litis mmfi mmmmmmmi :■: ■ : :- : :: ■■■■■■ THE PERSONAL FINANCES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN HARRY E. PRAT1 4d [#*<*** 421 -vT - •*■; u.bcxxxo5£xj J^XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXI iXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXj Ixxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ^xxxxxxxxxxxVxxxxxxxj *XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXj 6 -5 c "as a O 22 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln coin. All the pay roll sheets are not available, but enough have been found to determine what part of Lincoln's total receipts as a legislator was for salary and what part for traveling expense. In his first session, the House met from December 1, 1834 to Feb- ruary 13, 1835, a total of sixty-four days. Lincoln received $225 salary for seventy-five days, which included pay for ten Sundays and Christmas day when the House did not meet. The distance from New Salem to Vandalia was 1 10 miles, which en- titled him to mileage for 220 miles at $3.00 for each twenty miles, a total of $33. It was the custom of the legislators to vote themselves a partial salary payment of $100 a few days before Christmas. On De- cember 19, 1834, Lincoln received his first legislative pay in four war- rants of $50, $20, $20 and $10. This was the only time during his four terms that he drew his salary in small warrants. Part of this money may have been sent to Coleman Smoot, a farmer living near New Salem who had lent him $200 to pay some debts, buy a new suit, and attend the legislature. 30 In the Tenth General Assembly, Lincoln was the longest of the "Long Nine"— Sangamon County's delegation of seven representatives and two senators whose combined height exceeded fifty-four feet. The first session, at which the ill-fated Internal Improvement System was adopted and the state capital removed from Vandalia to Springfield, ex- tended from December 5, 1836, to March 6, 1837. On December 24, 1836, each member of the Long Nine drew $100. At the close of the session they received warrants as follows: Dan Stone and Archer G. Herndon, each $300; Ninian W. Edwards and Andrew McCormick, each $302; Job Fletcher $304; John Dawson and William F. Elkin, each $308; and Robert L. Wilson and Lincoln, each $312. Stephen A. Douglas, representing Morgan County, received $308 for this session, the only one of which he was a member. Governor Duncan called the Tenth General Assembly to meet in 30 Reep, New Salem, 73. Lincoln's Financial Start in Life 23 special session on July 10, 1837 to legalize the suspension of specie pay- ments by the State Bank, and thus prevent the forfeiture of its charter. The session lasted thirteen days and each of the members of the House received $4.00 a day salary, a total of $52. Lincoln had been a resident of Springfield since April, but he received mileage for 220 miles, the same amount which he had drawn at the three previous sessions while he was a resident of New Salem. He thus received $10.00 more than the other Springfield members, who turned in only 170 miles. His war- rant for $96, dated July 22, 1837, * s indorsed on the back. His first nine warrants were not indorsed, but the last seven were all signed "A. Lincoln." Though the appropriation bills passed at each session of which Lin- coln was a member specifically stated that members were to be paid only for days in attendance, all received pay for each and every day the House was in session, and also for every Sunday and every Christmas day. It is impossible to tell from the House Journal just how many days Lincoln was in attendance, because on several days in each session no roll call was taken, and there is no mention of his name in connection with other proceedings. In general the roll calls show that he attended with great regularity. He is known to have been absent during January 13-16, 1841, because of illness following the "fatal 1st of January," when he broke his engagement with Mary Todd. Nevertheless he drew his salary for these days. At the opening of the Eleventh and Twelfth Assemblies, Lincoln was the Whig candidate for Speaker of the House. Had he been elected he would have received $7.00 a day salary and $6.00 for each twenty miles traveled. At the close of the first session of the Eleventh General Assembly, he drew his own warrant for $302, and that of Ninian W. Edwards and Archer G. Herndon. This was a common practice at the end of the session and indicates that many of the members did not wait for the closing day, which was generally on Monday. The second session of the Eleventh Assembly, which opened on 24 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln December 9, 1839, was the first to meet in Springfield. Lincoln received no money for traveling expenses at this session or for the two sessions of the Twelfth Assembly. 31 As a member of the General Assembly Lincoln received sixteen warrants totalling $1,950. Of this amount, $1,762 represented salary; the remainder was mileage. There is no reason whatever for thinking that Lincoln sought election to the legislature because of the salary at- tached to the office, but for at least the first years of his service, that salary must have been a welcome addition to his slender means. ^Photos of Lincoln's sixteen warrants are in the files of the A. L. Association. See Appendix for details of Lincoln's legislative income. II Income From the Law / have news from Ottawa that we win our Gallatin and Saline county case. As the Dutch justice said when he mar- ried folks, "Now vere ish my hundred tollarsV Lincoln to Andrew McCallan, July 4, 1851. The matter of fees is important," wrote Lincoln, "far beyond the mere question of bread and butter involved. Properly attended to, fuller justice is done to both lawyer and client. An exorbitant fee should never be claimed. As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid be- forehand, you are more than a common mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case, as if something were still in prospect for you, as well as for your client. And when you lack interest in the case the job will very likely lack skill and diligence in the performance. Settle the amount of fee and take a note in advance. Then you will feel that you are working for something, and you are sure to do your work faithfully and well. Never sell a fee note— at least not before the consideration service is performed. It leads to negligence by losing interest in the case, and dishonesty in refusing to refund when you have allowed the con- sideration to fail." 1 In a study of the fees received by Lincoln as a lawyer, one should remember that wealth was not the goal of his ambition. He was frank to admit that he knew nothing about money, saying that he never had enough of it to fret him. 2 Acquisition of lands and property occupied a minor place among his incentives to action. 1 Works, II, 142-43. 2 Carpenter, Inner Life, 252. 25 26 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln "Hard fare, small fees, and little of reputation among a limited clientage were in most cases the first fruits" of a beginning lawyer in Illinois in the '30s. 3 For Lincoln, however, the beginning of his prac- tice was not too hard, because he took the place of a good lawyer, Henry E. Dummer, in one of the two leading law firms in Springfield. Clients were many, and within a few months the work of the firm of Stuart Sc Lincoln fell principally to the junior partner, while Stuart conducted his campaign for Congress against Stephen A. Douglas. To determine the amount of all Lincoln's fees or his total income in any one year is practically impossible, but from the fee book of Stuart Sc Lincoln it is possible to ascertain the amounts of the fees which they customarily charged. This book was retained by Lincoln when his partnership with John Todd Stuart ended. Either purposely or by oversight, he left it in the office of Lincoln & Herndon when he went to Washington in 1861. Here it remained through several changes in partnership until April, 1877, when William H. Herndon quit the practice of law, dissolving the firm of Herndon 8c Orendorff . The book then became the property of Alfred Orendorff, who had been associated with Herndon for ten years. Upon his death it passed to his daughter, Mrs. Edna Orendorff Macpherson, who has permitted it to be used in this study. Although only some of the cases handled during the four year part- nership are listed, the Stuart 2c Lincoln fee book gives a good indication of the fees which were charged. Here, for example, is one page, all in Lincoln's handwriting: E. C. Ross To Stuart k Lincoln Dr. 1837— April— To attendance at trial of right of J. F. Davis property before Moffett $500 Mather, Lamb Sc Co. To Stuart & Lincoln Dr. 1837— April— To attendance at trial of right of J. F. Davis property before Moffett $500 3 J. O. Cunningham, Some Recollections of Abraham Lincoln (Norwalk, Ohio, 1909), 16. Income From the Law 27 Lucinda Mason To Stuart & Lincoln Dr. 1837— Oct— To obtaining assignment of Dower $5.00 Wiley & Wood To Stuart $c Lincoln Dr. 1837-8 To defence of Chancery case of Ely $50.00 Credit by coat to Stuart 15.00 Peyton L. Harrison $35.00 To Stuart & Lincoln Dr. 1838-March- To case with Dickinson $10.00 Allen Sc Stone To Stuart 8c Lincoln Dr. 1838-Oct To case with Centre $2.50 The fees just listed were either for office work or for cases tried before justices of the peace or in the circuit court, but one of Lincoln's first cases in the Supreme Court indicates that a low level of charges prevailed there also. The case was Cannon v. Kinney, and involved the possession of a sorrel horse worth $65.00. Lincoln, representing the plaintiff, tried it in the Sangamon County Circuit Court, and then won it for his client in the Supreme Court in July, 1841. His fee was $10.00. Other entries show not only the small fees charged by Stuart & Lin- coln, but also the diversity of their practice. On September 9, 1837, Lincoln wrote to the Third Auditor of the Treasury, submitting proof that his client, Thomas Epperson, had lost a horse in the Black Hawk War and claiming compensation on his behalf. The claim was allowed, whereupon Lincoln wrote in the fee book: "Procuring pay for lost horse for Epperson. Paid and divided $10." At the fall term of the Sangamon County Circuit Court he procured a divorce for Rachel Roll, and was paid $15.00 for his services at the conclusion of the trial. In collection suits, of which there were many after the Panic of 1837, t ^ ie ^ rm s ^ ees had little relation to the amounts involved. Thus, in one instance, $20.00 was retained for collecting a note for $350, and on another occasion the same fee was charged for collecting $640.53. In a third case— Harrison 28 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln v. Taylor $c Dickinson— the "fee by agreement" was $10.00 for collect- ing a $500 note. In a forcible detainer case before a justice of peace Lincoln represented Joel Johnson, a Springfield hotel keeper, and noted in the fee book: "Paid Lincoln by board $6.00." In another case the entry reads: "Bad chance for fee $20;" but a later credit indicates that $15.00 was collected and divided. Throughout the book are notations indicating that the partners divided their fees equally. Bill of Stuart & Lincoln for use of their office as a jury room. Original in the Illinois State Historical Library. In addition to fees, the book contains a record of partnership ex- penses. Several payments of fifty cents, and one of $1.25, were for loads of wood. An entry of $2.25 for a "wood-saw" indicates that the junior partner did the sawing, for no payment for sawing wood is recorded. A payment of $8.50 for a stove pipe is the largest single entry under office expense. Office expenses and rent during 1837-40 were offset by the receipt of $ 1 08 from Sangamon County for the use of Stuart 2c Lin- coln's office as a jury room by the circuit court, which met on the first floor of the Hoffman Row building directly below their office. 4 Lincoln recorded the expenses of a trip to the Tazewell County Cir- cuit Court at Tremont. The total expense of $21,281/2 was made up of "Road expenses $2,821/2; Tavern bill $9.00; Horse hire $10.00." Two items in this entry attract attention. First, expenses of circuit travel 4 County Commissioner's Record, Book D. 434, 587; Book E, 40. Income From the Law 29 seem to have consumed a large part of Lincoln's fees; and second, he did not own a horse when he began to travel the circuit. Lincoln had advertised a year prior to his removal to Springfield that his horse had strayed away or had been stolen. He described it as "a large bay horse, star in his forehead, plainly marked with harness, supposed to be eight years old; has been shod all around, but is believed to have lost some of his shoes, and trots and paces." 5 His offer of a liberal reward had apparently been unavailing. Stuart attended the courts in the northern counties of the First Cir- cuit in the fall of 1837. From the records available it is believed that Lincoln remained in Springfield. Stuart was then promoting his can- didacy for Congress and perhaps wished to consult the Whig leaders in Tazewell, McLean and Macon counties. Upon his return, he re- corded in the partnership record three cases in the courts of these counties, in two of which he charged $50 and in the other $40. Lincoln's first important case was the trial of Henry B. Truett, charged with the murder of the Reverend Jacob M. Early, in the Sangamon County Circuit Court in 1838. Truett and Early, both Demo- cratic politicians, but of different factions, quarrelled in the lobby of Spottswood's Rural Hotel in Springfield and Early, who had picked up a chair to defend himself, was shot down by Truett. Truett had only re- cently been appointed Register of the Galena Land Office. The appoint- ment had caused much dissension in the party and a resolution con- demning it had been passed at the Democratic Convention in Peoria in November, 1837. E ar ty was a member of the resolutions committee, and Truett blamed him for the convention's action. 6 Truett was apprehended immediately after the shooting and was indicted by the grand jury. Stuart & Lincoln, Stephen T. Logan, Cyrus Walker, and Edward D. Baker, all Whigs, were employed to defend him. The trial, twice continued, was held in October, 1838, and Lin- 5 Sangamo Journal, March 26, 1836. ^Peoria Register and North-Western Gazetteer, Oct. 20, 1838; Sangamo Journal, March 17, 1838. 30 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln coin's plea to the jury was in part responsible for a verdict of acquittal. Public sentiment was on Lincoln's side; it was hard to obtain a convic- tion for murder in Illinois prior to the Civil War. William L. May, congressman from central and northern Illinois and the father-in-law of Truett, paid the attorneys for the defense. On March 21, 1838 he gave Stuart Sc Lincoln a mortgage for $500 on 240 acres in the northern part of Sangamon, now Logan County. On August 22, 1838 Stuart 8c Lincoln noted on the margin of the record that the mortgage had been satisfied. 7 Two sources of income for lawyers in Illinois in the late 1830's and early 1840^ were the vast state Internal Improvement System and the State Bank. The bank and its several branches each had an attorney. The parent bank in Springfield paid a salary of $1,200 a year, the branches $600 to $800, or fees according to the number of cases handled. Stephen T. Logan was the parent bank's attorney during the year prior to the beginning of his partnership with Lincoln. The Internal Improvement System involved a large amount of legal work in the transfer to the state of rights-of-way for the railroads and contracts for materials. Many attorneys received from $400 to $600 a year for services of this kind in 1837-40. Lincoln was a member of the legislature that enacted the law creating the Internal Improvement System but did not profit from it as a lawyer, with the exception of $50 which he received for sitting with the Board of Public Works for a few days in June, 1840, when one-third of claims totalling $330,000 was allowed. 