The Fern Watson Library is located next door to the office. It is named for the long-ti
me society member who left funds to establish the first museum located in the old train depot east of town. She was the daughter of Doctor Watson who, as a pre-teenager, sat on Abraham Lincoln's lap on the stagecoach ride from Ashley to Mount Vernon. The stage was full of Abe's associates as they headed for the all-important Illinois vs Illinois Central Railroad trial at the then-new Supreme Court Building. Young Watson was so inspired by Abe's many tales that he never forgot the adventure and the story made its way into the history books.
The library is home to the documented history of the society, the Prairie Historian publications, and many other one-of-a-kind Jefferson County, Illinois records.
A recent add
ition to the library shelves is the set of sixteen binders containing records, by township, of the 142 one-room schools that were the centers of primary education a century ago. The binders contain much historical information and document some of the efforts of a county-wide program led by society members Larry Periman and Sharon Nichols to erect a sign at each original school building location.