Memorials to commemorate 150th anniversary of Lincoln funeral train

Despite the original funeral train making four stops in Champaign County on April 29, 1865, the replica will not stop in the area as had once been planned. But memorial services will still be held Wednesday, even without the funeral train.

Events will be held at historical markers in Woodstock, Cable, Urbana and St. Paris, said Ken Davis, a member of the Champaign County Bicentennial Historical Marker committee.

The order of the memorial services will be: Woodstock at 4 p.m., Cable at 5 p.m., Urbana at 6 p.m. and St. Paris at 7 p.m. The St. Paris memorial will be held at the municipal building, located at 135 W. Main St. The other services will be held at the community’s respective historical markers. For those locations, Lillibridge said visit www.champaignohio.com or www.ohiohistoryconnection.org.

Davis said they found out three months ago that the train would no longer make its historical stops in Champaign County for various reasons, partially because the county is off the beaten track.

Because of the topography, Lincoln’s funeral train made four stops in Champaign County to get more water and refuel, said Jim Lillibridge, lead pastor of Urbana United Methodist Church and a member of the Champaign County Ministerial Association. The ministerial group played a major role in organizing the memorial services.

A short, simple service will be held at each marker, Lillibridge said.

“We’re doing it because the funeral train went through here in that order 150 years ago,” he said, “but it’s really about commemorating the life of President Lincoln and the legacy of the things we’re still benefitting from today because of his presidency.”

Each memorial service will be slightly different, Davis said. But most will include a short prayer, pledge of allegiance, speech to honor Lincoln and 21-gun salute to close.

Author Scott Trostel, who wrote “The Lincoln Funeral Train” and “The Lincoln Inaugural Train,” will be available at all four memorial services, Davis said. His autographed books will be available for purchase.