Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery-- Part 5

I guess the next time I go to Springfield, I will have to go over to the cemetery and walk around to look for some of this history, and there sure is a lot of it, above and beyond the Lincoln connection.


SOLDIERS MONUMENT-- erected 1874 and dedicated to 40 officers and enlisted men killed in the Civil War.

JOHN T. STUART-- (1807-1885)-- one of Springfield's first lawyers. Lincoln studied law under him. Served in the Black Hawk War and roomed with Lincoln in Vandalia in 1834. Served two terms as state representative, three terms in US Congress and one term as state senator.

REED C. WADDELL-- (1860-1895)-- folk figure known as "Kid" Waddell, a professional con man with an international reputation. His greatest trick was the Gold Brick Swindle where he passed off bricks plated with gold as solid gold. He earned $250,000 off this over a ten year period.

In the 1890s, he was running this scam in Paris. Five years later, he got into a disagreement with a partner and was shot six times. His body was returned to Springfield. There is an article in Wikipedia about him and how the gold brick scheme worked.

WILLIAM S. WALLACE-- (1802-1867)-- Lincoln family doctor and Mart Todd Lincoln's brother-in-law. Lincoln's son Willie was named after him, William Wallace Lincoln.
Not Finished Yet. --RoadDog

Just Good Clean Simpson Kicks on Route 66

Now's your opportunity to vote for where you think the REAL location of Homer Simpson's Springfield is. Springfields in 14 states, two along Route 66, have sent in short videos to tell why they should be the one to host the grand premier of the new Simpson's movie which will be released July 27th. They are in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

The actual location of the Simpsons' Springfield has never been revealed, and Fox Broadcasting has come up with a scheme to push the movie. You have the chance to view all 14 video submissions and vote for your favorite. I've seen Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee, and would have to say no one is taking this seriously, but, rather, having a good time with it. Missouri and Tennessee are actually "trying" to make sure they "DON'T" get to host the premier.

Of the three, I liked Springfield, Tennessee's the best, but voted for my home state favorite, Illinois.

Voting continues until July 9th, so you'd better get out and vote soon and often, if you get to vote more than once. I will be alerting the Route 66 e-mail group and other road groups, even though I know some will vote for others.

You can view the videos and vote at

http://thesimpsons.usatoday.com

Don't Have a Cow, Man!! Do it for A. Lincoln. --RoadDog