Prairie Fire brings Lincoln to life in Funks Grove

A. Lincoln portrayed by Joseph Woodard of Hazel Dell rides the circuit with other "lawyers" Wednesday morning at the Funks Grove Chapel for the 2009 series of WILL-TV's Prairie Fire. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) (October, 17, 2007)

Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:24 PM CDT

By Bob Holliday
bholliday@pantagraph.com

FUNKS GROVE -- Director Tim Hartin surveyed his cast at the chapel at Funks Grove and said, “Stand by. Roll tape. Action.” A young Abraham Lincoln, top hat accentuating his already tall frame, rode into view. All eyes turned to the actor, who raised his hand and said, “Howdy.” | Photo gallery

Before he was elected the country’s 16th president, the country lawyer rode the Eighth Judicial Circuit throughout Central Illinois, and “was a real fixture in these communities,” said Alison Davis Wood, who is producing a documentary series about Lincoln for WILL-TV, the public television station based in Champaign.

Some of the series, expected to air in early 2009 as part of the Prairie Fire series, was shot last week at Funks Grove and this week in Decatur and New Salem.

Joe Woodard came all the way from Hazel Dell to play Lincoln. The history buff has been playing Lincoln for more than a decade.

“I admire the way he kept on learning his whole life,” said Woodard. He said Lincoln continued to educate himself by reading about military science after he became president.

And, while every school kid knows that Lincoln was self taught, stories about him being a simple country lawyer representing the helpless are largely myth.

The truth? Lincoln represented the well-to-do and influential as well as the downtrodden. The documentary will help establish that through interviews with Lincoln experts.

McLean County lawyer Guy Fraker, who has written about Lincoln, is among those experts.

“The story as a whole will be about the Eighth Circuit influence on Lincoln’s growth and development,” Fraker said. “His understanding of human nature and his ability as a listener was honed by that experience.”

At Funks Grove, actors milled about waiting their turn to be filmed. Scenes included Lincoln coming by horseback into town and the interaction of residents near the courthouse.

Carolyn Erwin of Normal was among those dressed in 1850s garb.

“I thought it would be interesting to see how they do a film,” said Erwin, who was among volunteer actors connected to Bloomington’s David Davis Mansion State Historic Site. Lincoln was a contemporary of Davis, a local judge.

Erwin wore a dress that stretched to the ground, white gloves and hat. She was having fun, but noted acting involves a lot of “hurry up and wait.”

Jordan Kaye of rural Pesotum was dressed for the period as well. His role was to sit on the steps of the courthouse (the chapel at Funks Grove) and play banjo.

“When Lincoln came to town, it was a real big deal,” said Kaye, who got involved after working with director Hartin on another project.

The movie set was brand new for 11-year-old Lena vanMeeteren of Shirley.

Besides the excitement of dressing up in old-fashioned clothes, Lena got out of school and was able to rub elbows with the actor who played David Davis

“I’m told that I’m the spitting image of him,” said a heavyset Rod Warfield of Philo.

The series is financed by a $40,000 grant from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is preparing for Lincoln’s 200th birthday in February 2009.

Hartin said the Funks Grove area was a good place to shoot because its rural nature is reflective of the 1850s.

“There aren’t a lot of parking lots,” he said.