8 Although Stuart 8c Lincoln and Lincoln & Herndon divided their fees equally, such was not the case with Logan & Lincoln. While ab- solute proof is not available, it is the opinion of those who have studied the cases handled by this partnership that Lincoln received only one- third of the fees. Despite his smaller share, Lincoln's income with 7 Sangamon County Mortgage Record, Book M, 413; L. B. Stringer, History 0/ Logan County, Illinois, I, 213. sphoto. Income From the Law 3 1 Logan was doubtless considerably increased because approximately one- half of the 213 cases in which he appeared in the Illinois Supreme Court were tried during the three and one-half years of the Logan partnership. Concerning Supreme Court fees, Lincoln wrote: As to fees it is impossible to establish a rule that will apply in all, or even a great many cases. We believe we are never accused of being unreasonable in this particular; and we would always be easily satisfied, provided we could see the money— but whatever fees we earn at a distance, if not paid before, we have noticed, we never hear of after the work is done. We, therefore, are growing a little sensitive on that point. 9 Logan 8c Lincoln received fees ranging from $10 to $100 in the Supreme Court, depending upon the amount of work involved. Twenty dollars was the average fee in Supreme Court cases during their partner- ship. The time and effort devoted to collecting some fees is illustrated by the case of Dorman v. Lane, which involved the sale of real estate to satisfy debts against an estate. Lincoln's first contact with the case was a letter received from a Shawneetown lawyer, Samuel D. Marshall, ask- ing him to handle the case in the Supreme Court. Lincoln replied on November 1 1, 1842, that he had looked into the case, and believed he could get the circuit court ruling reversed. "In the last I may be mis- taken," he wrote, "but I think the case at least worth the experiment, and if Dorman will risk the cost, I will do my best for the 'biggest kind of fee' as you say, if we succeed, and nothing if we fail." 10 This was the beginning of a correspondence that extended over the next six years. Lincoln won the case in the Supreme Court in January, 1 844, but Lane continued to contest the matter. Lincoln had received a mortgage on 160 acres near Shawneetown to guarantee his fee if he won the case. On April 8, 1853 he gave a quitclaim deed to the land to William Dorman in consideration of the payment of $100, 9 Works, II, 98-9, Lincoln to James S. Irwin, Nov. 2, 1843. 10 Tracy, 9. 32 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln thus collecting his fee eleven years after his first examination of the case. 11 The story that Lincoln took no fee, but gave his services as a wedding present to the Dormans, as related in Beveridge I, 558, is not borne out by the facts. Logan %c Lincoln, and other Springfield lawyers, found the federal bankruptcy law of 1841 a good source of fees during the period it was in force. 12 This law, passed to alleviate the distress caused by the Panic of 1837, was tne second of its kind in the history of the United States, and the first to make provision for voluntary bankruptcy. Cases arising from it were not profitable enough to encourage out-of-town lawyers to attend Judge Nathaniel Pope's "Bankruptcy Court" in per- son, so Springfield lawyers were usually retained. In a letter to Garland B. Shelledy, a Paris, Illinois, lawyer, Lincoln wrote that he would take care of Shelledy's bankruptcy cases, saying: "As to the terms, we are willing to attend each case you prepare and send us for $ 1 o (when there shall be no opposition) to be sent in advance, or you know that it is safe." 13 Few of the seventy-seven such cases handled by Logan & Lin- coln were contested. Records of the bankruptcy court were burned in the Chicago fire of 1871. However, the law required the publication in the Springfield papers of the preliminary and the final hearings in each case. From these notices it appears that Logan 8c Lincoln were one of the five leading firms in bankruptcy practice in the state. Logan 8c Lincoln occasionally handled cases in counties not in the Eighth Circuit. One such case was the divorce suit of Aquilla Wren v. Clarissa Wren, tried in the Peoria County Circuit Court in March, 1844. Logan represented the defendant at the time the divorce was granted, while Lincoln handled the case when the question of alimony came up at the next term of court. For their fee he drew up a note for $150, which was signed by Clarissa Wren and two sureties, and later paid by 11 Photo of deed; Dorman et ux. v. Lane in 6 111. 143-52. 12 Pratt, Lincoln, 1840-1846, contains a list of Logan & Lincoln's bankruptcy cases. The law- went into effect Feb. 1, 1842 and was repealed March 3, 1843. 13 Works, I, 189. Income From the Law 33 Amaziah Hart, who married the divorced woman. 14 The Wrens had both lived in Springfield, which probably accounts for Logan Sc Lin- coln's connection with the case. Lincoln does not appear to have had an extensive practice in the probate court of Sangamon County. Most of the Lincoln papers in the probate files of the county were removed by William H. Herndon, who usually left copies in his unmistakable handwriting, a practice approved by the clerk. The records indicate that five to ten dollars was the aver- age fee of all lawyers of the time in probate matters. A typical receipt given by Lincoln reads: " Received of Moses M. Martin as administrator of the estate of Isaac Martin deceased the sum of seven dollars Sc fifty cents, in full for services rendered said estate." 15 This receipt was dated October 15, 1838. Herndon was a student in the Logan 8c Lincoln office when he was appointed administrator of the estate of James Bell, a former partner with Joshua F. Speed in the store of James Bell %c Co. Lincoln was em- ployed to handle a court matter for the estate for which he receipted on April 6, 1846, as follows: "Received of William H. Herndon adminis- trator of James Bell deceased five dollars in getting decree to sell real estate." 16 The partnership of Logan and Lincoln came to an end in the fall of 1844, and was superseded by that of Lincoln and Herndon, which lasted for the remainder of Lincoln's practice. The statement is often made that the partners kept no office records, merely dividing their fees as they were collected, but the Illinois State Historical Library possesses a Lincoln and Herndon fee book for the years 1845-47. In this, in Hern- don's handwriting, are recorded cases in Springfield, and in the adjoin- ing counties of Christian, Menard, and Logan. The list of cases is known to be incomplete, so it may be assumed that the book contains only those cases in which the fee was not immediately collected. The two extremes " PhotO. isphoto. MPhoto. 3JW* 0£t«ZZn~ s / Ca^ (fyn /9*!j Jf° f\ **> £y*A. J%«z£ /*/: 3L. <»-*Ca. cA-~ /%zrr /" 6s*6u/*? 3 1 \ C& /U4>~~- U '■***& '* (? 5- 63 Tracy, 78. 56 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Lincoln went to Cincinnati but took no active part in the conduct of the trial in which his side was successful. He was ignored by Hard- ing, while Stanton's conduct toward him was noticeably rude. Some- time after his return to Springfield, he received a check for his fee from Watson, which he returned. Watson sent back the check and insisted that Lincoln was entitled to his fee and should keep it, which he then did. The amount is not definitely known, but the tradition among descendants of Ralph Emerson is that this check was for $600, making Lincoln's fee in the case $i,ooo. 64 The best known court trial in which Lincoln was engaged in his career, with the exception of the defense of Duff Armstrong, was the "Effie Afton case," Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company. This case occupied the attention of the United States Circuit Court in Chicago for three weeks in September, 1857. The Effie Afton, a Mississippi river steamboat, in passing the bridge at Rock Island on its way upstream, May 6, 1856, struck one of the piers and was thrown against another, resulting in a fire which destroyed the boat and part of the bridge. Captain Hurd and the other owners sued the bridge company, alleg- ing that the boat "was forcibly driven by the currents and eddies caused by said piers against one of them." The bridge was declared to be a per- manent obstruction to navigation. Owners of the steamboat sought to recover damages for the value of boat and cargo, but the real contest was between river transportation interests centering in St. Louis and railroad interests in Chicago. Lincoln, Norman B. Judd of Chicago, and Joseph Knox of Rock Island represented the bridge company, with Lincoln making the clos- ing speech to the jury. The jury could not agree and was dismissed by Justice McLean. 65 Lincoln's fee is said to have been $500. On his re- turn home, September 28, 1857, ne deposited $400 to his bank ac- count. 66 64 Emerson Hinchliff to H. E. Pratt, Colebrook, Conn., Aug. 20, Sept. 3, 1942, in files of A. L. Assoc. Hinchliff examined the files of Manny & Co. 65 Chicago Daily Democratic Press, Sept. 25, 30, 1857. ^Photo. Income From the Law 57 Lincoln and Herndon were employed in ninety-one cases in the United States Court for the Southern District of Illinois, in Springfield from 1 855 to 1 860. Many of these cases involved questions of great im- portance and large sums of money. Fees which they received in these cases necessarily made up a considerable part of the firm's income. In an important land case, Beaver v. Taylor and Gilbert, which involved possession of sixty-five acres of land adjoining the city of Cairo, Lincoln 8c Herndon, Stephen T. Logan, and Stuart 8c Edwards represented the defendants. The case was submitted without argument on June 20, 1859, an d taken under advisement. Judge Treat later held for the de- fendants, whereupon the plaintiff entered a motion for a new trial. This motion, argued before the court on January 25, i860, was later denied. Lincoln and Herndon received $1,500 of the $3,000 fee. 67 "Angle, New Letters, 256. Ill Land Holdings As to your farm matter, I have no sympathy with you. I have no farm, nor ever expect to have, and consequently have not studied the subject enough to be much interested in it. Lincoln to Joshua F. Speed, March 27, 1842. In the early spring of 1 836 Lincoln surveyed the town of Huron, on the left bank of the Sangamon River twelve miles north of New Salem. In return for his services he received title to several lots. How many lots he held cannot now be determined, nor can it be ascertained how long they remained in his possession. Menard County tax returns, however, show that the Huron property was still on the tax books in his name after 1839. Of one fact one may be sure: Lincoln received neither income nor profit from the Huron lots. Huron was a speculation of several men whom he was later to know well— John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan, Ninian W. Edwards, who was to be his brother-in-law, Simeon Francis, editor of the Sangamo Journal, Samuel H. Treat, before whom he was to practice in both county and federal courts. The town site was located at Miller's ferry, the main crossing of the Sangamon between Springfield and Havana, and it was to be the terminus of a proposed canal to Beards- town. But the canal never materialized, and few houses were ever built in Huron. Like many another land speculation in Illinois, the town soon reverted to uncultivated prairie. The survey of Huron, however, probably led Lincoln to make a speculation of his own in the vicinity. At any rate, on March 16, 1836, at the Springfield land office he entered a forty-seven acre tract on the right bank of the Sangamon one mile east of the new town site. The 58 Land Holdings 59 tract is now in Crane Creek Township on the southern boundary of Mason County. The purchase price was the government minimum of $1.25 an acre— $58.75 for the forty-seven acres. 1 Doubtless Lincoln made the payment from the $162 he had received in salary and expenses in the recent session of the legislature. The land was not subject to taxa- tion for five years after it was purchased from the federal government. Lincoln received no revenue from it. On May 9, 1837 ne so ^ an un " divided half interest for $30 to Gershom Jayne, a Springfield physician and one of the proprietors of Huron. Lincoln retained his interest in the other half until October 27, 1848, when he and Jayne, their wives joining, gave a warranty deed for the tract to Pleasant Armstrong and John Yardley, the consideration being $ioo. 2 Lincoln's second speculation in land was made on March 24, 1836, when he bought two lots in Springfield from Thomas S. Edwards. Ed- wards was an eccentric farmer living near New Salem for whom Lincoln was a bondsman in 1833, when Edwards was indicted for rape and for riot. 3 Edwards was disposing of his property preparatory to removing to Pike County, Illinois. Lincoln paid $25 for each lot, taking a quit- claim deed in which the property is described as Lots six and eight in Block one of the Old Town Plat. The lots were on the north side of Jefferson Street between Sixth and Seventh streets. 4 Lincoln retained ownership of Lot six until April 20, 1837— five days after his removal to Springfield— when he gave Josephus Hewett and Edward D. Baker, Springfield attorneys, a quitclaim deed to the property. The consideration was $75, three times the sum he had paid for the lot. It is impossible to say when and for what price he sold Lot eight, for the deed by which he conveyed it was not recorded. However, the sale must have been made at a date earlier than the sale of Lot six, *On November i, 1839 President Van Buren issued Certificate No. 15,701 to the N. part of the N.W. 14 of Sec. 3 in T. 19 N of R 7 W. Book No. 31, p. 365. The original certificate is owned by Mrs. Edna Orendorff Macpherson, Springfield, 111. 2 Sangamon County Deed Book, K, 686; Mason County Deed Book, C, 186. 3 Pratt, Lincoln, 1809-1839, 24. 4 Sangamon County Deed Book, J, 515. 60 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln for on April 3, 1837, J onn White deeded Lot eight to William Butler. 5 Lincoln's next venture in Springfield real estate took place on June 2, 1838, when he paid Elijah lies and his wife $300 for Lots twelve and thirteen in Block seven, Elijah lies' Addition to the Town of Spring- field. 6 Elijah lies was one of the founders of Springfield, and captain of a company in which Lincoln served in the Black Hawk War. The lots were in the center of the block across the street from the property which Lincoln purchased in 1 844 for his home. Both of these lots he retained for a number of years. On March 30, 1850 he sold the south half of Lot twelve to Frederick S. and Harriet W. Dean for $125, and on March 2, 1853, he sold Lot thirteen and the north half of Lot twelve to Alexander Graham for $375- 7 Both Dean and Graham erected houses upon their lots, thus becoming neighbors of Lincoln. Lincoln's next purchase was in Coles County. In this instance, filial duty, rather than investment, was his motive. On August 4, 1837, J onn D. Johnston, the son of Sarah Bush Lincoln, entered a forty-acre tract on Goose Nest Prairie, eight miles south of Charleston. 8 On May 21, 1839 Reuben Moore and his wife entered two forty-acre tracts directly west of Johnson's forty acres. These tracts they deeded to Thomas Lin- coln on March 5, 1840, for $400.° On the last day of the same year Thomas Lincoln paid Johnston $50 for his land, thus increasing his holdings to 120 acres. In acquiring this farm Thomas Lincoln stretched his resources con- siderably, and within less than a year was in financial difficulty. Finally he appealed to his son for help, and on October 24, 1841, Lincoln eased his father's distress by paying him $200 for the east forty acres of the farm, allowing Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln to retain a life estate. 10 s Ibid., K, 616. *Ibid., O, 93. Lot 13 and the north half of Lot 12 belonged to Samuel and Augusta Rosen wald, parents of Julius Rosen wald, the philanthropist, from 1868 to 1886. 7Sangamon County Deed Book, DD, 482; KK, 356. 