Rev. Springer was the first Lutheran pastor in Springfield, Illinois. He arrived in 1839 and the first Lutheran worship service was held in 1841 in his home. Rev. Springer and Abraham Lincoln were neighbors from 1844-1847.
Reverend Francis Springer, Chaplain, U.S. Army of the Frontier, served as the Post Chaplain at Fort Smith during the Union occupation and early Reconstruction period. (September 1, 1863 through 1867) A native of Springfield, Illinois, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 51. During his posting at Fort Smith he served in a variety of roles within the military and the local community. He served not only as Post Chaplain but also as Provost Marshal and Commissary Officer.
Springer's involvement in the local community included being a member of the Freedmen's Bureau, teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution, preaching in local churches, and keeping detailed records of weather and crop reports. He was the co-editor of a local newspaper, Fort Smith New Era. He often wrote editorials under the pen name of Thrifton.
Springer's real passion was to aid the widows, orphans and freed slaves displaced by the Civil War. He secured homes for over 200 Northwest Arkansas orphans to his home state of Illinois.
A portion of Springer's journal has been edited by William Furry in his book, The Preacher's Tale, University of Arkansas Press, 2001.
National Park Service, Ft. Smith Arkansas, Rev. Francis Springer, Post Chaplain
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/historyculture/reverend-francis-springer-post-chaplain.htm
Springer & Abraham Lincoln were neighbors: In 1839, the Reverend Francis Springer purchased this lot and built a house the same time that the future Lincoln Home was being constructed across the street. In September of 1841, the Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized at this location. Springer served as pastor of the church until 1847 when he accepted the presidency of Hillsboro College in Montgomery County, Illinois. By 1850, Springer had sold the property to Charles Arnold at this time for $800. Arnold would reside in the house from 1850 until 1879. Arnold was a political ally of Abraham Lincoln, both being members of the Whig party. He served twice as the County Sheriff on the Whig Ticket. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of families made their home on this corner lot. Additions were made to the original structure. By 1917, Springer's early home had been encased in brick and siding. By the mid 1990s, restoration work was begun on the Arnold House, Springer's structure was found to still survive as part of the later structure. The original structure, freed from the later additions, was rotated and moved back to the front of the lot and restored to it's 1860s appearance. Today, the Arnold House is open to the public, and houses exhibits on the Lincoln neighborhood and its restoration and preservation.
http://www.nps.gov/liho/arnold-house.htm
1863 - Letter to Hon. Sec. of War Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir Washington, April 13, 1863
You remember my calling on you some time ago with the bearer, Mr. Asbury Waddell of Arkansas. I feel warranted to believe him a reliable man. Francis Springer who signs a letter he will show you, is one of my best friends, & than whom there is no more reliable man. Mr. Waddell says he can easily raise a regiment in his state---we need the regiment; and I therefore think you better fix him out with some authority to raise the regiment. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln6/1:368?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
Reverend Francis Springer, Chaplain, U.S. Army of the Frontier, served as the Post Chaplain at Fort Smith during the Union occupation and early Reconstruction period. (September 1, 1863 through 1867) A native of Springfield, Illinois, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 51. During his posting at Fort Smith he served in a variety of roles within the military and the local community. He served not only as Post Chaplain but also as Provost Marshal and Commissary Officer.
Springer's involvement in the local community included being a member of the Freedmen's Bureau, teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution, preaching in local churches, and keeping detailed records of weather and crop reports. He was the co-editor of a local newspaper, Fort Smith New Era. He often wrote editorials under the pen name of Thrifton.
Springer's real passion was to aid the widows, orphans and freed slaves displaced by the Civil War. He secured homes for over 200 Northwest Arkansas orphans to his home state of Illinois.
A portion of Springer's journal has been edited by William Furry in his book, The Preacher's Tale, University of Arkansas Press, 2001.
National Park Service, Ft. Smith Arkansas, Rev. Francis Springer, Post Chaplain
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/historyculture/reverend-francis-springer-post-chaplain.htm
Springer & Abraham Lincoln were neighbors: In 1839, the Reverend Francis Springer purchased this lot and built a house the same time that the future Lincoln Home was being constructed across the street. In September of 1841, the Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized at this location. Springer served as pastor of the church until 1847 when he accepted the presidency of Hillsboro College in Montgomery County, Illinois. By 1850, Springer had sold the property to Charles Arnold at this time for $800. Arnold would reside in the house from 1850 until 1879. Arnold was a political ally of Abraham Lincoln, both being members of the Whig party. He served twice as the County Sheriff on the Whig Ticket. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of families made their home on this corner lot. Additions were made to the original structure. By 1917, Springer's early home had been encased in brick and siding. By the mid 1990s, restoration work was begun on the Arnold House, Springer's structure was found to still survive as part of the later structure. The original structure, freed from the later additions, was rotated and moved back to the front of the lot and restored to it's 1860s appearance. Today, the Arnold House is open to the public, and houses exhibits on the Lincoln neighborhood and its restoration and preservation.
http://www.nps.gov/liho/arnold-house.htm
1863 - Letter to Hon. Sec. of War Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir Washington, April 13, 1863
You remember my calling on you some time ago with the bearer, Mr. Asbury Waddell of Arkansas. I feel warranted to believe him a reliable man. Francis Springer who signs a letter he will show you, is one of my best friends, & than whom there is no more reliable man. Mr. Waddell says he can easily raise a regiment in his state---we need the regiment; and I therefore think you better fix him out with some authority to raise the regiment. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln6/1:368?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
Rev. Springer was the first Lutheran pastor in Springfield, Illinois. He arrived in 1839 and the first Lutheran worship service was held in 1841 in his home. Rev. Springer and Abraham Lincoln were neighbors from 1844-1847.
