Front:
Hill-McNamar (McNeil) Store, New Salem Staie Patk, Lincoln's New Salem, I.
Back:
6 B1 6 3-N
HII L-MCNAMAR STORE
Samuel Hill erected New Salem's first store
in 1829. He conducted the enterprise with
John McNamar (who at that time assumed the
name McNeil) until 1832 but from that time
on he operated the store alone. In 1839 he
moved to Petersburg. Hill was appointed
Postmaster on Christmas Day, 1829, conse-
quently this became New Salem's first post
office. Later, Abraham Lincoln served the
latter portion of his postmastership here, while
clerking for Hill. This was the village's only
store after the failures of Offut, Trent Brothers
and Berry and Lincoln. Its stock was very
complete and was one of Hill's several pros-
perous enterprises. The structure was moved
to Petersburg and re-erected there in 1839.
Historic New Salem State Park is located
near Petersburg on Highways 97 and 123
about 17 miles northwest of Springfield, Illinois.
IRA E. OWEN, THE WAGON WHEEL INN, PETERSBURG, ILL.