8 Coles County Entry Book, N.E. i/ 4 of S.E. 1/ of Sec. 21, T. 11 N. R. 9 E. of 3 P.M. *Ibid., N.W. 14 of S.E. 14 (40 acres), and N.E. \/ 4 of S.W. i/ 4 (40 acres), all in Sec. 21, T. 11, N. R. 9 E. of 3 P.M 10 Coles County Deed Book, G, 5. Land Holdings 6 1 To this deed Thomas Lincoln signed his name, but Mrs. Lincoln made her mark. By paying his father $200 for the tract that had cost only $50, Lincoln was making his parents a substantial gift. The next day he signed a bond agreeing to convey this land to Johnston at any time within a year after the death of the survivor of Thomas and Sarah Lin- coln, upon payment of $200. n But this by no means ended Thomas Lincoln's troubles. In Decem- ber, 1 848, when Lincoln was in Congress, a creditor who had obtained a judgment threatened to force a sale of his father's land. Once again Thomas Lincoln appealed to his son, and again the son came to his assistance. But he was becoming manifestly impatient with his father's improvidence, as the following letter indicates. Your letter of the 7th was received night before last. I very cheerfully send you the twenty dollars, which sum you say is necessary to save your land from sale. It is singular that you should have forgotten a judgment against you; and it is more singular that the plaintiff should have let you forget it so long, par- ticularly as I suppose you always had property enough to satisfy a judgment of that amount. Before you pay it, it would be well to be sure you have not paid, or at least that you cannot prove that you have paid it. 12 Thomas Lincoln died on the farm January 17, 1851. Soon after- ward, on August 12, 1851, Lincoln, as his father's heir, conveyed his interest in the west eighty acres to Johnston for a nominal considera- tion, subject to Sarah Lincoln's dower right. 13 But the farm continued to be a source of difficulty. On November 4, 1851, Lincoln wrote to Johnston from Shelbyville: When I came into Charleston day before yesterday, I learned that you are anxious to sell the land where you live and move to Missouri. I have been thinking of this ever since, and cannot but think such a notion is utterly foolish. What can you do in Missouri better than here? Is the land any richer? Can you there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat and oats without work? Will anybody there, any more than here, do your work for you? If you intend to go 11 Angle, New Letters, 11. 12 Works, II, 96. 13 Coles County Deed Book, O, 215. 62 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln to work, there is no better place than right where you are; if you do not intend to go to work, you cannot get along anywhere. Squirming and crawling about from place to place can do no good. You have raised no corn this year; and what you really want is to sell the land, get the money, and spend it. Part with the land you have, and, my life upon it, you will never after own a spot big enough to bury you in. Half you will get for the land you will spend in moving to Missouri, and the other half you will eat, drink and wear out, and no foot of land will be bought. Now, I feel it my duty to have no hand in such a piece of foolery. I feel that it is so even on your own account, and particularly on moth- er's account. The eastern forty acres I intend to keep for mother while she lives; if you will not cultivate it, it will rent for enough to support her— at least, it will rent for something. Her dower in the other two forties she can let you have, and no thanks to me. Now, do not misunderstand this letter; I do not write it in any unkindness. I write it in order, if possible, to get you to face the truth, which truth is, you are destitute because you have idled away all your time. Your thousand pretences for not getting along better are all nonsense; they deceive nobody but yourself. Go to work, is the only cure for your case. 14 Notwithstanding this advice, Johnston persuaded Lincoln's step- mother to relinquish her dower right in the west eighty acres, and pro- ceeded to sell this tract, with the old cabin, to John J. Hall, her son-in- law, for $250. Not satisfied with this, Johnston urged Lincoln to allow him to sell the remaining forty acres, although he owned no interest in it. Finally, on November 25th, Lincoln told him plainly what he thought of his proposal: Your letter of the 2 2d is just received. Your proposal about selling the east forty acres of land is all that I want or could claim for myself; but I am not satisfied with it on mother's account. I want her to have her living, and I feel that it is my duty, to some extent, to see that she is not wronged. She had a right of dower (that is, the use of one- third for life) in the other two forties; but, it seems she has already let you take that, hook and line. She now has the use of the whole of the east forty, as long as she lives; and if it be sold, of course she is entitled to the interest on all the money it brings, as long as she lives; but you propose to sell it for three hundred dollars, take one hundred away with you, and leave her two hundred at 8 per cent, making her an enormous sum of 16 dollars a year. Now if you are satisfied with treating her in that way, I am not. It is true, that you are to have that forty for two hundred dollars, at mother's death; but you are not to have it before. 1 am confident that land can 14 Works, II, 150. Land Holdings 63 be made to produce for mother at least $30 a year, and I can not, to oblige any living person, consent that she shall be put on an allowance of sixteen dollars a year. 15 Lincoln never relinquished this forty-acre tract. John J. Hall, pur- chaser of the west eighty acres, cultivated it as a part of his farm, and on May 7, 1888, acquired legal title to it by reason of undisputed posses- sion for more than twenty years. Lincoln's next acquisition of real estate took place on March 17, 1842, when Ninian W. Edwards and his wife Elizabeth, deeded Lincoln and Stephen T. Logan the east half of the west half of Lot six in Block fourteen in the Old Town Plat, on the north side of Adams Street be- tween Fourth and Fifth streets, in the City of Springfield. The con- sideration was $400. 16 This was the only piece of property which Lin- coln acquired in partnership. It is probable that Logan & Lincoln, then partners, took the lot in payment of fees, and Lincoln made some ar- rangement by which Logan gave him possession of the lots. The as- sumption seems well founded in that Lincoln used the lot as part of the purchase price of his own home. Lincoln's first step in the purchase of his house at the northeast corner of Eighth and Jackson streets was taken on January 7, 1 844, when he drew up a contract for a deed with the Rev. Charles Dresser, pastor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Springfield. The minister agreed to deed to Lincoln the premises where he was residing, on or before the first of April, for $1,200 and a lot on Adams Street in the business dis- trict, on which stood a building occupied by H. A. Hough as a shop. The contract described the lot as the premises conveyed by N. W. Ed- wards and wife to Lincoln & Logan for $400 on March 17, 1842. 17 A month after the contract was drawn Lincoln paid $750 to Seth M. Tinsley, a Springfield storekeeper and owner of the building in 15 Works, II, 152. 16 Sangamon County Deed Book, S, 502. 17 Photo. The original contract is owned by Mrs. Katherine Dresser White, Springfield, 111. Hough was a cabinet maker. %U*£*V M 0*v*r&>& 4^^?o 0T*s &v &LS /O^SL^Cs ^%/^j^Aj J&uJvx €>^" i^UV Z^~> Land Holdings 65 trC^^c &^-JCo s^f^^y w jfr?-*****-*' '4w~&~*>6' -i^/zrc**^, tc^c^es y%+^. /jTZp. flry^-4-' O**^-*^*^ <^*-?-^s^^/ ^^ A-- Jllti! til? ^Eiftf Of $ JJilt |fU£U?J£tt{( ^0BJp8U|| abov« named, for the consideration aforesaid, doth hereby promise and agree to make good ■jj^W the said Assured,. - /.T^rf. . . Executors, Adjninistrnturs aud Assigns, aJi_§»i-h itsmediate loss or doratsge, not exceeding in amouat the sum insured, as shall happen hy fire to the property, as above ejseotfcd, Jfrptn the G?4r&£6&. ... day tf....£?*-&&k*ib«*y one thousand eight hundred and - .-^fca^r^T. . . ^£&*-« {at noon,) ustd tha ...... W-C%s&4&?.. ..... day of '. . .j#?A*&t4*'M,*ry. one thotmad eight hundred and . -*#r«&3'.u' u*t«W rf»ui I ^-j^a; (flSi to tx> paU wtttitn Mxly fteys ftfltfr k-Uiv *jmJ [H\-of tU'-rvtif matto by Uk* assf imC *u.: m thts .Mrs. in c r.).rr tify *-» ib.< e*.nfittf.>h» Fzr^ Insurance Policy on the Lincoln Home in 1861. From original in the office of Hartford Fire Insurance Co. IV The Money Lender '/ keep some money loaned at ten per cent." Lincoln to Maria L. Bullock, January 3, 1859 Ilncoln's "Address to the People of Sangamon County," in which .J he announced his candidacy for the legislature in 1832, contains this biting paragraph on usury: It appears that the practice of loaning money at exorbitant rates of interest has already been opened as a field for discussion. ... It seems as though we are never to have an end to this baneful and corroding system, acting almost as prejudicially to the general interests of the community as a direct tax of several thousand dollars annually laid on each county for the benefit of a few indi- viduals only, unless there be a law made fixing the limits of usury. A law for this purpose, I am of opinion, may be made without materially injuring any class of people. Between this lecture on usury and Lincoln's later practice of lending money at ten per cent, some writers have professed to see the difference between preachment and performance. They have pointed out that in 1832, when Lincoln had neither money nor property, he condemned high rates of interest, but that after he himself became a money lender, he was willing enough to accept an exorbitant return upon his money. Comment of this kind ignores the fact that in 1832 ten per cent per annum would have been a very modest rate of interest. Thus, in 1831, Denton Offut, Lincoln's employer at New Salem, was compelled to pay sixty per cent on a loan of $110 borrowed for sixty days. 1 Even Hn Offut's case, even sixty per cent was hardly commensurate with the risk involved. Offut failed to pay the note when due, and suit was brought on it at the May, 1832, term of the Sanga- mon Circuit Court. By that time Offut had disappeared, and the endorser had no property that could be found. The holder of the note learned that Offut had left a quantity of seed corn with John Williams & Co., Springfield, and this was sold in partial satisfaction of the judgment. Files in William H. Brown v. Denton Offut; John Williams to Offut, Springfield, May 24, 1832, in Williams & Co., Invoice Book in 111. State Hist. Lib. 71 72 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln thirty years later, loans at twelve and fifteen per cent were common. In 1861 William G. Greene, then the leading citizen of Menard County, was paying fifteen per cent interest on borrowed money. So was Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois. 2 The ten per cent per annum which Lincoln collected was the legal rate, and a fair one considering the demand for money in a region not yet fully developed. Lincoln made his first investment loans soon after his return from Congress. His first two loans were to Nathaniel Hay and his father John Hay, who operated a brick yard in Springfield. John Hay, then in his seventy-fifth year, was a distinguished figure— a heavy, powerful man with long white hair— and one of Springfield's leading citizens. Among his seven sons were Charles, a Warsaw, Illinois, physician whose son John was to be one of Lincoln's Civil War secretaries, and Milton, who had studied law in the office of Stuart 8c Lincoln. Milton later became a partner and son-in-law of Stephen T. Logan. Lincoln had handled cases for the Hays from the beginning of his law practice. In November, 1839, Lincoln had sued Thomas Laswell in the Sangamon County Circuit Court for failure to deliver cord wood to Hay's brickyard in accordance with an agreement made the preceding year. Another suit was brought on Hay's behalf against Mock Sc Laswell to recover a stud horse and bridle. There were several other cases during the forties, and fees for some of these were unpaid when Nathaniel Hay gave Lincoln his note on April 9, 1849. Hay borrowed $200 from Lincoln. Seven years later Lincoln wrote out an explanation for Hay's administrator which not only constitutes a full explanation of the transaction, but also throws interesting light on the business methods of the time. In April 1849 I loaned Nathaniel Hay two hundred dollars, for which I took his note at six per cent for first six months and ten per cent afterwards. At the time, he owed me some trifle for fees. Afterwards from time to time I had bricks of him, and once he paid me ten dollars in money. In January or Febru- ary 1855 we made a turn by which he paid the First Presbyterian Church twelve 2 Greene to Yates, Jacksonville, 111., March 6, 1861. Yates MSS. in 111. State Hist. Lib. The Money Lender 73 or fourteen dollars for me. On the 2nd of March 1855, we had a settlement including all these things; and as the old note was already nearly covered with former settlements and credits, he took it up, and gave me the note and due-bill herewith filed, the note being for the original principal loaned, and the due-bill for a ballance of interest due. After this, in June 1855, he furnished me bricks for the foundation of a fence, amounting to fifteen or sixteen dollars, which I have always considered as having substantially paid the due-bill. In August 1855 he furnished me bricks for the pit of a privy, for which he or his estate is entitled to a credit on the note. The exact amount of this last lot of bricks, I never knew; but I suppose the administrator can find it on Mr. Hay's books. A. Lincoln The note and due-bill referred to are in Lincoln's handwriting, though signed by Hay. Springfield, March 2, 1855 $200. On the ninth day of April next I promise to pay A. Lincoln two hundred dollars, with ten per cent interest after due until paid, for value received. N. Hay Springfield, March 2, 1855. Due A. Lincoln sixteen dollars and eighty cents for value received. N. Hay Joshua F. Amos, brother-in-law of Hay and administrator of his estate, paid Lincoln $225 on May 16, 1857, m settlement of the loan and interest. Lincoln deposited $200 of the money, the same day, to his account in the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Co. 3 One month after the loan to Nathaniel, Lincoln loaned his father, John Hay, $500 and took as security a mortgage on 160 acres of farm land about two miles south of Springfield. The mortgage note was dated May 7, 1849, and like the other obligation to Lincoln, was to draw six per cent until due, and ten per cent thereafter. Hay repaid the loan two and a half years later, and Lincoln wrote on the margin of the mortgage record in the office of the county recorder: "This mortgage is satisfied in full this 6th day of December, 1851. A. Lincoln." 4 3 Photo; Angle, New Letters, 160-61. ^Mortgage Record, Book CC, 42. 74 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Lincoln's third loan was to Daniel E. Ruckel, a Springfield cabinet maker from whom he occasionally bought furniture for his home. On August 15, 1851, he took Ruckel's note for $300, bearing interest at ten per cent from December 25, 1 85 1 , until paid. Interest was due annually, and the principal on December 25, 1854, or earlier upon default of in- terest. To secure this debt Daniel and Catherine Ruckel gave Lincoln a mortgage on four lots in Allen's Addition, in the northern part of Springfield, and also assigned to Lincoln whatever interest they might have to a part of Lot eight in Block ten, Old Town Plat, located on the northwest corner of Fifth and Washington streets. 5 Two years later Lincoln made this notation on the margin of the mortgage record: "In consideration of Daniel E. Ruckel having per- fected the title to the other parcel of ground included in this mortgage [the property at Fifth and Washington streets] I do hereby release from said mortgage the lots therein described as Lots Nine, ten, eleven, and twelve, in Block Three, in Allen's addition to Springfield. Witness my hand and seal this 7th day of July, 1853. A. Lincoln." These lots faced east on Seventh Street, extending south from Edwards Street to the middle of the block. Daniel E. Ruckel died April 9, 1854, leaving a widow and four minor children. Lincoln's loan was unpaid. A memorandum of Sep- tember 28, 1857, stated that he had received $300 in full of "a note and mortgage I held of the late Daniel E. Ruckel." Interest on the loan "due from last Christmas" was to be paid by R. H. Beach, administrator of Daniel Ruckel's estate. On the same day Lincoln lent Jacob Ruckel, a younger brother and Daniel's business partner, $500, taking a mortgage to the four lots on Seventh Street which Jacob had acquired from his brother's estate. 