old settlers memorial cabin

Located on the north side of the Rock River in Presidents Park along a nice river walking path, immediately off of Illinois Route 2 in downtown Dixon. This is the only statue ever made which depicts Abraham Lincoln as a young soldier. The statue was done by Leonard Crunelle and shows Lincoln as a 23 year old volunteer in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Dedicated in 1930, the statue sits on ground which was named Fort Dixon during the war.While currently known as Dixon, Illinois, the town was named Dixon's Ferry at the time of the construction of the fort. On May 22, 1832, Fort Dixon was officially named as a base by General Henry Atkinson. Because the site was centrally located between Fort Dearborn, Fort Armstrong, and Fort Clark, General Atkinson established Fort Dixon as his command post. Additionally, the Illinois militia used the ferry to transport troops and supplies across the river. Many notable soldiers served at Fort Dixon, including Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Winfield Scott, and Zachary Taylor. Lincoln, Davis and Taylor were at the Fort at the exact same time during the Blackhawk War.