much.  Thanks to the Irions and the Websters.  Pres. and Sister Irion will be released soon from their service here as Pres. and Matron of the Nauvoo Temple.