C.H. Moore Homestead & DeWitt County Museum

10/08/2026

It has been a year-long celebration commemorating 250 years of American history here at the museum! Once more, we would like to recognize and thank the "America 250 at the Homestead: Celebrating 250 Years of American History" sponsors who made it possible for the DeWitt County Museum Association to offer a variety of special events all year long. Looking back, the milestone year has been memorable and served to bring people together in the spirit of celebration and appreciation of our past. Looking forward, there will be more to come this fall and winter. We at the museum, and the local community, and the visitors who have attended these events from across Illinois, all sincerely thank the following for their support in making this a memorable year at the museum:
Lance Schmid Auctions
Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm
Hammer Law
Clinton Save A Lot
Gale & Karen Goble
DeWitt County Farm Bureau
Calvert Funeral Homes
Moore & Warner Ag Group/Moore & Warner Farm Real Estate
Ken May – May Farm est. 1855
Beta Sigma Phi
Sugg Enterprises
Clinton Lake Vacation Rentals
Helen N. Wilson
Dewitt Savings Bank
Clinton Auto Auction
The Ted & Ruth Lowers Family
Clinton Family Dental
Toohill Seed & Beef
The George & Angela Williams Family
Floyd & Associates CPA’s
First State Bank & Trust
Douglas Dodge
Ann Belangee
Thomas & Dee Dougherty
EMC Photography
Steve & Nancy Stokowski
Guy C. Fraker of Lincoln’s Ladder
Heartland Bank & Trust
Kirby Foods - Clinton IL
Phillip & Ann Rybolt
Patrick Peterson of Three Ravens Graphics
Pandemonium Studios
Millan/Petro McDonald’s Organization
Anonymous Donor
Ted's Garage

10/07/2026

A great interview with WHOW / WEZC / DewittDailyNews.com...Listen in to hear how every gingerbread cookie made and sold during the Apple 'n Pork Festival by the ladies of Waynesville contributes to thier good work!

The Waynesville Women’s Club was showing off that the impact of the Apple N’ Pork Festival spread far beyond the Clinton city limits. The line was long all weekend, according to Patti Klemm. She told the Hart Media Group that it’s not about the club, […]

10/06/2026

We will be celebrating "Halloween at the Homestead"... The DeWitt County Museum Association Board of Directors invites the community to celebrate the season at “Halloween at the Homestead” on Sunday, October 25, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum, located at 219 E. Woodlawn Street in Clinton.
The museum's 19th century carriage barn will be transformed with festive Halloween decorations, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for visitors of all ages. Guests can enjoy complimentray apple c***r and refreshments, along with plenty of treats for children.
This free event is open to everyone, including youngsters, families, and adults. Costumes are encouraged, but guests may also “come as you are.”
For more information about this or any of our other “America 250 at the Homestead” events taking place each month throughout this milestone year, call 217-935-6066, visit chmoorehomestead.org, or find us on Facebook at C.H. Moore Homestead & DeWitt County Museum.

10/04/2026

Did you know? Abraham Lincoln first met Geo. B. McClellan here in Clinton, Illinois, and the circumstances of that first meeting here makes this meme all the funnier. All were gathered at the courthouse for a case, but things were delayed due to McClellan's tardiness. Someone present in the courtroom asked Lincoln who McClellan was. Lincoln replied that all he knew about the man was that he was late (not a great first impression). Years later, during the Civil War years, Lincoln continued to be annoyed by McClellan's procrastination. One of Clinton's Looking For Lincoln wayside exhibits tells the tale:
"Abraham Lincoln first met George B. McClellan in a small, rustic DeWitt County courtroom. At the time, Lincoln, a prairie lawyer, was representing the Illinois Central Railroad. McClellan was an Illinois Central Railroad executive called to testify on the company’s behalf. Waiting for McClellan to arrive, someone in the courtroom asked who he was, to which Lincoln replied that he only knew McClellan to be an Illinois Central Railroad officer. As political upheaval and war clouds loomed on the horizon, Lincoln and McClellan’s paths crossed once more. Lincoln was elected President of the United States, and McClellan rose to be Union General-in-Chief. It began as a favorable arrangement, but ultimately failed. Greatly dissatisfied with McClellan’s procrastination and sluggish military tactics, Lincoln removed him from command. During the following Presidential race of 1864, McClellan ran against Lincoln as the Democratic Party Presidential nominee."

