S. M. Willson to Richard Yates

State of Illinois

War Claim & Pension Office

of Willson and Merriam.

48 Clark Street.

Chicago March 19th 1862

Dear Governor

A very smart, ambitious young gentleman by the name of Samuel E Gross desires me to intercede with you for a reccommendation to President Lincoln to be appointed a cadet at West Point.

I take much interest in the boy as he is unusually smart and patriotic, so much so, that he ran away to St Louis and enlisted. You will remember that I went down and brought him home. His father is a plain honest farmer residing at Mt Carroll in this state and for my part I want to see the farmers boys have a chance in all our schools and not have all the good offices and appointments filled by silk stocking gentry.

If you can consistently reccommend the young man to the President I shall esteem it a personal favor.

Yours sincerely, S. M. Willson

Hon S. M. Wilson

Chicago Mch 18

Asking letter of recomn for Sam. E. Gross to go to West Point.

Write letter requested

wrote