Postville, was bypassed by the railroad that was laid new, about a mile away. As was the case often in those days, having the railroad miss your town by so little, meant the town would likely wither up and die, which it did. Lincoln was asked to christen the new town, that had building lots laid out along the new track. This was in 1853; 7 years before Lincoln won the Presidency.
He must have been a bit of celebrity already, and his local friends wanted to curry favor with him, as they came up with the idea of naming the new town after him.
To Lincoln’s credit- he said: I don’t know why you would name something after Lincoln, because nothing ever amounted to much named Lincoln. He then took a pocket knife and cut a watermelon open, taking it from a wagon load nearby, using a cup to scoop out the juices, pouring it out in a christening ceremony, naming the town Lincoln.
How bout’ them apples?
Google earth goes to the historic site and the replica courthouse when I Google: Postville, Ill. I guess the historical park and replica courthouse are at the original site in old Postville?
If so, looks like Lincoln or some suburb has grown all around it.