A heritage as rich as the land itself . . .

It is not just another tract of Midwestern expanse – it is a place that has witnessed much and produced a heritage as rich as the land itself. Since its establishment in 1841, Woodford County has been host and home to many who have influenced our nation and our world.

Abraham Lincoln plied the early trails of the county to follow the judicial circuit as a young frontier attorney. He participated in court cases at the early county seats of Versailles and Metamora where he crafted his oratorical skills and honed his conception of justice. He found common cause with many of the abolitionists who populated Woodford County at the time.

Ronald "Dutch" Reagan studied economics and sociology at Eureka College from 1928-1932. With the harshest period of the Great Depression as the setting for his college studies, Reagan's awareness of the families and communities of Woodford County that were affected by the economic strain was an out-of-the-classroom learning experience that shaped his outlook during a formative period of his life.

Yes, future presidents toiled in this place, but the land and its people beckoned others to take note as the success of their enterprise grew profound. Visionaries established schools and cultural societies, artfully crafted a civilization from rough hewn materials, and faithfully espoused the cause of social justice for all. An impressive list of visitors – Horace Mann, Susan B. Anthony, and Booker T. Washington, to name a few – came to Woodford County to observe and to learn.

Men and women of faith, working side-by-side, created a community for their children and their countless descendants that would celebrate the virtues of industry, determination, and individualism – the embodiment of the pioneer spirit that gave life to this region and sustains it still. The gift of their many labors, they gave us this place and this shared history, which we, as heirs to both, are bound by duty and honor to preserve and keep.

. . . an obligation as big as the sky.

Return to Main Page