Lincoln Highway Marker Reported Stolen Near Franklin Grove

FRANKLIN GROVE  — A concrete Lincoln Highway marker reported missing east of Franklin Grove has been officially reported as stolen through the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The marker was located between Track Road and Hoosier Road, and an investigation allegedly found tire tracks from what appeared to be heavy equipment near the site. There was no evidence the marker had been broken, indicating it may have been pulled directly from the ground. The marker is distinctive because a former Boy Scout representative repainted its red, white and blue colors. Residents are asked to watch online auction sites, including eBay, for the marker. The concrete markers were placed across the country by Boy Scout troops in 1928, as part of a project by the original Lincoln Highway Association to mark the route in memory of Abraham Lincoln. Three restored markers remain between Ashton and Franklin Grove along Illinois Route 38.