6 Lincoln endorsed payment of the first year's interest on November 27, 1858, on the face of the mortgage. He collected two more interest pay- s/bid., Book GG, 440. *Ibid., Book 3, 423; Photo of memorandum. £ 3 <3 I .9 I The Money Lender 75 ments prior to his departure for Washington to become President. The Jacob Ruckel note was one of the notes which Lincoln left with Robert Irwin, cashier of the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Co. Irwin collected the interest and principal amounting to $667.05 on January 29, 1864, releasing the mortgage on the same day. 7 Lincoln's next loan was made on November 28, 1851, to Thomas Cantrall, a prosperous farmer who resided eight miles northwest of Springfield. On that date Cantrall gave Lincoln his note for $600, pay- able in two years, at ten per cent. To secure it, Lincoln took a mortgage on eighty acres of farm land which Cantrall owned. 8 A year later Can- trall and his wife gave Lincoln a new note for $660, and executed a mortgage on 160 acres in Menard County, Illinois, six miles northeast of Athens. Lincoln released the first mortgage on the same day the new mortgage was made, November 29, 1852. The new mortgage was satis- fied on October 29, 1858, payment being made to Lincoln a few months after Thomas' death, by his brother Charles S. Cantrall. 9 The history of Lincoln's next investment loan must be pieced to- gether from scattered memoranda. On January 15, 1853, he sent or gave the following communication to Ninian W. Edwards, Springfield storekeeper and his own brother-in-law: "Please pay N. W. Edwards & Co., eighty dollars, which will be in full of interest on your note till 1st May 1853." Assuming that the due date of Edwards' note was January 15, and that it drew the customary interest of ten per cent, the principal amount must have been $2,750. Lincoln was then trading with N. W. Edwards & Co., and the $80.00 interest payment was probably credited to his account. Then, and for many years afterwards, accounts were settled in January of each year. A further record of this loan is found in Lincoln's memorandum of notes which he left with Robert Irwin in February, 1861. There he listed: "Two notes of N. W. Edwards, together amounting to fifteen 7 Facsimile of memorandum for Irwin on pp. 80-81. 8 Mortgage Record, Book HH, 148. 9 Menard Deed Book. 76 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln hundred and eighty seven dollars and ninety cents, interest at ten per cent due from Jan. 16, 1861," and "Two notes of Smith, Edwards & Co., for aggregate ballance [sic] of one thousand dollars and interest at ten per cent from Jan. 16, 1861." 10 N. W. Edwards & Co., of which Edwards and J. Taylor Smith were the partners, became Smith, Edwards Sc Co. in 1857. Edwards had ap- parently paid $150 by February, 1861, and given two individual and two firm notes for the remainder. Another of Lincoln's borrowers was Samuel Sidener, a Springfield blacksmith. The fact is established by a foreclosure suit which Lincoln and Robert Irwin brought against Sidener on November 21, 1854. On that day Sidener defaulted, and the court decreed that the property described in the mortgage— the east half of Lot four in Block one, Old Town Plat, Springfield 11 — be sold to satisfy unpaid principal and in- terest to the amount of $594.80. If we assume that $500 represented principal and $94.80 accrued interest from the time the note was given, and if we also assume that the rate was ten per cent per annum, then Lincoln lent Sidener the money on or about January 1, 1853. The foreclosed property was sold by Antrim Campbell, master in chancery, on February 5, 1855. Lincoln bid it in for $628.50, a sum which included the debt and $33.70 court costs. 12 Lincoln assigned the certificate of purchase to Isaac Lindsay, on January 22, 1857, taking another mortgage on the property. Five months earlier— August 28, 1855— he had lent Lindsay $600, secured by a mortgage on the east half of the north forty-three feet of Lot four in Block one of the Old Town Plat. Lindsay, a bricklayer by trade, was assessor and collector for Springfield in 1856-1857, and afterward, for eight years, a clerk in the office of the Circuit Clerk of Sangamon County. 10 Facsimile of memorandum for Irwin on pp. 80-81. 11 Near the southwest corner of Sixth and Madison streets. 12 Court Record, Nov. 21, 1854; Deed Book C, 217. The Money Lender 77 The Lindsay loan ran until June 1 , 1 864, when Robert Irwin, Lin- coln's Springfield agent, received the principal amount. In 1866, Justice David Davis, administrator of Lincoln's estate, wrote on the margin of the recorded mortgage: "From evidence furnished me I am satisfied that this mortgage was paid in full before Mr. Lincoln's death, and I hereby release the same." 13 Lincoln's loans were made to men with the exception of two small loans to Ritta Angelica da Silva, described in the records as "a Portu- guese woman." On August 11, 1854, she gave Lincoln her promissory note for $125 with interest at ten per cent, payable annually, the prin- cipal to be paid four years after date. To secure the loan she executed a mortgage on Lot five in Block six, in Welles and Peck's Addition to Springfield. This forty foot lot, on the south side of Miller Street be- tween Ninth and Tenth streets, was in the neighborhood occupied by the Protestant Portuguese who settled in Springfield in 1849. S* x months later, on February 20, 1855, she borrowed $125 on the same terms as the first loan, executing a second mortgage to the same prop- erty. Lincoln released the first mortgage on November 26, 1858, and the second on June 9, 1 860. 14 Lincoln's next loan was made on May 23, 1858 to William Cline, one of the early settlers on Fancy Creek in Sangamon County, eight miles northwest of Springfield. Cline gave his note for $750 and a mortgage on ninety-five acres near his home. The note bore interest at ten per cent and was due in one year. Interest was fifteen months in arrears when Lincoln left for Washington in 1861, but Irwin collected the principal and interest, releasing the mortgage on June 13, 1863. 15 The largest sum of money which Lincoln ever received at one time was $4,800, his fee in the Illinois Central charter case. This sum he re- ceived on August 12, 1857. After dividing it with Herndon he added $100 to his share and bought a draft, in the amount of $2,500, on H. 13 Mortgage Record, Book I, 69. uibid., Book PP, 353; RR, 172. is Ibid., Book V, 78. 78 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln A. Tucker & Co., Chicago. In early September he took the draft to Chi- cago where, throughout the month, he was engaged in the "Erne Afton" case, involving a bridge across the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illi- nois. While in Chicago Lincoln lent the $2,500 to Norman B. Judd, attorney for the Rock Island Railroad and his associate in this trial. Judd, with others, was interested in real estate in Council Bluffs, Iowa. There, on July 11, 1857, ne naa ^ purchased 160 acres along the right of way of the Mississippi 8c Missouri Railroad, in addition to prop- erty within the city. The purchase was a speculation, made in the ex- pectation that the Union Pacific would be built, and that land values would increase manyfold. Judd had written to Lyman Trumbull, United States Senator from Illinois, on June 7, 1856: "I and my friends are deeply interested in the Iowa land bill personally and pecuniarily and in the success of the Pacific Rail Road Bill." 16 The loan to Judd was made on or about September 1, 1857, doubt- less by pre-arrangement. Interest— at ten per cent— accumulated until September 1, 1859, when Judd gave Lincoln a new note for $3,000 at ten per cent, due in five years. Lincoln visited Council Bluffs in August, 1859, to look over the land owned by Judd, either for the purpose of speculating himself, or to determine how much of the property should be included in a mortgage to guarantee the loan. Speculation was per- haps the reason, for Lincoln could have learned the value of the prop- erty from his friend Thomas Officer of the banking house of Officer Sc Pusey in Council Bluffs. Officer had been a resident of Springfield prior to his removal to Council Bluffs. On the visit to Council Bluffs, Lincoln was accompanied by Ozias M. Hatch, Secretary of State of Illinois. From the advice of Hatch and of Officer 8c Pusey, and from his own observation, Lincoln decided not to speculate. Judd renewed the loan on September 1, 1859, Dut not until November 10, 1859, did he give Lincoln a quitclaim deed, which, though absolute in its terms, was to operate as a mortgage to seventeen 16 Trumbull MSS. The Money Lender 79 lots in Riddle's subdivision of Council Bluffs, and to ten acres along the right of way of the Mississippi &c Missouri Railroad. Lincoln sent the deed to Officer & Pusey, who had it recorded on February 14, i860. Judd repaid the loan after it had run eight years, the principal and interest then amounting to $5,400. Quitclaim deeds to the Council Bluffs property were signed by Mary Lincoln on August 10, 1867, and ten days later by Robert T. Lincoln. On February 8, 1868, Morris P. Brewer, commissioner, executed a conveyance from Thomas (Tad) Lincoln to Judd. 17 When Lincoln went to Washington in 1861, he left three notes with Robert Irwin hitherto unmentioned. The principal amounts totalled $1,900, and all bore interest at ten per cent. It is impossible to tell now when the notes were made, or in what amounts. Lincoln noted that the balance due on the largest note was $1,000, which indicates that origi- nally the obligation was a larger sum. Interest was paid until March 18, 1861. The makers of this note were three brothers named Van Deren and their brother-in-law, Lewis Johnson. Archibald J. Van Deren went to Colorado in the gold rush of 1859. There he soon became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free Masons and in 1863 a member of the legis- lature. Cyrus W. Van Deren was State Senator from Sangamon County in the Illinois legislature from 1856-60. John M. Van Deren, a younger brother, was a farmer in Curran Township, eight miles southwest of Springfield. Johnson was one of the owners of Everybody's Mill in Springfield. The principal of the Van Deren note was paid in install- ments, the last payment of principal and interest being made on March 21, 1863. The next largest note Lincoln described in the Irwin memorandum as "One note of John Cook, for seven hundred and fifty dollars, interest 17 Administration papers of Lincoln's estate contain several references to the Judd note. See also Pottawatamie County, Iowa Deed Record, Book F, 581; Book O, 443; Mortgage Record, Book 5, 319, 321; Book 7, 454. The ten acres was described as y 1Q of the S.W. i/£ of Sec. 34 in T. 75 N. of R. 44 W. flfc/p Q+4&, trfS/Y^M/. 8>oU*rz^x- lU*&LJZ^g~s ^^^ri^^z^Zp 4o ^^ /Kcx^^t^L^y C^u^y J2^j£Z^ /S^^s c^rCC^^ CL^^ ^ ftk mo- ' * eC^-u p^J^j o«r&>—, t C~/ZZ^*2 e~C(S^ /^<*~+«~A *x^O!^ t ^^o f^^.^ ^ ^ ^ /-w A Lincoln's memorandum of notes, mortgages, and other papers which he left with Robert Irwin. Original in Springfield Marine Bank. 82 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln due, from April 17, i860." Cook was the son of Daniel Pope Cook, the second congressman from Illinois. He was elected mayor of Springfield in 1855, and the following year sheriff of Sangamon County. At the out- break of the Civil War he was elected colonel of the Seventh Infantry, the first Illinois regiment raised; in 1862 Lincoln commissioned him a brigadier general. The Cook note, with interest from April 17, 1861, in the amount of $956.25, was paid to Irwin on January 11, 1864. The third note listed in Lincoln's memorandum was that of J. K. and Thomas Lewis for $150. The interest was due from April 22, i860. J. K. Lewis probably was one of the nine brothers of Thomas, a leading businessman and banker of Springfield. The balance of the Lewis note, with interest, was paid on March 12, 1864. Lincoln made two small loans while he was President, the first to Thomas Stackpole for $380 on November 8, 1861. 18 Stackpole was em- ployed as a watchman at the White House at $50 a month from April, 1861, to December, 1864. He served as steward at a salary of $100 a month from December, 1864 to the end of Lincoln's administration. The second loan was to M. B. Church, for $260 on November 5, 1864. The term was for five months. Church was a law student in the Lincoln & Herndon office in i860. He entered the Union Army. 19 Wounded in service, he drifted to Washington. Neither the Stackpole nor the Church note was ever paid. At Mrs. Lincoln's request, the administrator of the President's estate did not try to collect these White House loans. 20 Thus, in fifteen years, Lincoln made seventeen loans totalling more than $12,000. When he left Springfield for Washington in 1861, he had $9,337.90 invested in interest-bearing notes and mortgages. By that time he had collected more than $2,000 in interest, an average of al- most $200 a year. The lending of money was not a rapid road to wealth, but it accorded far better with Lincoln's cautious temperament than the speculation in which he might have engaged. 18 Administration Papers of Lincoln's Estate. 19 Photo of Church note. Lincoln signed his name on the back of the note. 20 Administration Papers of Lincoln's Estate. V Family Expenses There was not a particle of avarice in our subject's mental make-up. Greediness of wealth was absolutely foreign to his nature. He wanted money sufficient to pay ordinary living expenses of his household, but he cared not for gold, just to possess and handle. William Jayne, Personal Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln. Six months after his marriage Lincoln facetiously inquired of his I good friend Joshua F. Speed: "Are you possessing houses and lands, and oxen and asses, and men-servants and maid-servants, and begetting sons and daughters?" Then he described how economically he and his wife were living. "We are not keeping house," he wrote, "but boarding at the Globe Tavern, which is very well kept now by a widow lady of the name of Beck. Our room (the same that Dr. Wallace occupied there) and boarding only costs us four dollars a week." 1 In the same letter he stated that "poverty," "the necessity of attending to business," and the approaching birth of a child made a visit to Kentucky out of the question. It has generally been assumed, on the basis of a literal interpreta- tion of Lincoln's letter, that four dollars a week was the cost of room and board for both him and Mrs. Lincoln. However, that may have been the charge for each person. A case which came before the Supreme Court a few years later involved a contract, made on April 15, 1848, by which the plaintiff agreed to board the defendant for one year at the rate of two dollars a week, the latter to furnish his own room. 2 But whether the four dollars applied to one or both members of the family, 1 Works, I, 268. 2 Clements v. McConnel, 14 111. 154. 83 84 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln the Lincolns' scale of living was a modest one. That fact is made clear by the recollections of Sophie Bledsoe, who lived at the Globe Tavern with her parents while the Lincolns resided there. 3 She wrote: When Robert was born, Mrs. Lincoln had no nurse for herself or the baby. Whether this was due to poverty or more probably to the great difficulty of securing domestic help, I do not know. But my mother, who never cared per- sonally for Mrs. Lincoln, went everyday to her room in the hotel, washed and dressed the baby, and made the mother comfortable and the room tidy, for several weeks, till Mrs. Lincoln was able to do these things for herself. I was very fond of babies, and took on myself the post of amateur nurse. I remember well how I used to lug this rather large baby about to my great delight, often dragging him through a hole in the fence between the tavern grounds and an adjacent empty lot, and laying him down in the high grass, where he con- tentedly lay awake or asleep, as the case might be. I have often since that time wondered how Mrs. Lincoln could have trusted a particularly small six year old with this charge. . . . 