Abraham Lincoln and the Eighth Judicial Circuit

[Eva Elisabeth]

I, too, read that it was because of the distances (but haven't yet checked where). However, I was curious why he was the only one whom that concerned, but Springfield is definitely the least central place of the circuit.
According to this site:
http://mrlincolnandfriends.org/judicial/index.asp
"As organized in 1839, the Circuit included Champaign, Dewitt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon and Tazewell. Three years later, Christian, Logan, Shelby and Woodford Counties were added. In 1853 State's judicial circuits were realigned. The new Eighth Circuit was limited to Sangamon, Logan, McLean, Woodford, Tazewell, DeWitt, Champaign, and Vermilion."
   
(The map on the link is better to read, but it's interactive and doesn't download the names.)
I recall reading it was also to safe money, but travelling by horse should have been for free?!