There is more of a connection to Abraham Lincoln and Black Hawk than just the hand carved wood statues along the New Boston riverfront. The latest artifact at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum shows another connection. It’s Lincoln’s powder horn from the Black Hawk War says the museum’s Chris Wills.
Lincoln likely was carrying the powder horn when he traveled through Mercer County at the onset of the Black Hawk War in May of 1832. Then Captain Lincoln of the Illinois Militia led his company northeast from Oquawka to the Rock River at Milan—passing through Mercer County west of Aledo. He would return to Mercer County in September of 1834 to survey the town of New Boston.