Power Farmstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Power Farmstead
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Driveway to the farm
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Cantrall, Illinois |
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| Area | 98 acres (40 ha) |
| Built | 1829 |
| Built by | Crawford, William |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000341 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1989 |
The Power Farmstead is a historic farm located near Cantrall, Illinois. It was started in the 1820s by George Power, an important early settler in Sangamon County, Illinois. This farm is special because it still has many buildings that show what farm life was like in the 1800s.
Did you know the first farmhouse here was also a courthouse? George Power was a justice of the peace for 20 years. This meant he helped solve legal problems in the area. Even Abraham Lincoln argued his very first court case in this farmhouse! The Power Farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1989.
Contents
Exploring the Power Farmstead
The Power Farmstead has many interesting buildings. There are thirteen buildings in total. Eleven of these are considered "contributing buildings." This means they are old and important to the farm's history. There are also five other important historical features on the property.
The Oldest Buildings
The very first farmhouse was built in 1829. It was the first wooden house in Sangamon County north of the Sangamon River. This building also served as George Power's local courthouse.
Around 1840-1850, a new main farmhouse was built. It had a separate kitchen. This farmhouse is still the main building on the farm today. The oldest non-house building is a wooden stable from 1845.
Other Farm Buildings
You can also find other large buildings from the 1800s. These include the main barn, a caretaker's cottage, and a scales house. Smaller but important buildings are also there. These include a wood house, a smoke house, and an ice house. There's also a gas generator house, a privy (an old outdoor toilet), a pergola, and a corn crib. A family cemetery is located near the main farmhouse.
A Look Back: The Farm's Story
George Power came from Kentucky. He moved to Sangamon County in 1821. He settled on the land where the farm is now. He first lived in a temporary log cabin. George Power was one of the first people to settle in the county. This allowed him to buy a lot of land. His farm became one of the biggest in the area.
George Power and the Law
George Power was also very important in the local justice system. He worked as Sangamon County's justice of the peace from 1828 to 1847. A justice of the peace was like a local judge. They handled many legal cases.
When the first farmhouse was finished in 1829, it became Power's courthouse. Back then, bigger courts only met twice a year. So, George Power heard hundreds of important cases in his farmhouse. One of these cases was the very first one argued by Abraham Lincoln.
The Farm Today
George Power passed away in 1886. His son, James, then took over the farm. The Power Farmstead is still owned by the Power family today. It continues to be a special place that shows us about early American farm life and history.
