Site of the Gill, Rupert & Co. Bank

The 1852 case of Gill & Rupert v. Webster was a Tazewell County case in which Abraham Lincoln was involved, and the settlement of the case included 20 gallons of peach liquor. "Webster" was Remington K. Webster, whom Lincoln represented. "Gill" was Thomas Nelson Gill of Pekin (later of Atlanta, Illinois), a produce merchant whose business was at the southeast corner of Second Street and Elizabeth Street. "Rupert" was Columbus J. D. Rupert. Their attorney in this case was James Haines, younger brother of William, Jonathan, and Ansel Haines.

Gill and Rupert were bankers in the firm of G. H. Rupert & Co., founded by Gideon H. Rupert, a wealthy pioneer settler of Pekin who had suggested that our county be named "Tazewell" (after Virginia Gov. Littleton W. Tazewell) instead of "Mackinaw." The G. H. Rupert & Co. Bank was located on the north side of Court Street, four doors east of Front Street -- more or less where the north parking lot of Pekin Riverfront Park is today. That site is shown at about the center of the accompanying image, which comes from an 1877 aerial depiction of Pekin.

On 10 April 1852 the court heard arguments in this case. Lincoln and Haines signed an agreement for Webster to pay the money he owed to the plaintiffs. As part of the agreement, the attorneys also signed an award to credit Webster $4 for 20 gallons of peach liquor that Gill and Rupert had in their possession. Judge David Davis then entered the judgment against Webster for the agreed amount of $437.55 and court costs.