4 "These were lean years financially," wrote a careful student of Lin- coln's life, Dr. W. A. Evans, of the first years of Lincoln's marriage, "— the leanest that Mrs. Lincoln ever knew and that Lincoln knew after the first Springfield days." When one considers that between 1840 and 1850, Lincoln's annual income from the law was probably between $1,500 and $2,000, this statement appears to imply a greater degree of stringency than actually existed. For an income of $1,500 enabled one to live very well in Spring- field a hundred years ago. That is apparent from a debate which took place in the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1847. The subject of discussion was the salary to be paid to the Governor. One of the members, supporting his contention that $1,200 a year was sufficient, stated that "he had made inquiries, and was informed that his friend from Sangamon [Ninian W. Edwards] who, as everyone was aware, lived well, gave the most elegant and sumptuous entertainments, and whose 3 She was the daughter of Albert Taylor Bledsoe, a prominent lawyer and political associate of Lincoln in the early 1840s. Bledsoe later became Assistant Secretary of War in the Confederacy, and a bitter critic of his former friend. *Sophie Bledsoe Herrick, "Personal Recollections of My Father and Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Davis," Methodist Review, April, 1915, 666-79. Family Expenses 85 house was always open to the members of the Legislature and strangers, had said that his expenses did not exceed $1,200 a year." Edwards ad- mitted, with some qualifications, that his living expenses were within the amount specified. But during this same decade, Lincoln's expenses were heavy. He bought his home, paid off— or finished paying off— his New Salem debt, contributed to the support of his parents, and saw his own family en- larged by the birth of three sons. In politics he made a long speaking tour in the presidential campaign of 1844, and his own campaign for Congress in 1846 meant both expense and loss of income. Small wonder that he cared for his own horse, milked his own cow, and cut his own firewood; small wonder too that Mrs. Lincoln did much of the family serving and most of the cooking and housework. (There were times, during the late '4o's, when she had a servant. Prevailing pay for girls doing housework was $1.50 per week.) Nevertheless, as Dr. Evans also recognizes, "it is not probable that the Lincolns were ever hard pressed for money, at least after 1844." Plain living is far different from poverty. Had Lincoln been as poor as some writers have portrayed him, it is unlikely that he would have taken his family with him to Washington in 1847, when he took his seat in Congress, and it would have been impossible for him to have begun the practice of making loans, as he did upon the conclusion of his term. When Lincoln decided to take his family to Washington he rented his house for one year to Cornelius Ludlum of Jacksonville, a brick contractor. Ludlum agreed to pay Lincoln ninety dollars, in quarterly installments, and to reserve the "North-up-stairs room" for the storage of Lincoln's furniture. The lease was to be in force for one year after November 1, 1847. Mrs. Lincoln and the boys, Robert and Edward, remained in Wash- ington until the early spring of 1848, when they returned to Lexington, Kentucky, to continue a visit with Mrs. Lincoln's family made the previ- 86 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln ous fall. A few of Lincoln's letters to his wife at this time have been pre- served. In one, dated April 16, 1848, he confessed that when his wife was with him he thought she interfered with business, but now that she was gone, he found business a very tasteless affair. "I hate to sit down and direct documents,' ' he wrote, "and I hate to stay in this old room by myself." As a respite from business and the room he had gone shopping for plaid stockings but found that "McKnight has quit busi- ness and Allen had not a single pair of the description you give and only one plaid pair of any sort that I thought would fit 'Eddy's dear little feet.' I have a notion to make another trial tomorrow morning." But he reported more success shopping for himself, getting a "very pretty set of shirt-bosom studs— modest little ones, jet set in gold, only costing 50 cents apiece or $1.50 for the whole." 5 He sent her drafts for expenses, and in one letter asked about two bills for purchases which she had made. "P. H. Hood 8c Co.," he wrote, "dunned me for a little bill of $5.38 and Walter Harper 2c Co. another for $8.50 cents, for goods which they say you bought. I hesitated to pay them, because my recollection is that you told me when you went away, there was nothing left unpaid." He urged his wife to get a girl to help "take charge of the dear codgers," then aged two and five years. 6 Mrs. Lincoln received from the estate of her father, Robert S. Todd of Lexington, Kentucky, approximately $1,000. Todd died intestate in 1849, leaving many creditors, and they and the host of counsel which the various heirs employed in the litigation which ensued, played havoc with the estate. Court files are incomplete and the above figure has been arrived at by William H. Townsend of Lexington, after a thorough examination of available records. Mr. Todd's estate consisted of a 38^4 acre farm in Franklin County, a house and lot on Main Street in Lex- ington, one-third interest in the manufacturing firm of Oldham, Todd 8c Co., and personal property, including several slaves. Proceeds of the 5 Angle, New Letters, 41-2. 6 Ibid., 45-6. c3 3d Family Expenses 87 sale of these holdings was divided between his widow and fourteen children. 7 Like all householders, Lincoln found that the upkeep of real estate entailed considerable expense. He had his house painted prior to his term in Congress, and upon his return there was considerable remodel- ing done. Ceilings were whitewashed and hearths repaired by John E. Roll, a local contractor who, in the spring of 1831, as a boy of eighteen, had helped Lincoln build the flatboat at Sangamo Town. Lincoln paid part of Roll's bill of $26.60, by giving him six walnut doors. Roll white- washed two more rooms on March 30, 1850, and turned in a bill for two dollars which Lincoln paid five months later. 8 In the same year the front yard was greatly improved by the erection of a brick retaining wall along the front of the fifty-foot lot. Five years later the wall was extended along one-fourth of the Jackson Street side of the lot. A high board fence running from the end of the brick wall to the rear of the lot was then constructed. In 1856, Lincoln undertook a major improvement. Springfield was not only growing; it was also becoming a city. Railroads now connected it with Chicago and St. Louis, and the Great Western was rapidly ex- tending its tracks across the state. Streets in the business district were covered with planking and gas lights illuminated the intersections. The Governor's Mansion was nearing completion, and Governor Matteson, in anticipation of the end of his term, was building a home that was to be the envy and admiration of the city. In keeping with the trend, and to provide room for a family of growing boys, the Lincoln home was enlarged from a story and a half to two full stories. Mrs. John T. Stuart in a letter to her daughter Elizabeth, on April 3, 1856, wrote: "Mr. Lincoln has commenced raising his back building two stories high. ^Details of the closing of the Todd estate are given in a letter of William H. Townsend to Albert J. Beveridge, Lexington, Ky., Feb. 17, 1926, a copy of which is in the files of the A. L. Association. 8 Photo of Roll Account Book owned by J. Linden Roll, Springfield, 111. A. L. Bowen, "A. Lin- coln: His House," in Lincoln Centennial Association Papers, 1925, is the best account of this subject. 88 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln I think they will have room enough before they are done, particularly as Mary seldom uses what she has." The work was done by Hannan & Ragsdale, local contractors, and the cost, according to a summary of Springfield improvements published by the Illinois State Journal? was $1,300. Mrs. Lincoln had some further changes made the follow- ing year at the cost of an additional $200. 10 It is possible that Mrs. Lincoln paid for these improvements her- self. On September 18, 1854 she sold the eighty acre tract which her father had given her ten years earlier. 11 Although no mortgage in her favor is recorded, she may not have received payment at the time. The sale price— $1200— would have paid nearly all the cost of the improve- ments made in 1856 and 1857. From these improvements and the purchases of wall paper from John Williams 8c Co., 12 it is certain that the house of the Lincolns was in good condition when it was rented to Lucian A. Tilton, President of the Great Western R.R., in February, 1861, for $350 a year. It is in- teresting to note that the rental was nearly four times that which Lin- coln received from Cornelius Ludlum in 1 847— an increase that would be accounted for in part by rising property values and in part by the intrinsically greater worth of the house. In 1861, when Lincoln insured the property with the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, he put a valuation of $3,000 upon the house. The carriage house was valued at $75 and the wood house and privy at $125. The rate on all these build- ings was seventy-five cents a hundred, making the total premium twenty- four dollars a year. The best description of the Lincoln home as it appeared at the time of its owner's election to the Presidency is that which appeared in con- nection with a woodcut published in Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on March 9, 1861. 9///. State Journal, Jan. 6, 1857. Costs reported in articles of this kind are often inaccurate. l0 Pasfi.eld Scrap Book, in A. L. Association file. 11 Sangamon County Deed Book. l2 See Williams & Co. account in the Appendix. Family Expenses 89 The simple home of this American Statesman, and President Elect of the United States, is situated on the corner of Eighth and Edwards Streets, and here he has resided for twenty years out of the three and twenty he has been a dweller in Springfield. It stands on a sort of platform of brickwork, and is two stories high, having two windows on each side of the door and five on the upper story. The side view shows it has an extension and side entrance with a receding stoop running the whole length of the extension. In the rear are the stables and barn. The edifice is painted of a pale chocolate color, and the window blinds are of deep green. The roof extends a little over the edges, like that of a Swiss cottage. The rooms are elegantly and comfortably furnished with strong well- made furniture, made for use and not for show. On the front is a black door plate, on which, in silvered Roman characters, is inscribed the magical name "A. Lincoln." During the 1850's Lincoln had charge accounts in several Spring- field stores, including John Williams $c Co.; Bressmer, McQuinton $c Matheny; Corneau Sc Diller; John Irwin $c Co., and the stores operated by two brothers-in-law, N. W. Edwards and C. M. Smith. John Williams 8c Company's account books, which have been preserved for the years 1851-1861, show frequent purchases of yard goods, buttons, and thread —as one would expect in a day when sewing was done in the home— and also purchases of gloves, combs, boots, slippers and other articles of ap- parel. During this period the Lincolns bought most of their groceries elsewhere, although occasional food purchases were made of Williams. Most interesting of these charges are four entries for five pounds of "Java Coffee" on August 21, September 1 1, September 25, and October 16, 1858— a total of twenty pounds in less than two months, and that while Lincoln was absent almost continuously in his campaign against Douglas. Alexander Black, a clerk at Williams', recalled that Lincoln would come in and address the proprietor: "Colonel, my wife tells me we are out of tea. Put up a pound of the best." While young Black went about filling the order, Lincoln would launch at once into a talk with Williams about politics or town matters. It was the clerk's duty to take around the bills for periodical settlement. Lincoln never studied them or ques- 90 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln tioned them. He handed over the amount called for and apparently gave the account no further thought. 13 Shopping at Williams' was done generally by Mrs. Lincoln and the boys. One can imagine the pride with which the bookkeeper made the following somewhat premature entry on June 21, i860: "President Abraham Lincoln to R. Coon %c Bro. 1 pair small heeled boots for Tad JOHN WILLIAMS & CO. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, NAIJLS, SAI/T etc., etc., etc., Nos. 2 and 4, North aide of the Square, SPRINGFIELD, ILL. AGAIN TAKE PLEASURE IN AN- nouncing to the public that they haye just received from the Eastern Cities^tneir FOURTH LARGE STOCK OF GOODS For the year, which were bought at such prices that we can easily afford to sell our city merchants their stocks, and are prepared to offer them to our customers at prices fully 25 per cent, lower than last spring, owing to our unusual facil- ities for buying — paying cash, and buying on very short time. Wo have a beautiful variety of DRESS GOODS to which we want to call particular attention, as such styles as we have cannot be found in any other house in the city, and are offering them at prices that defy competition, The Lincolns traded here. 1 .25." Altogether, the Lincoln purchases of John Williams & Co. totalled $318.59 for the ten year period. Two of the account books, a ledger for 1858, and a day book for 1859, of C. M. Sc S. Smith, "Dealers in Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots, and Shoes," have also been preserved. In this store Clark M. Smith, the husband of Mrs. Lincoln's youngest sister, Anna Maria Todd, was a partner. As at Williams', the majority of the family purchases were for dry goods and apparel— " 1 Gents Stock $1 .25" and " 1 Silk Hat $5.00" for Lincoln; "2 Bonnet Ruches @ .75", "16 yds. Grena- dine @ $2.00," and "1 Tidie $1.25" for Mrs. Lincoln. There were pur- chases of pocket knives, hats, shoes and socks for the boys. Sugar was the food most commonly purchased at Smith's, either plain sugar at ten 13 Clipping in MacChesney Scrap Book, Vol. 29, p. 7086. In Chicago Historical Society. Family Expenses 9 1 pounds for one dollar, or crushed and pulverized sugar at sixteen and two-thirds cents a pound. A total of 307 pounds of the three kinds was purchased in 1859. Java coffee at twenty cents a pound, and Star Candles at twenty-five cents a pound in four pound lots were regular purchases. MAMMOTH SXOCK OF FALL & WINTER GOODS, Is now he largest and most complete assortment 01 all the new and desirable styles of fall and winter goods, that could be found in the eastern markets, now receiving and opening, at the lowest possible price, they will be bold so as to defy competition. CAIX AND SBJB, &ADIE&, If you cannot suit yourselves better in quality, etyles an prices, than any other Houses in the city. We will show you through our stock with pleasure. <**- SHAWLS. We would respectfully inform the ladies of this City antf County and all the surrounding counties, that wo are now opening the LARGEST AND MOST ELEGANT Stock of mantilla silk shawls, with sheneel and velvet border. Mantilla stella shawls, French Stella shawls, very handsome. Wool long shawls, Misses wool long and square shawls, and in fact nothing else but the most beautiful and complete stock of shawls of all kinds (gents included) that has ever been exhibited in this city. They are now ready for your inspection. Give, us a call. The Lincolns traded with their brother-in-law , C. M. Smith. A purchase of thirty-two pounds of coffee on March 28, 1859, was P roD_ ably for a large party at the Lincoln home. The winter supply of wood was delivered on October 8th. On Smith's day-book that day is this entry: "A. Lincoln Dr. to George Brunk for 10 cords of Wood at $4.00." Purchases in 1858 totalled $556.18 and $499.81 in 1859. At long intervals Lincoln would make payments on his account, but on March 15, 1859 he gave his check for $407.72 in full settlement. 14 Lincoln made but three purchases in 1859, the trading being about equally divided uphoto of C. M. & S. Smith account books, and Lincoln's account in Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company. 