Anderson Holman and his family developed Springfield properties to provide affordable housing for people of modest means.
A Springfield native, Wilson attended West Point, graduating in 1904. In 1909, during the Philippine-American War, he displayed great bravery during fighting on Jolo Island, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Charles Lockhart moved to Springfield in 1921. His career with the Springfield Fire Department began in 1929, retiring in 1966 as deputy fire chief.
Eva Carroll Monroe dedicated her career to helping African American children in need, first working as a probation officer for the juvenile court, then founding and operating the Lincoln Colored Home in Springfield.
Frank Lloyd Wright created inspiring organic architectural designs in harmony with humanity and the environment.
Remembered as a lifelong humanitarian who helped all in need, he used his connections to participate in the underground railroad that assisted escaping slaves make their way to freedom.
Jameson Jenkins was born in North Carolina sometime around 1810. Presumably upon his arrival in Springfield, Jenkins filed his Certificate of Freedom papers with the Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds, on March 28, 1846.
McClernand formed a relationship with political opponent Abraham Lincoln. Republican President Lincoln appointed Democrat McClernand to important commands during the Civil War, where he served with Ulysses S. Grant.
Jones was a self-educated man who used his education to go after the Illinois black laws, a set of discriminatory laws that made living in the state as an African American incredibly difficult.
Born a slave in Arkansas, Martin came to Springfield, where he joined a segregated black regiment in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, Broadwell joined the Continental Army during the Revolution in 1780 at age 16. He served with the regiment through the rest of its service during the war.
Susan Lawrence Dana collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright to design a home in which she could advance her ideas about education and democracy.
In 1844 Herndon became Abraham Lincoln's third and final law partner. On a few occasions during the 1850s he represented alleged fugitive slaves as they fought legal efforts to enslave them.
William K. Donnegan was one of the more known Underground Railroad conductors in Springfield. He moved to the city in 1845 and worked as a shoemaker on Adams St. where he even made shoes for Abraham Lincoln.