5 TH Ee ACU 2DsUeB sO ONT BeUe ls iiss ie 
in the State House. During daylight hours he had the freedom of the beautiful 
surrounding park. Visitors by the thousands came to view the famous bird. 
Even as a retired veteran, Old Abe was still active. His presence at fund- 
raising drives for veteran organizations always caused spectacular success. 
One night in February 1881, a fire broke out in the Capitol building 
close to Old Abe’s quarters. Before the bird was rescued, he had inhaled great 
quantities of noxious fumes and gases. His health was so greatly affected by 
this experience that he died on March 28, 1881. His body was preserved by 
a taxidermist, but that too was destroyed a few years later by another fire in 
the State Capitol. 
Volumes have been written about Oid Abe, as is attested by the size of 
a file in the archives of the State Historical Society. In the Wisconsin Capitol 
Memorial Hall, there is a replica of him, as well as a handsome painting done 
from life by James A. Stewart. 
However, Peorians do not have to journey to Madison, Wisconsin, to see 
a replica of the famous bird, for he is immortalized in our midst. Few persons 
now realize that the beautiful bronze eagle, poised for flight, atop the shaft 
of the Soldier’s Monument in the Court House plaza in downtown Peoria, is 
Old Abe. 
This elegant monument in honor of the Civil War dead was a gift to the 
city by the women of Peoria. Old Abe was guest of honor at the dedication, 
and his guard of honor was the surviving members of the 47th Illinois In- 
fantry, one of the units of the brigade to which Old Abe’s Eighth belonged. 
Members of The Illinois Audubon Society, visiting Peoria for their An- 
nual Meeting on May 18-14-15, should make it a point to go past the Soldier’s 
Monument and observe the great bronze eagle atop the pylon. Here is our 
link with the stirring events of a century ago. 
Acknowledgements—the help of Miss Doris Friedman, Eau Claire Puble 
Library, Miss Eunice Tjaden, Peoria Public Library, and Dr. C. D. Evans 
is gratefully acknowledged. 
REFERENCES 
Birds, Vol. II, July, 1897. 
Peoria Journal Star, June 21, 1925. 
St. Nicholas, February, 1935. 
Audubon Magazine, July-August, 1963. 
American Heritage, October, 1963. 
1344 East Hillcrest Place, Peoria, Illinois 
ii a fi fl 
EMPHASIS ON EXTENSION 
By Mrs. Kenneth V. Fiske 
Attention, Affiliate Officers: Is your membership increasing as you’d like? Are 
you reaching the people you should? How is attendance at your programs and 
field trips? What projects does your club undertake? Do individual members 
show the initiative and enthusiasm that marks an outstandingly successful 
group? 
