Museum to display Lincoln's law-office clock

SPRINGFIELD— A clock that kept time for Abraham Lincoln in his law office is going on display as “the artifact of the month” in December at Springfield's Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Museum officials say the clock still keeps accurate time even though a mouse hole is chewed in the back. Lincoln and partner William Herndon ordered it for their law office from a factory in New Haven, Conn., in about 1850.

Curator James Cornelius says one of the partners had to wind the clock daily. In doing so, he rubbed a knuckle along the side of the door-case and there's a visible pattern of wear on that spot.

Each month, a different notable artifact from the recently acquired Taper Collection is featured. The clock is on display through Dec. 31.