I doubt very much that most of my audience is familiar with Elijah Lovejoy. Outside of Illinois, many people have never heard of him. Even here in the Midwest, his name is often only briefly mentioned in history books. Yet in 1837, Elija Lovejoy was one of the most controversial men in America.
So, who was he?
He was a Presbyterian minister, a newspaper editor, and a man whose deep Christian faith shaped everything he did. He believed slavery was morally wrong, and he believed the freedom of the press was worth defending–even when it became dangerous to do so. His editorials angered powerful people. His printing presses were destroyed more than once. He received threats, and friends urged him to leave. Instead, he continued to publish what he believed to be the truth.
As I researched the people who surrounded Abraham Lincoln in his early years in Illinois, I found myself intrigued by Lovejoy’s story. Here was a man whose courage influenced the national conversation about freedom, yet today he is remembered far less than many of his contemporaries. I couldn’t believe, as much as I had studied history that I had never heard of him.
That is one of the reasons I chose to write Lincoln Seeks Justice for Elijah Lovejoy. I didn’t want to change his story or the outcome, but I wanted reader to meet not only Abrahm Lincoln, but also the remarkable men and woman whose convictions helped shape the America Lincoln would later lead.
History has a way of overlooking extraordinary people. Sometimes all they need is someone willing to tell their story again.
Current Projects
- My Book: continuing revisions of my novel.
- Edward Bryant: Continuing to preserve and republish the stories of my late friend Edward Bryant.
Thanks for walking alongside me.
The View From The Imaginarium 