8th Judicial Circuit (1847-1853)

The 8th Judicial Circuit changed several times during the two decades that Mr. Lincoln travelled around it twice a year. For the latter half that period, Mr. Lincoln's friend, David Davis, was the presiding judge. Occasionally, Mr. Lincoln sat in for Judge Davis. The courthouses on the circuit also often served as the backdrop for political events and rallies. As organized in 1839, the Circuit included Champaign, Dewitt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon and Tazewell. Three years later, Christian, Logan, Shelby and Woodford Counties were added. In 1853 State's judicial circuits were realigned. The new Eighth Circuit was limited to Sangamon, Logan, McLean, Woodford, Tazewell, DeWitt, Champaign, and Vermilion. The usual route for Mr. Lincoln was:
Woodford
Metamora
Tremont
Tazewell
Pekin
Bloomington
Venmilion
Danville
Urbana
Champaign
Paris
Edgar
Sullivan
Shelbyville
Shelby
Taylorville
Christian
Sangamon
Springfield
Logan
Mount Pulaski
Lincoln
Clinton
Decatur
Monticello
Piatt
Moultrie
Macon
DeWitt
McLean
For more information about each town, please rollover the name of each town. If you click on the town, you will be transferred to a variety of outside links, that are not associated with The Lincoln Institute. Each page has information we feel is interesting and/or relevant. Click here to return to the Mr. Lincoln and Friends website.