The Carman and Roll families had many connections with Abraham Lincoln starting from 1831 when Lincoln moved to Sanagamon County, Illinois.

Lincoln and a friend were hired to haul a load of merchandise from Springfield, Illinois to New Orleans. The goods were to be shipped by river. The route would be from Sangamo Town, on the Sangamon River seven miles west of Springfield, to the Illinois River at Beardstown, Illinois to the Mississippi River to New Orleans.

Sangamo Town is where the Carman family settled when it moved to Illinois. The Roll family also settled there and on some land across the river from the town. The families' connections with Lincoln started here in 1831 and continued through the remainder of Lincoln's life.

Jacob Carman was the postmaster at Sangamo Town and the loft of his house was a tavern where Lincoln sometimes ate. Lincoln saved Jacob's son, Waters, from drowning. Jacob's daughter, Rachel, hired Lincoln when she needed to get a divorce. Caleb Carman (1803-1888) lived with Lincoln when they both moved to New Salem. Pierson Roll knew Lincoln well enough to write to him to ask for a presidential pardon for his son-in-law. John Eddy Roll (1814-1901) helped Lincoln build the flat boat and was a lifelong friend and neighbor in Springfield.

Lincoln Visits Sangamo Town

Abe Saves Waters Carman

Abe Canes A Chair

Lincoln's Client Gets A Divorce

President Lincoln Grants A Favor To A Friend