Browse Items (581 total)

Ninety year old Philip Lord Kimball recounts hearing John Wilkes Booth and another man on a horse-drawn bus discuss the murder of an unnamed person. He later comes to understand that they may have been referring to a plot to assassinate President…

Ward Hill Lamon writes a cover letter to Champaign County Circuit Clerk Webber that accompanies several documents to be filed with cases to be heard in Champaign County Circuit Court. Lamon mentions that he will enter himself as security for costs in…

Abraham Lincoln on behalf of Logan and Lincoln, writes the declaration in the case of Zacheus McComas v. Edward D. Baker. Lincoln states that Baker gave McComas a promissory note for $156.50 plus interest, but failed to pay. Baker's promissory note…

Just after establishing a partnership with Stephen T. Logan, Springfield lawyer Abraham Lincoln writes Edgar County lawyer G.B. Shelledy regarding certain cases in which he is involved, and forwards the appropriate forms.

Abraham Lincoln writes to John Bennett regarding Lincoln's first bid for national office, his unsuccessful campaign for the Whig Party's nomination for the congressional seat of the 7th district of Illinois. Lincoln reveals his authorship of the…

Lincoln writes this plea on behalf of John Nichols in the case of Eli Matthews v. John Nichols specifying that certain notes cannot be settled due to the insolvency of the makers of the notes.

In response to a query regarding fees charged in the case of the estate of Marvelous Eastham, Lincoln lists fees for various legal services. He crosses through some of the amounts and enters a lower amount. He adds: "I have set down the above as…

Abraham Lincoln and several others serve as sureties to this $1000 bond to guarantee that John M. Cabaniss will faithfully discharge his duties as Constable for the Springfield District.

Congressman Abraham Lincoln writes John M. Clayton regarding Martin P. Sweet's application for a diplomatic appointment, endorsing his candidacy. John M. Clayton was the Illinois Secretary of State and Martin P. Sweet was a Whig leader from Freeport,…

Lincoln relates this humorous, somewhat rebald story, known as the Bass-ackwards Tale. It contains many underlined spoonerisms. This tale is a famous relic of the coarser side of Lincoln's humor written in his largest, clearest hand.

Mary Ann Jacobus accuses Milden and Elizabeth Kitchell of calling her a whore. Lincoln writes a plea and demurrer for the Kitchells in the case of Mary Ann Jacobus v. Milden Kitchell et ux. Tazewell County Circuit Clerk John A. Jones files the…

Milden Kitchell swore that he has known plaintiff for a considerable length of time and has not known of her having any property whatever beyond her wearing apparel. Written by Lincoln, signed by Kitchell, and endorsed by J.A. Jones, Clerk.

Mary Ann Jacobus accused the Kitchells of calling her a whore. The defendants testify that they never made a charge against the chastity of Mary Ann Jacobus or her two sisters. Lincoln makdes a copy of the decree dismissing the suit with each party…

Lincoln writes an affidavit of continuance for Moses Thorpe in Jordan Ford v. Moses Thorpe regarding "the value of a certain bull which it is claimed this affiant castrated," asserting that "said bull did not belong to said plaintiff at any time…

Lincoln makes three objections to the charge denying that the defendants obtained the money by false pretenses and moves that the indictment be quashed.

In her mortgage agreement with Abraham Lincoln, Ritta Angelica Da Sylva agrees to transfer to Lincoln a lot in Springfield if her debt to Lincoln of $125, with interest, is not paid in 4 years. On November 24, 1858, Lincoln writes along the…

Abraham Lincoln writes to his close political ally, Richard Yates, spelling out his strategy to secure an Illinois senatorial seat, in the wake of the reversal of the Missouri Compromise. Lincoln carefully tabulates the votes various candidates are…

Abraham Lincoln writes about his defeat in the contest for the Illinois Senate seat in Feb. 1855. Lincoln refers to himself as "quite convalescent," depicts Governor Matteson as the cause of his difficulties, and analyzes the ups and downs of the…

As Philip Leonard's attorney, Lincoln gives legal notice that he intends to prove that George W. Taylor is indebted to Leonard for $389.50 in clothing, room and board.

Abraham Lincoln writes a promissory note which William S. Viney signs promising to pay Maria L. Bullock eightyone dollars with interest within the next two years. Viney, a resident of Henry County, Iowa, purchased three lots from Bullock. This is one…

Abraham Lincoln completes a mortgage deed on Maria Bullock's property. The sale of the land amounted to $180, with $18 paid in cash and remainder in to be paid in two annual installments at interest of 6%/annum. Viney makes the first payment for…

Abrham Lincoln completes a promissory note on behalf of Isaac Lindsay who signs the note promising to pay Lincoln $600 at 10% annual interest. On the reverse side of the note is a detailed record of Lindsay's repayment of the debt which began prior…

Lincoln offers his legal advice in the case of Mrs. Mary Fahnestock, a relative of Lincoln's by marriage, who died intestate after the death of her father. Lincoln gives advice as to how lands Fahnestock owned in Iowa should be handled.

Abraham Lincoln appeals to his friend Jesse K. Dubois for frank information concerning the situation with certain stocks held by a bank. Since the stocks have depreciated, Lincoln tells Dubois that it is his responsibility to have the banks deposit…

Lincoln's colleague John Olney asks him to evaluate the likelihood of a favorable result to a legal case Olney is considering. Olney, a partner in the law firm of Olney & McAtee in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, is active in Republican…