92 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln between the sons, Robert and William, and Mrs. Lincoln. A descrip- tion of Lincoln, on his way to market, was given by Wm. H. Herndon in his lecture entitled, "Analysis of the Character of Abraham Lincoln." He said: "Of a winter's morning he might be seen stalking and stilting it toward the market house basket on his arm, his old gray shawl, rope like wrapped around his neck." At Corneau & Diller's the Lincolns bought drugs and medicines, soap, toilet articles, and such commodities as cream of tartar, vanilla, and brandy for cooking and preserving. The available account books, which cover the period February 15, 1855 to December 31, i860, show total purchases of $40.95. During this period Lincoln made three cash payments— one of $12.50 on June 29, 1856, another of $3.20 on Feb- ruary 13, 1858, and a third of $24.70 on February 1, i860. Not all purchases were made in Springfield. On one occasion Lin- coln ordered thirty-five yards of carpet of J. C. Louderman & Co., of St. Louis, sending a sample of his old carpet by a local banker who was going to St. Louis. The cost of the carpet Lincoln agreed to pay promptly. 15 A small but interesting purchase made for the boys was a "cottage bedstead," bought in September, 1857, from John Hutchinson, who operated a furniture factory in addition to his undertaking estab- lishment. Lincoln paid the bill with a check for $ 1 1 and turned in a trundlebed, for which he received a credit of $2. Charged to Lincoln's account at the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Co., are several checks— for example, $38 on July 11, 1859, and $25 on February 6, i860— which correspond with deposits made at the same times by Mrs. Albina M. Labarthe, the town's leading milliner and dressmaker. Undoubtedly these checks were given in payment of purchases made by Mrs. Lincoln. Two other checks on the account prob- ably account for social activities at the Lincoln home. A check for $41.72 to W. W. Watson 8c Son, confectioners, suggests a large party in early December, 1855. Van Ness & Co., dealers in china, glass, queens- 15 Angle, New Letters, 84. Family Expenses 93 ware, lamps and cutlery, cashed Lincoln's check for $35.72 on Feb- ruary 26, 1859. 16 Lincoln's contributions to the church are a subject which it would be pleasing to describe in detail, but the facts are not available. Records of the treasurers of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which Mrs. Lincoln attended prior to 1852, and of the First Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member after that date, cannot be found. It is known, how- ever, that Lincoln rented a pew in the First Presbyterian Church. Most members of his financial standing paid annual pew rents of either $25.00 or $30.00. On the other hand, a check to "First Church" for $10.00, dated February 1, i860, may have represented a quarterly payment. And to add to the confusion, there is the statement of Thomas Lewis— elder, trustee, treasurer, and collector of the church— that Lincoln paid $50.00 a year. Traveling was not a common luxury, at least for Middle Westerners, before the Civil War. Yet the Lincolns took several vacation trips. Those made in connection with Lincoln's service in Congress have al- ready been mentioned. From a letter which Lincoln wrote to Joshua Speed in the summer of 1855, we know that Mrs. Lincoln was contem- plating a visit to her relatives in Lexington in October of that year, but for some reason, the proposed trip was not made. In 1857, however, she accompanied her husband to New York City when he went there to consult officials of the Illinois Central about the payment of his fee in the McLean County case. "We visited Niagara, Canada, New York and other points of interest," she wrote to her sister Emilie in September. 17 From the entry in the register of the Cataract House at Niagara Falls, which reads: "A. Lincoln & Family, Springfield, Illinois," it is apparent that at least one of the Lincoln boys accompanied the parents. The Lin- colns were members of a party that spent a week in July, 1 859, travel- ing over the lines of the Illinois Central Railroad for the purpose of ^Facsimile of Watson check in Bloomington (111.) Pantagraph, Feb. 6, 1909. The original check to Van Ness & Co., is owned by George A. Dondero, Royal Oak, Mich. 17 Katherine Helm, Mary, Wife of Lincoln (New York and London, 1928). 122-23. 94 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln assessing the road's property. That same year, Mrs. Lincoln and one of the boys accompanied Lincoln when he spoke in Columbus and Cin- cinnati in September. 18 Entertainment accounted for no large part of the family budget. It is probable, however, that Herndon, David Davis, and others allowed their prejudices to color their memories when, after Lincoln's death, they commented on the paucity of Lincoln's invitations, and attributed it to Mrs. Lincoln's parsimony. The diary of Orville H. Browning shows that he was often a guest in the Lincoln home. Browning's contem- porary record, moreover, is supported by the recollections of Isaac N. Arnold, who was a frequent visitor in Springfield between 1840 and i860. Addressing the Illinois State Bar Association in 1881, Arnold said: I must not omit to mention the old-fashioned, generous hospitality of Spring- field—hospitality proverbial to this day throughout the State. Among others, I recall, with sad pleasure, the dinners and evening parties given by Mrs. Lincoln. In her modest and simple home, everything orderly and refined, there was always, on the part of both host and hostess, a cordial and hearty Western welcome, which put every guest perfectly at ease. Mrs. Lincoln's table was famed for the excellence of many rare Kentucky dishes, and in season, it was loaded with venison, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, quail and other game, which was then abundant. Yet it was her genial manners and ever-kind welcome, and Mr. Lin- coln's wit and humor, anecdote and unrivalled conversation, which formed the chief attraction. 19 "Springfield has been very gay this winter more so than I ever knew it," wrote John T. Stuart, Lincoln's first law partner and a resident since 1828, in a letter to his daughter, Elizabeth, on February 4, 1855. 20 His statement is borne out by detailed descriptions in the weekly letters of Stuart and his wife to their daughter. The letters are full of the de- tails of parties, entertainments, church suppers, weddings, and dances. Only the social affairs attended by the Lincolns can be mentioned here. is Angle, Lincoln, 1 8 54-1861, 289-90; 298-99 gives full references to the last two trips mentioned. 19 Annual Report, Illinois State Bar Association, 1881, 106. 20 John T. Stuart to Elizabeth J. Stuart, Springfield, 111., Feb. 4, 1855. This letter and the Stuart letters quoted from hereafter, are owned by the heirs of Stuart Brown, Springfield, 111. - o 3 ~c^ o Oh £ G G 'So 3 Family Expenses 95 It is reasonable to believe that if the Lincolns attended numerous social affairs they, in turn, did their share of entertaining. "I spent the evening out last evening," wrote Mrs. Stuart on January 21, 1855. "We were invited to a little family gathering at Dr. Wallaces. When arrived we found the family extended, including some fifty or sixty. Quite a pleasant party it was. There I met for the first time, Emily Todd, she is sprightly and pretty. There seems no bounds to the spirit of gayety and dissipation just now, there has been one party and sometimes two or more every evening for two weeks and a disposition still to keep it up. I have heard seven spoken of for next week." 21 The Lincolns are not mentioned in Mrs. Stuart's letter, but they were probably present. Emily Todd had four sisters in Springfield, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. William Wallace, Mrs. Ninian W. Edwards, and Mrs. C. M. Smith. A week later Mrs. Stuart wrote to her daughter of the lively society of Springfield. "The good people of Springfield seem to have given themselves up to the spirit of gayety for the last few weeks, parties and entertainments are the order of the day, and our ladies intend next week shall be devoted to the same cause. The week is to be opened by a party Monday evening at Mr. N. Edwards, and also one the same evening at Mr. William Grimsleys. Tuesday evening, a dance for the young people at the Gov. Wednesday, Mrs. [William B.] Fondey is to give a large party, and others to make out the week which I do not remem- ber. . . . "Last Friday we dined at Mr. Smiths, in company with Dr. and Fanny Wallace, Mr. Lincoln and Mary, Mr. Edwards and Elizabeth. . . ," 22 Gas was being installed in the business district and in some resi- dences in 1855, an d tne ladies of the First Presbyterian Church, to which Mrs. Lincoln belonged, set out to raise the money necessary to install gas in the church. Mrs. Lincoln probably had a part in the preparation of the dinner which brought more than $200 into the church treasury. Mr. Stuart made brief mention of the dinner in a letter on February 1 1 . ''They have had another gay week in town. Tuesday night came off 21 Mrs. John T. Stuart to Elizabeth J. Stuart, Springfield, 111., Jan. 21, 1855 nibid., Jan. 28, 1855. 96 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln at Masonic Hall the ladies supper. It was largely attended. The supper was very good and everything went off pleasantly. . . . The next evening Mrs. [George L.] Huntington had a party not large but very pleasant. . . . The next evening, Thursday, there was a very large party at Mr. [Nicholas] Ridgleys. A perfect squeeze. The house was brilliantly lighted with gas. The company very gaily dressed, the supper very good and upon the whole everything very pleasant." 23 A social season similar to that described in the letters above marked the winter of 1855-1856. In a twelve-page letter written on December 19, 1855, to ^is daughter, Mr. Stuart described the wedding of Caroline Lamb and William J. Black, a young Springfield lawyer. The Stuarts arrived at the Lamb home just at the conclusion of the ceremony. "We press through the crowd," he wrote. "We push and they push. We tread on their toes and they tread on ours. See there is Judge Logan with Miss Mary on his arm, he is making towards the Bridegroom and Bride— look at his forehead— how the sweat rolls down. Would rather argue a case in the Supreme Court than to struggle thus. All the world is here. All the sewing societies broke loose. ... I reach the passage. I back into a corner and look upon the crowd . . . how many old acquaintances seem to be thrown together tonight. . . . But look they are crowding in to the supper. Mother takes my arm and we go in with the crowd. . . . "Close by are Cousins Mary Lincoln, Lizzie Edwards and Mrs. B. S. Edwards. First oyster sallad 8cc, then ice cream and cake." 24 The Executive Mansion, which had just been completed and oc- cupied by Governor Joel A. Matteson and his family, was the scene of several parties in January, 1856. The Lincolns attended one eve- ning affair and their son Robert was a guest at the party for the young people on the following night. A few excerpts from Mr. Stuart's letter of January 13, describing the two parties read as follows: "The parties 23 John T. Stuart to Elizabeth J. Stuart, Springfield, 111., Feb. 11, 1855. 24 Ibid., Dec. 19, 1855. Family Expenses 97 at the Governors were splendid affairs topping anything before in Springfield especially when the house is taken into consideration. It was said that one thousand invitations were sent out for Thursday eve- ning including one for yourself which I enclosed you in my last letter. 400 of these however were away from Springfield. . . . The Ladies some of them I may say most of them were elegantly dressed and all seemed to enjoy themselves. . . . One half the house was occupied by us old folks the other by the youngsters 'tripping the light fantastic.' ... It was very unfortunate that about night the gas became frozen or rather the water in the gas fixtures, so that the house had to be lighted with candles hastily arranged. "The next evening all the small 'folks' were invited. . . . The house was full of boys and girls. The gas was in full operation— the band was in attendance— all the rooms were thrown open, and all the children danced or at least hopped around. John [Stuart, Jr.] danced all eve- ning in his way. Next day he and Bob Lincoln were hunting up the dancing master." 25 Mrs. William Wallace entertained in May, 1856, in honor of two brothers and a sister of Dr. Wallace who were visiting in Springfield. The Lincolns were probably present. A week later, on June 2, they attended a dinner at the Wallace's, which Mr. Stuart noted briefly in his letter to his daughter. He wrote: "I was invited to come to Cousin Anns today after Church to eat strawberries Sc ice cream. We had a fine dinner and plenty of cream 8c berries. Lincoln & Cousin Mary, Mother & myself and Dr. Wallace were there." 26 One of Mrs. Lincoln's letters to her sister Emilie, who married Ben Hardin Helm, an Elizabethtown, Kentucky, lawyer and son of Governor Helm of Kentucky, contains mention of a huge party which she and her husband gave in February, 1857, but the manner of her reference indi- cates that the occasion was a rare one. Mrs. Lincoln wrote: KIbid., Jan. 13, 1856. 2 *Ibid., May 25, June 2, 1856. 98 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln I may surprise you when I mention that I am recovering from the slight fatigue of a very large and I really believe a very handsome entertainment, at least our friends flatter us by saying so. About five hundred were invited, yet owing to an unlucky rain three hundred only favored us by their presence and the same evening in Jacksonville, Colonel Warren gave a bridal party to his son who married Miss Birchall of this place which occasion robbed us of some of our friends. You will think we have enlarged our borders since you were here. 27 The last social function in Springfield at which the Lincolns were hosts was one which must have entailed considerable expense. Held on February 6, 1861, it was described in fulsome terms by a Springfield correspondent of the St. Louis Missouri Democrat: It was a great outpouring of citizens and strangers, together with the mem- bers of the legislature. Your humble servant was invited to attend. Mr. Lincoln threw open his house for a general reception of all the people who felt disposed to give him and his lady a parting call. The levee lasted from seven to twelve o'clock in the evening, and the house thronged by thousands up to a late hour. Mr. Lincoln received the guests as they entered and were made known. They then passed on, and were introduced to Mrs. Lincoln, who stood near the center of the parlors, and who, I must say, acquitted herself most gracefully and admirably. She was dressed plainly, but richly. She wore a beautiful, full trail, white moire antique silk, with a small French lace collar. Her neck was orna- mented with a string of pearls. Her head dress was a simple and delicate vine, arranged with much taste. She displayed but little jewelry, and this was well and appropriately adjusted. She is a lady of fine figure and accomplished address, and is well calculated to grace and do honors at the White House. 28 27 Helm, mi. ^Journal, 111. State Hist. Soc, Oct. 1918, 386. VI The Cost of Politics When I received the bond I was dabbling in politics, and of course neglecting business. Having since been beaten out I have gone to work again. Lincoln to Sanford, Porter and Striker, March 10, 1855. When Lincoln was nominated for United States Senator by the Republican State Convention in Springfield, June 16, 1858, he was the undisputed leader of his party. The nomination was made be- cause of his ability as an orator, debater, and campaign strategist. It was also a recognition of his sacrifice of time and money for twenty years in the interests of the party. He had missed the fall terms of the courts in campaign after campaign to carry on the political fight. Four times, in 1840, 1844, 1852 and 1856, he was a presidential elector, a post which then carried with it the obligation of extensive stump speaking. Writing in i860, Lincoln stated that he had "spent much time and labor in the canvasses." 