After moving to Springfield, Abraham Lincoln visited the Petersburg area and stayed overnight at the Menard House. While riding the Judicial Circuit, he traveled from court to court and often slept at local hotels or taverns. At the Menard County Courthouse and the Menard House across the street, lawyers, politicians, and local citizens gathered after a day of platform speeches to continue their spirited exchanges, and the Menard House became known as "the Great Equalizer" because all parties could voice their opinions there. Lincoln was remembered for original stories that could "make a cat laugh," and evenings at the old hostelry with Lincoln, Engle, and other talent were recalled for their many "good Ones." The Menard House, built around 1845 as a hotel, barbershop, and bathhouse across from the courthouse, was first built by John Bennett and later sold to hotel manager Isaac White, a close friend of Lincoln who had helped survey Petersburg in 1835 and 1836. After the death of his wife Sarah, White sold the Menard House and built a new home at 521 West Jackson Street, which as of 2008 was still in the Isaac White family. The Menard House was torn down in 1919. Edward Laning, grandson of Senator Edward Laning, later recalled that at age 12 the future senator would sneak into the Menard House, sometimes to be chased away because Lincoln was there telling stories. Ed Laning came to Petersburg around 1836, later married Bertha White after his wife died in 1897, and went on to serve in the State Legislature in 1868 and the State Senate in 1870. Isaac White, born in Ithaca, New York, in 1819, married and settled in Chandlerville, drove cattle to California in 1849 and returned with $6,000 in gold, then came to Petersburg and entered business on the west side of the square.