Sometimes just couldn't resist a wisecrack about Gen. George McClellan's infuriating hesitation to pursue Confederate forces.

10/03/2026

A Call for Memories of the Forgotten Years…Please Help Us Preserve the Full Story of the C. H. Moore Homestead…..
The historic house that now is the centerpiece of the C.H. Moore Homestead & DeWitt County Museum has been home to many lives, families, and stories since its construction in the 1870s. Its earliest residents, John and Minerva Bishop, were followed by Clifton H. Moore and his wife, Rose. When Moore passed away in 1901, his vast estate, including the house, entered a trust overseen by his son in law, Vespasian Warner. Rose continued to live here until her death in 1907.
Moore’s only surviving child, Arthur, died the same year as his father. Arthur and his wife, Nellie, had no children, and after his passing, Nellie lived in the Moore house for a time alongside Rose. After Rose’s death in 1907, the house welcomed a variety of residents including Vespasian Warner and his new wife, Minnie, while they awaited the completion of their own new home; a Confederate veteran whose stay was granted as a favor for a kindness shown to one of Warner’s Harvard classmates during the Civil War…even a female canvasser (at a time when women were not yet granted the right to vote) who was likely connected to Warner’s political work.
In the years that followed, the Homestead transitioned into a rental property; providing additional income for the Moore Trust. Thus, over a span of decades, numerous individuals and families lived within these walls, each adding their own chapter to the story of this remarkable house.
Today, when we think of the Homestead’s history, we often focus on its 19th century origins and Moore’s time here. But this house has lived many lives since then. I would like to preserve the entire story - not just the earliest chapters. I would like to fill in the “gap years” before they are forever lost to time.
If you, your relatives, or your friends ever lived in this house, visited it, worked here, or have stories passed down through your family, we would love to hear from you. We are also seeking recollections from the years when the house stood vacant, fell into disrepair, and the efforts that eventually transformed it into the museum we cherish today.
No memory is too small – even just a few lines of information may be helpful in trying to piece together the timeline and will be greatly appreciated. A single moment, a brief anecdote, or a little detail can help us compile a more complete history for future generations. Of course, we welcome the longer versions as well. We also ask that you state the year or era of which you are recalling. It will help us with sorting out the timeline.
To share your stories, please send your recollections (long or short) to:
Joey Long
DeWitt County Museum
219 E. Woodlawn
Clinton, IL 61727
or send an email to [email protected] and include your name (to be recorded for the historical record), address (so we can send you a thank you), and phone number (in case we seek clarification regarding your submission).
Your memories will help us preserve the history of this landmark and remember all who once called this house their “home.”