1 In 1840 and 1844 he went on long speaking tours through southern Illinois, and in the latter campaign he spoke also in Kentucky and Indiana. In 1 844 he was unable to attend the fall terms of any of the courts of the Eighth Judicial Circuit except Sanga- mon, which met after the election. 2 To the loss of income from his prac- tice should be added the incidental expense of nearly four months of travel. The only compensation he is known to have received on these two tours was for bringing the Lawrence County election returns to Springfield. In 1840 he received $19.00 on this account from the State Auditor, and in 1844 tne payment was $i7-6o. 3 1 Works, VI, 34. 2 Pratt, Lincoln, 1840-1846, 255. sphoto of Auditor's warrants in files of A. L. Assoc. Logan Hay, President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, 1920-1942, estimated that Lincoln spent $2,000 on politics in 1836-1844. 99 ioo The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln In addition to stump speaking, Lincoln took an active part in party management. He was one of the Junto leaders responsible for the first state convention of the Whig Party, which met in Springfield in Oc- tober, 1839, and for the Young Men's Whig Convention in June, 1840, the largest political gathering which Illinois was to see for many years. He was also one of the editors of The Old Soldier, the campaign paper which the Whigs published in 1 840, and doubtless a financial contribu- tor too, since part of the cost of publications was usually borne by the party leaders. Lincoln was nominated for Congress in the Seventh District by a Whig convention which met at Petersburg, May 1, 1846. His opponent was the eminent Methodist circuit rider, Peter Cartwright, and a spirited campaign was carried on in the eleven counties of the district. Forty-one years later Joshua F. Speed stated that the Whig leaders col- lected a purse of $200, and that he himself handed it to Lincoln to pay the latter's personal expenses in the canvass. After the election Lincoln returned $199.25, with the request that it be given back to the sub- scribers. "I did not need the money," he said. "I made the canvass on my own horse, my entertainment being at the houses of friends, cost me nothing; and my only outlay was 75 cents for a barrel of cider, which some farmhands insisted I should treat them to." But one should remember that Speed sold his store in Springfield in 1841 and removed to Kentucky, and that it is improbable that he was present in 1846 to hand the money to Lincoln. Perhaps that is why Speed's story appeared in the Nicolay k. Hay life of Lincoln in the Century Magazine for Feb- ruary, 1887, b ut was omitted by the authors when their biography came out in book form three years later. General Zachary Taylor's victories in the Mexican War made him a popular hero and the favorite of many Whigs as their party candidate for President in 1848. Lincoln was one of the earliest Taylor converts and promoted the General's candidacy at every opportunity, both be- fore and after the nomination. He urged his friends and constituents The Cost of Politics i o i in Illinois to subscribe for The Battery, the campaign sheet issued in Washington, and subscribed for two copies himself. To Stephen A. Hurlbut, a party leader at Belvidere, he wrote that the paper promised well, and asked Hurlbut to get as many subscribers as possible. "I have put you down for one copy," he wrote, "the subscription for which I will pay myself, if you are not satisfied with it." 4 To present his own views on the Mexican War, as well as to support Taylor's candidacy, Lincoln spent $132.30 for speeches in the first ses- sion of the Thirtieth Congress, and franked them to his constituents. The speeches were issued at one cent each, regardless of length. Lin- coln's speech of January 12, 1848, on the origin of the Mexican War probably made up the bulk of the 7,580 copies of his own speeches which he purchased. Only six of the 232 members of the House spent more than $100 for speeches at this session. 5 When Congress adjourned on August 14, 1848, Lincoln was one of the few House members to stay in Washington and promote the party interest. He franked literature and made several addresses in Maryland prior to leaving Washington on September 9 on a speaking tour of New England. This tour began at Worcester and ended two weeks later at Boston, with eight intervening speeches. He probably received his expenses from the party. A leisurely trip with Mrs. Lincoln and the boys, by the lake route from Buffalo to Chicago, was followed by a month of active campaigning in Illinois prior to the election. 6 As usual, Illinois went Democratic, but the election of President Taylor gave Lincoln hope of a federal appointment. He had renounced any claims to a second term in Congress, but he felt that his unwearied efforts in behalf of the party in the campaign should be rewarded. To 4 Works, II, 58. The Battery subscription was fifty cents. 5 Account book of Jacob Gideon and George S. Gideon, Washington, D. C., printers, 1845-1849. The original book is in the Library of Congress. 6 Levi North to Lyman Trumbull, Kewanee, 111., April 16, 1864. Original letter in 111. State Hist. Lib. North stated that he was on the steamer Globe and discussed the question of slavery for two days with Lincoln on the trip from Buffalo to Chicago. The Globe left Buffalo on Sept. 26 on the 1,047 mile tri P to Chicago, arriving Oct. 5, 1848. Buffalo Commercial, Sept. 26, 1848; Chicago Daily Journal, Oct. 6, 1848. 102 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Speed he wrote that he had little hopes of a "first class office; and a sec- ond class one would not compensate me for being snarled at by others who want it for themselves;" nevertheless, he set out to press his claims. 7 He soon found that his pledge to support Cyrus Edwards of Alton for Commissioner of the General Land Office— an appointment worth $3,000 a year— interfered with his own ambition. This was the office which, by general agreement, was to go to Illinois. It was quickly ap- parent, however, that there was danger that rival claimants would kill off each other, and that as a result, the appointment would go outside the state. Lincoln began to see himself as the only Illinoisan who could obtain the office. His friends urged him to take it. He hesitated. "If the office could be secured to Illinois only by my consent to accept it, and not otherwise," he wrote, "I give that consent;" but since he was pledged to Edwards, he "must not only be chaste, but above suspicion." 8 Thus matters stood when he learned that Justin Butterfield of Chi- cago had become a candidate. This aroused Lincoln's anger. Butterfield, in his opinion, had less claim to the office than any of a hundred Whigs in Illinois. He had fought for Clay against Taylor, and now asked an office of the latter. "It will now mortify me deeply if General Taylor's administration shall trample all my wishes in the dust," wrote Lincoln to J. M. Lucas. Butterfield's appointment would be "an egregious politi- cal blunder" which would "give offense to the whole Whig party here," he wrote to Congressman Embree of Indiana. 9 So he set out to get the office for himself. Marshaling his forces, Lincoln wrote letter after letter in May and early June, 1849. Not satisfied with this long range action, he set off for Washington, but upon arrival found that Butterfield was to have the appointment, principally through his friendship with Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. Sorely disappointed, Lincoln returned to Springfield. 7 Photo of letter to Speed, Feb. 20, 1849. The letter is in Hertz, New Portrait, II, 593, where it is "smiled at" instead of "snarled at." & Works, II, 110. 9 Works, II, 114, 121. ■1 *gfk «Sf ■ Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, Courtesy of the Illinois State Historical Library. The Cost of Politics 103 There was some satisfaction in that the appointment went to Illinois, but to his disappointment, he had to add the expenses of the trip to Washington, and the loss of fees from failure to attend the circuit courts. Stung by the ingratitude shown him in return for loyalty and im- portant service in the 1848 campaign, Lincoln believed his political fortunes were ended forever. Refusing appointments to the offices of Governor and of Secretary of the Oregon Territory, which paid $3,000 and $1,500 respectively, he went into political retirement for five years, emerging only temporarily in 1852 to serve as a presidential elector and make a few speeches for Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate. His financial contribution to politics was slight from 1849 to ^54, and even in the latter year his speeches against the Kansas-Nebraska bill were sandwiched between his court work. However, he did make a short tour of the district in behalf of Richard Yates, candidate for Congress, speaking in Winchester, Carrollton, Jacksonville, and elsewhere in August, 1854. The campaign cost him something because he wrote to Owen Lovejoy a year later that he was "busy trying to pick up my lost crumbs of last year." 10 Though not a delegate, Lincoln attended a convention, called by a group of editors, which met at Decatur, February 22, 1856. There he was one of the inner circle that made the plans for the Anti-Nebraska Convention held at Bloomington on May 29, 1856. At this convention he delivered the famous so-called "Lost Speech." The recognized leader of the new party, he entered vigorously into the campaign, speaking more than fifty times, and only intermittently practicing law. Both part- ners in the Lincoln and Herndon firm were Republican presidential electors. An offer of $500 to defray the expenses incidental to the campaign came from Alexander Campbell of La Salle. Campbell had been a man- ager of iron works in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Missouri prior to his removal to La Salle in 1850. He was active in politics, serving as 10 Tracy, 60. 104 Th e Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln mayor of La Salle in 1852-1853, and as a member of the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly in 1858-1859. Lincoln did not think so large a sum was needed, but did take between $200 and $300. Campbell later wrote that the "money was given to defray the personal expenses and otherwise promote the interest of the cause. ..." He added: "From what I knew and learned of his [Lincoln's] careful habits in money mat- ters in the campaign of 1856 I am entirely confident that every dollar and dime I ever gave was carefully and faithfully applied to the uses and purposes for which it was given." 11 Lincoln underestimated the expense of carrying on the campaign, for soon after the election he wrote to R. Thorne, a merchant of Ottawa: "Some little expense bills are on me and I have concluded to draw on you for $20 now, which is still ten dollars within the authority you kindly gave me." 12 When a call came in May, 1857, to ma ke some politi- cal speeches, Lincoln replied: "Having devoted the most of last year to politics, it is a necessity with me to devote this, to my private affairs." 13 In the senatorial campaign against Douglas in 1858, Lincoln again called on Campbell for financial aid. Nine days after his nomination he wrote: In 1856 you gave me authority to draw on you for any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars. I see clearly that such a privilege would be more available now than it was then. I am aware that times are tighter now than they were then. Please write me at all events; and whether you can now do anything or not, I shall continue grateful for the past. 14 A few days after final arrangements were completed with Douglas for the seven joint debates, Lincoln ordered from the Illinois State Journal, 7,000 copies of his speech delivered in Springfield, July 17, 1858, for which he paid $50. This was his "most 'taking' speech" he 1 1 A. Campbell to Jesse W. Weik, LaSalle, 111., Dec. 12, 1888, in Herndon's Lincoln (Angle, ed.), 329- 12 Photo of unpublished letter, Springfield, 111., Nov. 13, 1856. 13 Angle, New Letters, 165. Letter to C. D. Gilfillan, Springfield, 111., May 9, 1857. "Works, II, 17. The Cost of Politics 105 wrote to Gustave Koerner, and he expected the speech to be published in Chicago in the German language. 15 Many years later William H. Hannah, then a young Bloomington lawyer, said that he had offered Lincoln $500 but was refused. Hannah recalled that Lincoln said to him: "I am not so poor as you suppose— don't want any money, don't know how to use money on such occasions— can't do it and never will— though much obliged to you." 16 Ozias M. Hatch, Secretary of State of Illinois, 1857-1865, said he ' 'never heard that anybody received money in '58. I know some of us paid rather lib- erally after the election as well as before. Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Dubois paid $300 each at' one time after the election and I paid $275, but there was little or no money raised by the committee at that election." 17 Lincoln opened his campaign against Douglas at Beardstown on August 12, and delivered his sixty-third speech at Springfield on Octo- ber 30, 1858. It was a hard campaign involving 4,200 miles of travel by every form of conveyance, and an expensive campaign in time and money, for he missed the fall term of courts of the Eighth Circuit and filed no new cases in the Supreme Court. Two weeks after the election, Norman B. Judd, state chairman, wrote Lincoln that the party had unpaid bills and requested him to raise some money in Springfield. Lincoln replied: "As to the pecuniary matter, I am willing to pay according to my ability; but I am the poorest hand living to get others to pay. "I have been on expenses so long without earning anything that I am absolutely without money now for even household expenses. Still, if you can put in two hundred and fifty dollars for me toward discharg- ing the debt of the committee, I will allow it when you and I settle the private matter between us." This suggestion was not adopted by Judd. Lincoln then added that he had subscribed $500 in addition to the ordi- *5 Tracy, 92-93. 16 Herndon MSS., Vol. II, p. 157 in Huntington Library. 17 Ozias M. Hatch to Lyman Trumbull, Springfield, 111., July 14, i860. Trumbull MSS. in Li- brary of Congress. Jesse K. Dubois was elected Auditor of Public Accounts in 1856. 106 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln nary expenses incurred during the campaign, "all of which being added to my loss of time and business, bears heavily upon one no better off in this world's goods than I; but as I had the post of honor, it is not for me to be over nice." 18 Expressions in his letters indicated the costliness of the senatorial campaign. To former Governor Matteson he wrote: "Now, being hard run, we propose a little compromise." "I must stick to the courts awhile," he told another, and to a close friend he wrote in 1859 that he must keep an "eye on this year, as I lost pretty nearly all of the last." Costly and disappointing had been the senatorial race, but whatever despond- ency defeat had occasioned had disappeared by June 15, 1859 when Lincoln sent the Chicago Press & Tribune a draft for seven dollars, to pay a year's subscription, with a short note which read: "I suppose I shall take the Press & Tribune so long as it, and I both live, unless I be- come unable to pay for it. In its devotion to our cause always, and to me personally last year, I owe it a debt of gratitude, which I fear I shall never be able to pay." 19 Although disappointed in the result of the 1858 election, and out of ready cash, Lincoln had received wide notice by the debates, and requests were numerous for him to help in the 1859 state campaigns. A trip to western Iowa in August, though primarily for the purpose of inspecting land, was featured by a speech to a large audience in Council Bluffs. In December he returned over much the same route to aid in a state election in Kansas, speaking to small gatherings in Elwood, Troy, Doniphan, Atchison, and Leavenworth. His host was Mark W. Delahay, a former Illinois lawyer and politician. This trip was probably made at Lincoln's expense. Three months later Delahay, who was described as "distressingly impecunious and awfully bibulous," 20 wrote that Kansas would probably send delegates to Chicago instructed for Lincoln and that he could be a delegate if he had the money to make the trip. 18 Works, V, 93. 