Original site of First Baptist Church of Pekin

Rev. Gilbert S. Bailey, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, organized First Baptist Church of Pekin in 1850 and initiated a building fund campaign for a church. Bailey wrote to Lincoln asking if he would become a subscriber to the building fund. Lincoln's religious views are hard to pin down (other than being generally Protestant Christian), but in any case Lincoln responded favorably to Bailey's request, donating what was then a liberal sum of $10 toward the construction of the original First Baptist Church of Pekin, which was built at the southwest corner of Elizabeth and Fifth streets. The original church measured 32 ft. by 44 feet. That site is now the parking lot of the Pekin Township offices, and First Baptist Church is now located at 700 S. Capitol St. The church still has the original subscribers list, including Lincoln's name, in its records.