10/03/2026

Mr. Moore's Yost Book Cases...
Among the furnishings that most often catch the eyes of visitors and spark astonishment followed by curiosity, questions, and conversation are C.H. Moore’s "Yost Consolidated Revolving Circular Book Cases." The innovation – even today, more than a century after the patent was applied for – is quite impressive. One can not help but marvel at the functional aspects of compactness and convenience as well as the beauty and quality of the “cyndrical” bookcases.
Invented by W.L. Yost of Wyethville, Virginia, the unusual, but very cleverly designed bookcases allow for the storage of a large number of books in comparatively less space than traditional bookshelves or cases require. The cases have a circular form and store books in multiple ringed layers, from the inside out. The inner and outer shelves spin independently (like a lazy Susan), in either direction, making it easy to locate and remove the book desired.
A ca. 1894 Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of the Yost Consolidated Revolving Circular Book Cases proclaimed, “earnest effort and thought during twenty year’s law career to meet recognized objections to existing models of book storage have been rewarded by the invention of a case which, it is admitted, answers every want and requirement in every place and condition, incomparable in perfection, and absolutely beyond every criticism, whether considered with reference to library, professional or family use.”
Considering Moore owned thousands of books (at one point, his library was said to have been the largest private library in the state of Illinois outside of Chicago), and it seems he appreciated novelty items such as his Wooten-style desk and his microscope, one can certainly understand why these attractive yet utilitarian furnishings would appeal to Moore. The Yost bookcases allowed Moore to store more books in less space…and additional areas to house Moore’s thousands of books was certainly needed in Moore’s spacious, two-story library. The larger of Mr. Moore’s two Yost bookcases can hold 400-450 volumes, while the smaller has a capacity of 250.
Both of Moore’s bookcases display an engraved brass patent tag which provides the following information:
PAT’D BY W.L. YOST, DEC. 27-1892
PATENTS APPLIED FOR
THE YOST REVOLVING CIRCULAR CASE Co.
MFRS. CHICAGO U.S.A.
W.L. Yost was, indeed, the inventor and president of the Yost Circular Case Company, however, by April of 1896, Yost had passed away and his heirs had to hire an attorney as it was reported the patent rights “were being subjected to infringement and seizure, together with the machinery of the Yost Circular Case Company, by certain parties in Chicago.” In January of 1898, a Lynchburg, Virginia, newspaper reported, “These patent rights are now free…[the attorney hired by Yost’s heirs and represented the owners of the patent rights, one of whom was the attorney himself]…is in correspondence with several manufacturers throughout the country and will soon start to manufacture the cases again. It is most probable that the privileges will be given to a Virginia company.”
Tradition has it that the two Yost cases in Moore’s library were utilized in that room by Mr. Moore. At some point in time, the cases made their way to the Vespasian Warner Public Library in Clinton. The vast majority of Mr. Moore’s books (at Moore’s request) were also placed in the public library building which was paid for by Moore’s son-in-law and executor of Moore’s trust, Vespasian Warner. In the 1990’s, the cases were returned to Moore’s former residence and placed in Mr. Moore’s library where they can be seen today.

10/02/2026

Sharing this event which will be hosted by our friends at the DeWitt County Genealogical Society...

Join us on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 4:00pm - Mike Sypult will be back presenting "The Illinois Central's Green Diamond Comes To Clinton" at the Vespasian Warner Public Library, 310 Quincy Street, Clinton, Illinois.

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Amid the dark grip of the Great Depression, a shimmering vision of the future rolled onto America’s tracks: the railroad streamliner.

As early as 1932, the Pullman Car Manufacturing Corporation approached the Illinois Central with a radical proposal: a lightweight, four-car articulated diesel train designed to revolutionize travel between Chicago and St. Louis. By 1936, that bold dream became a reality with the debut of the "Green Diamond."

Slicing through the Midwestern heartland in under five hours, this futuristic marvel was the pinnacle of mid-century luxury. Passengers were treated to unprecedented comforts, including:

Full climate-controlled air conditioning to escape the summer heat
Sound-dampening panoramic windows for a quiet, scenic voyage
Plush, adjustable reclining seats built for long-distance relaxation
Centralized onboard radio speakers and gourmet, fresh-cooked meals

More than just a train, it was a symbol of American resilience and industrial innovation. This is the definitive story of Illinois Central's legendary Chicago-to-St. Louis service—a dramatic journey spanning from 1870 to 1968.

09/30/2026

A Sincere Note of Gratitude...
The C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum would like to thank those who attended the 58th Annual Apple ‘n Pork Festival; those who provided monetary sponsorships and grants for the event; and all who contributed their time, talents, and skills to make this year’s festival a success.
The modest museum fundraiser which was established by the DeWitt County Museum Association to make possible the restoration and operation of the C.H. Moore Homestead was based around a kettle of soup and a stack of sandwiches served on the museum’s front lawn. More than 50 years later, the Apple ‘n Pork Festival has evolved into one of Central Illinois’ largest, longest running, and best-attended fall festivals. The evolution is astounding.
However, throughout the years, much has remained the same. The event continues to be a celebration of autumn’s arrival, a tribute to our local heritage and agricultural roots, a source of community pride as we all combine our efforts to uphold this annual tradition, proceeds continue to allow the C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum to operate, and, above all, we still rely on and appreciate the volunteers who help make the Apple ‘n Pork Festival an annual success.
We look forward to welcoming you all back next year!