About Preston
Exploration of the life of Preston Butler, photographer. Between 1856, the year of Preston Butler's arrival in Springfield, and Feb. 11, 1861, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln departed from Springfield, Butler took at least 8 photographs of Lincoln and at least 1 photograph of Mary, Willie and Tad Lincoln.
Also, in 1857 or 1858, Butler photographed each of the 4 sides of Springfield's public square. These photographs are the primary source of information about the appearance of the public square in Lincoln's Springfield.