Reverend Francis Springer, Chaplain, U.S. Army of the Frontier, served as the Post Chaplain at Fort Smith during the Union occupation and early Reconstruction period. (September 1, 1863 through 1867) A native of Springfield, Illinois, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 51. During his posting at Fort Smith he served in a variety of roles within the military and the local community. He served not only as Post Chaplain but also as Provost Marshal and Commissary Officer.
Springer's involvement in the local community included being a member of the Freedmen's Bureau, teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution, preaching in local churches, and keeping detailed records of weather and crop reports. He was the co-editor of a local newspaper, Fort Smith New Era. He often wrote editorials under the pen name of Thrifton.
Springer's real passion was to aid the widows, orphans and freed slaves displaced by the Civil War. He secured homes for over 200 Northwest Arkansas orphans to his home state of Illinois.
A portion of Springer's journal has been edited by William Furry in his book, The Preacher's Tale, University of Arkansas Press, 2001.
National Park Service, Ft. Smith Arkansas, Rev. Francis Springer, Post Chaplain
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/historyculture/reverend-francis-springer-post-chaplain.htm
Springer & Abraham Lincoln were neighbors: In 1839, the Reverend Francis Springer purchased this lot and built a house the same time that the future Lincoln Home was being constructed across the street. In September of 1841, the Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized at this location. Springer served as pastor of the church until 1847 when he accepted the presidency of Hillsboro College in Montgomery County, Illinois. By 1850, Springer had sold the property to Charles Arnold at this time for $800. Arnold would reside in the house from 1850 until 1879. Arnold was a political ally of Abraham Lincoln, both being members of the Whig party. He served twice as the County Sheriff on the Whig Ticket. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of families made their home on this corner lot. Additions were made to the original structure. By 1917, Springer's early home had been encased in brick and siding. By the mid 1990s, restoration work was begun on the Arnold House, Springer's structure was found to still survive as part of the later structure. The original structure, freed from the later additions, was rotated and moved back to the front of the lot and restored to it's 1860s appearance. Today, the Arnold House is open to the public, and houses exhibits on the Lincoln neighborhood and its restoration and preservation.
http://www.nps.gov/liho/arnold-house.htm
1863 - Letter to Hon. Sec. of War Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir Washington, April 13, 1863
You remember my calling on you some time ago with the bearer, Mr. Asbury Waddell of Arkansas. I feel warranted to believe him a reliable man. Francis Springer who signs a letter he will show you, is one of my best friends, & than whom there is no more reliable man. Mr. Waddell says he can easily raise a regiment in his state---we need the regiment; and I therefore think you better fix him out with some authority to raise the regiment. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln6/1:368?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
Reverend Francis Springer, Chaplain, U.S. Army of the Frontier, served as the Post Chaplain at Fort Smith during the Union occupation and early Reconstruction period. (September 1, 1863 through 1867) A native of Springfield, Illinois, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 51. During his posting at Fort Smith he served in a variety of roles within the military and the local community. He served not only as Post Chaplain but also as Provost Marshal and Commissary Officer.
Springer's involvement in the local community included being a member of the Freedmen's Bureau, teaching classes on the U.S. Constitution, preaching in local churches, and keeping detailed records of weather and crop reports. He was the co-editor of a local newspaper, Fort Smith New Era. He often wrote editorials under the pen name of Thrifton.
Springer's real passion was to aid the widows, orphans and freed slaves displaced by the Civil War. He secured homes for over 200 Northwest Arkansas orphans to his home state of Illinois.
A portion of Springer's journal has been edited by William Furry in his book, The Preacher's Tale, University of Arkansas Press, 2001.
National Park Service, Ft. Smith Arkansas, Rev. Francis Springer, Post Chaplain
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/historyculture/reverend-francis-springer-post-chaplain.htm
Springer & Abraham Lincoln were neighbors: In 1839, the Reverend Francis Springer purchased this lot and built a house the same time that the future Lincoln Home was being constructed across the street. In September of 1841, the Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized at this location. Springer served as pastor of the church until 1847 when he accepted the presidency of Hillsboro College in Montgomery County, Illinois. By 1850, Springer had sold the property to Charles Arnold at this time for $800. Arnold would reside in the house from 1850 until 1879. Arnold was a political ally of Abraham Lincoln, both being members of the Whig party. He served twice as the County Sheriff on the Whig Ticket. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of families made their home on this corner lot. Additions were made to the original structure. By 1917, Springer's early home had been encased in brick and siding. By the mid 1990s, restoration work was begun on the Arnold House, Springer's structure was found to still survive as part of the later structure. The original structure, freed from the later additions, was rotated and moved back to the front of the lot and restored to it's 1860s appearance. Today, the Arnold House is open to the public, and houses exhibits on the Lincoln neighborhood and its restoration and preservation.
http://www.nps.gov/liho/arnold-house.htm
1863 - Letter to Hon. Sec. of War Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir Washington, April 13, 1863
You remember my calling on you some time ago with the bearer, Mr. Asbury Waddell of Arkansas. I feel warranted to believe him a reliable man. Francis Springer who signs a letter he will show you, is one of my best friends, & than whom there is no more reliable man. Mr. Waddell says he can easily raise a regiment in his state---we need the regiment; and I therefore think you better fix him out with some authority to raise the regiment. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln6/1:368?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
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