Holiday Book Signing

On December 19, 2007, Iles House hosted the Sangamon County Historical Society. Members took a house tour and heard talks by contributors to In Lincoln’s Shadow, a new book that presents stories by 43 persons who have family plots at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Not just food for the mind: Phyllis Eubanks and Jone VanWinkle present a holiday spread of cookies and brownies, served with hot and cold cider.

Edith Trutter Hauff, daughter of John Trutter, 1st president of SCHS, speaks about his life. He was a veteran of WW II, a retired vice-president of AT&T, and chancellor of the Lincoln Academy for 16 years.

Ida Mae Johnson (center) is one of the book contributors. She brought family pictures to share, including one of her grandmother, who was a slave in Missouri and moved to Illinois after the Civil War. Behind Ida Mae are her daughters, Myra (left) and Kris (right).

Ida Mae Johnson shows some of her photos to the group, assisted by Nancy Chapin, treasurer of the SCHS. In the background is Martha Woods Wolters, contributor to In Lincoln’s Shadow, who later shared more Woods family stories.

Audience, left to right: Nancy Chapin, Ida Johnson, Dr. Gil Pilapil (chair of the book project), Pat Rudolph and Phyllis Herndon Brissendon (both contributors) and Carolyn Moore, president of the SCHS. In the background is Arnold Stern, also a contributor.

Signed copies of the book are available from the SCHS web site.

Pictures by Dick Hart; captions by Jane Chapin.