Editor’s note

On page 19 is the touching story of the death of Elmer Ellsworth, a friend of Abraham Lincoln and of Springfield, who was killed just as the Civil War began. The article is by Tara McClellan McAndrew, who has written for Illinois Times for the past 15 years and whose history column appears once a month. An archive of her columns is available at illinoistimes.com. Tara recently was honored by the Illinois State Historical Society with its “Superior Achievement” award for her “widely read and respected” column which one nominator called “well researched, well written, and well read.” At the April ceremony in East Peoria, ISHS executive director William Furry commended Tara and other award recipients for their efforts to “articulate the Prairie State narrative. . . and to give meaning and depth to the Illinois experience.” In addition to being an award-winning columnist, Tara is a playwright with two shows in production this summer. The Lighter Side of Springfield History will be performed at the Hoogland July 20-22 and 27-29, and Prairie Dreams: The Story of Clayville and Its People at Clayville Sept. 2, 8 and 9. IT is proud of you, Tara. –Fletcher Farrar, editor

Cover illustration is by Chris Britt.