19 Hertz, New Portrait, II, 755 sowhitney, 333. The Cost of Politics 107 Lincoln replied: As to your kind wishes for myself, allow me to say I can not enter the ring on the money basis— first, because, in the main, it is wrong: and secondly, I have not, and can not get, the money. I say, in the main, the use of money is wrong; but for certain objects, in a political contest, the use of some, is both right and indispensable. With me as with yourself, this long struggle has been one of great pecuniary loss. I now distinctly say this: If you shall be appointed a delegate to Chicago, I will furnish one hundred dollars to bear the expenses of the trip. 21 Delahay met with a double disappointment: he was left off the dele- gation, and the delegates were instructed for William H. Seward instead of Lincoln. Nevertheless, when informed of the result, Lincoln told him to come to the convention anyhow, and he would keep his word about the $100 expense money. 22 In 1859 Lincoln refused a request that he make several speeches in eastern Iowa, giving poverty as his reason. He wrote: "It is bad to be poor. I shall go to the wall for bread and meat, if I neglect my busi- ness this year as well as last." 23 In the same letter he admitted receiving an invitation from Minnesota, which he had declined, but Douglas's speeches in Ohio had provoked him into accepting invitations to speak there. Mrs. Lincoln urged acceptance of the Ohio invitations. Expenses for himself and his wife were probably promised by the Republican committee, and the trip would give her the opportunity to visit her cousin, Mrs. William M. Dickson, in Cincinnati. Withdrawing fifty dollars from the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company for expenses, Lincoln, accompanied by Mrs. Lin- coln and one son, went first to Columbus, where he spoke twice on Sep- tember 16, 1859. Enroute to Cincinnati the following day he spoke in the court house in Dayton and for a few minutes in Hamilton. Arriving in Cincinnati, he and Mrs. Lincoln were escorted to the Burnet House. His evening address was delivered in Market House Square. On the return trip he spoke to an enthusiastic audience in the Masonic Hall 2iTracy, 135. 22 Tracy, 141-42. 23 Works, V, 138. Lincoln to Hawkins Taylor, Springfield, 111., Sept. 6, 1859. 108 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln in Indianapolis. Nearly a year later he received from the proprietors of the Burnet House in Cincinnati, a bill for service. For "Board & Parlor self & family" from Saturday evening to Monday morning, the bill carried a charge of thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. This seemed a "little steep," wrote Lincoln to Dickson, asking him to look into the bill. He denied emphatically that he was responsible for sixteen dollars' worth of wine and cigars, but he wrote: "I can and will pay it if it is right, but I do not wish to be 'diddled.' " 24 Soon after his return from Ohio, Lincoln went to Milwaukee where, on September 30, 1859, ne delivered an address on agriculture before the Wisconsin Agricultural Society. For the speech, and for his expenses, he received $ioo. 25 On the same trip he made political speeches in Mil- waukee, Beloit, and Janesville. Before the end of the year Lincoln was invited to deliver an address in Henry Ward Beecher's church in Brooklyn. Three considerations prompted him to accept: first, the speech would promote his interests as a candidate for President; second, it would give him an opportunity to visit his son Robert in school at Exeter, New Hampshire; and third, two hundred dollars to defray expenses was guaranteed. News of the invitation reached the Democratic Illinois State Regis- ter, which commented satirically: "Subject, not known. Consideration, $200 and expenses. Object, presidential capital. Effect, disappoint- ment." 26 This charge was taken up by other Democratic papers and reiterated for weeks after the speech was delivered. 27 Lincoln refused to answer the charge, for he knew that his opponents were trying to involve him in a controversy which could do him no good, and might do harm. However, he did write to C. F. McNeil, editor of a small newspaper in Middleport, Illinois, denying that he had ever charged anything for a political speech, adding: "but this is true: Last October I was requested 24 Angle, New Letters, 247-48; 249-50. Dickson paid the bill. 25 Wm. G. Bruce, History of Milwaukee City and County (Chicago and Milwaukee, 1922), 162. 26//Z. State Register, Feb. 23, i860. 27 Peoria Daily Democratic Union, May 19, i860. The Cost of Politics 109 by letter to deliver some sort of speech in Mr. Beecher's church, in Brooklyn— two hundred dollars being offered in the first letter." The sponsors agreed to take a political speech if he did not have time to pre- pare another, and not until his arrival in New York did he learn that the place was changed to Cooper Institute. "I made the speech," Lin- coln continued, "and left for New Hampshire, where I have a son at school, neither asking for pay, nor having any offered me. Three days after a check for two hundred dollars was sent to me at New Hampshire; and I took it, and did not know it was wrong. My understanding now is —though I knew nothing of it at the time— that they did charge for ad- mittance to the Cooper Institute, and that they took in more than twice two hundred dollars." 28 The Register's prediction that the effect of the Cooper Union ad- dress would be "disappointment" was wide of the mark, for the speech gave a definite impetus to Lincoln's pre -convention campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. No sooner had he reached home than one would-be supporter wrote to him, apparently offering to work on his behalf in return for substantial compensation. "The money part of the arrangement you propose," Lincoln replied, "is, with me, an im- possibility. I could not raise ten thousand dollars if it would save me from the fate of John Brown. Nor have my friends, so far as I know, yet reached the point of staking any money on my chances of success." 29 But this was merely modesty nicely expressed at a time when one wrong move could ruin his chance of getting the nomination. Several of his friends were both able and willing to spend their money in the promo- tion of his candidacy. When the Chicago Convention assembled in May, i860, Judge David Davis adjourned the courts of the Eighth Circuit and took several of the lawyers with him to Chicago where he rented for $300 the third floor of the Tremont House, finest of the city's forty-two hotels. Here doubtful delegates were gathered in and urged to have a 28 Works, VI, 8-9. McNeil was editor of Iroquois Republican, 1859-1861. 29 Works, VI, 7. i io The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln cigar and a drink. How many delegates were entertained is not known, but the bill for refreshments included $34.50 for whiskey, $60.00 for wine, $77.00 for brandy, and $125.00 for porter. The total bill, $321.50, which also included $25.00 for cigars, was paid by Ozias M. Hatch, Sec- retary of State, and Ward H. Lamon, States Attorney of the Eighth Cir- cuit. They doubtless considered this the best investment of their lives. 30 With his nomination Lincoln abandoned his law practice except for four pending cases in the federal court in which he appeared briefly in June, i860. Several unpaid fees were collected, but otherwise his in- come ceased. Withdrawals from his bank account were numerous, al- though few checks were for large amounts. It was early recognized, how- ever, by his friends in Springfield that there would be expenses inciden- tal to the campaign which Lincoln should not be expected to meet. Stephen T. Logan, his second law partner, took the lead in raising funds. 31 Five hundred dollars each was subscribed by ten Republican leaders. The names of only eight of these are known: Logan, Jacob Bunn, John W. Bunn, William Butler, Robert Irwin, John Williams, Ozias M. Hatch, and Thomas Condell. Jesse K. Dubois, State Audi- tor and a former member of the legislature with Lincoln, probably was one of the ten. John W. Bunn was appointed treasurer, and the group became known as the Sangamon County Finance Committee. 32 John G. Nicolay, a clerk in the office of the Secretary of State, was em- ployed to assist Lincoln with his correspondence, and received seventy- five dollars a month from the committee. The Chenery House's bill of ninety-seven dollars for entertainment of the delegation that notified Lincoln of his nomination was paid by the committee, as were the hotel bills of prominent politicians who visited Springfield. Expenses of the great Republican rally held in Springfield on August 8th consumed the so The original Tremont House bill is owned by the author. 3i The account of the financing of Lincoln's campaign is based upon statements by John W. Bunn in Jesse W. Weik, The Real Lincoln, 282-88; I. N. Phillips, Lincoln By Some Men Who Knew Him, 164-66. 32 Receipts received for installments on the pledge of William Butler are owned by the author. 1 1 2 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln unexpended portion of the $5,000. After the rally the committee met and each of the ten men subscribed an additional $500. Before the elec- tion this amount and $2,500 in addition were expended, bringing the total for the campaign to $12,500. Lincoln himself had been willing to gamble on his chances of being nominated for the presidency as early as the spring of 1859. On May 30, 1859, he purchased through his friend Jacob Bunn the type and other equipment of The Illinois Staats-Anzeiger, a German language news- paper recently established in Springfield. The consideration was $400. Title to the property was in John Burkhardt, local dry goods merchant, but the editor was Theodore Canisius. With him Lincoln made a con- tract providing that Canisius was to have free use of the equipment for the publication of a German newspaper, with the stipulation that it was to support the Republican party. Lincoln was to take possession in case Canisius failed to carry out the contract. No files of the paper have been found. Lincoln was satisfied with the support given to the party and to his own candidacy. He retained ownership for eighteen months, then turned over the paper to Canisius for a consideration on December 6, i860. Later, as President, Lincoln appointed Canisius to the consulate in Vienna. 33 A discussion of Lincoln's contributions of time and money to the welfare of the Whig and Republican parties would not be complete without some notice of the numerous legal cases of a political nature in which he gave his services with no hope of financial reward. Most important of these "political cases" were McClernand, Sec. of State v. Irwin & Co. (1839); People ex rel. Lanphier and Walker v. Hatch (1858); and the attempt to remove Thomas C. Browne, justice of the Supreme Court, in 1843 under a provision of the Constitution. The case of John A. McClernand, Sec. of State v. Robert Irwin 8c Co. in the Sangamon Circuit Court, was a side-show to the Supreme 33 Angle, New Letters, 204-05. Wm. E. Barton, Life of Abraham Lincoln, I, Chap. 28. Canisius was appointed Aug. 7, 1861, compensation $1,500 a year. He published a 253 page biography of Lincoln in Vienna in 1867. The Cost of Politics 1 13 Court case, Field v. The People. Alexander P. Field, Secretary of State since 1828 and a strong Whig, was removed from office by Democratic Governor Thomas Carlin, and McClernand was appointed in his place. Field refused to give up the office, whereupon McClernand brought proceedings in the Fayette County Circuit Court and won the decision. Field appealed to the Supreme Court, in the meantime removing the files of his office to Springfield, the new state capital, and placing them in the custody of Irwin & Co. The store of Robert and John Irwin was more or less Whig headquarters in Springfield, and the storage of the seal of the state in Irwin's safe was a challenge to the Democrats. Stephen A. Douglas, representing McClernand, sued out a writ of replevin in the Sangamon County Circuit Court, whereupon Lincoln and Mason Brayman filed a motion to quash the writ. Judge Samuel H. Treat quashed the writ and ordered McClernand to pay the costs. The Su- preme Court, on almost the same day, reversed the Fayette Circuit Court and upheld Field's right to the office of Secretary of State. By this time, however, Field had caused so much dissension among the Whigs that some of them voted with the Democrats to oust him from office by approving the appointment of Stephen A. Douglas to the office of Sec- retary of State in November, 1 840. 34 Justice Browne was brought before the House of Representatives in the first attempt in Illinois to address a judge out of office. The mem- bers of the bar of northern Illinois, recruited principally from the east- ern states, were almost unanimous in their desire to remove the judge because of incompetency. Four members of the Galena bar filed a com- plaint with the House alleging that because of natural infirmity and feebleness of intellect Browne was unfit to preside over a court. Lincoln answered that the charges were too general and that the constitution provided that judges were entitled to hold office during good behavior. When Justice Sidney Breese, who was expected to be the star witness 34 A. Davidson and B. Stuve, History of Illinois From 1673-1884 (Springfield, 1884), 453-61. Photos in McClernand v. Irwin & Co., in the files of the A. L. Association. ii4 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln against Browne, refused to testify to the injury of the defendant, the case broke down and was dismissed by the House. 35 In The People ex rel. Lanphier and Walker v. Hatch, a case involv- ing a reapportionment act passed by the legislature in 1857, tne Demo- crats maintained that the Republican governor, William H. Bissell, who had inadvertently signed his name and then crossed it off the bill, could not change his mind in this fashion. The Democrats brought a petition for a mandamus to the Supreme Court to compel Ozias M. Hatch, the Republican secretary of state, to certify the reapportionment act. Lin- coln appeared for Hatch and won the case when the court held that the governor had the right to scratch off his name as long as the bill was in his possession. 36 35 Pratt, "In Defense of Mr. Justice Browne," Bulletin No. 56 of A.L. Association. 36 Works, II, 354-55; Angle, Lincoln, 18 54-1861, 212-15. VII Financial Views and Business Methods Mr. Lincoln was not a very generous man, had no avarice of the get but had the avarice of the keep; he was liberal and charitable in his views of mankind in all their relations,. Wm. H. Herndon to J. W. Weik, Oct. 21, 1885. Lincoln's apparent indifference to the acquisition of wealth was J noticed by several of his associates. Joseph Gillespie, the Edwards- ville lawyer who was closely associated with him in both law and poli- tics, said he was economical without being parsimonious; that he never attempted a speculation, but always displayed commendable zeal and alacrity in obtaining business. When Gillespie asked Lincoln why he never speculated in land, at the same time pointing to a tract he himself had located with a land warrant which cost him but ninety cents an acre, Lincoln replied that he "had no capacity whatever for speculation and never attempted it." Gillespie concluded that Lincoln had no money sense; that his only use for money was to enable him to appear respectable; that he used money as he needed it and gave himself little or no concern about laying it up. 1 Herndon asserted that Lincoln "didn't care who succeeded to the presidency of this or that association; who made the most money; who was going to Philadelphia, when and for what, and what were the costs of such a trip; who got to be street inspector or alley commissioner." 2 Lincoln, nevertheless, was well aware of the power of money and of its profound influence upon human conduct. Avarice, in his opinion, was one of the prime causes of the perpetuation of slavery. "The plain- 1 Hertz, Hidden Lincoln, 288-89, Gillespie to Herndon, Jan. 31, Dec. 8, 1866. 2 Wm. H. Herndon, "Analysis of the Character of Abraham Lincoln," Abraham Lincoln Quar- terly, Dec. 1941, 406. "5 1 1 6 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln est print cannot be read through a gold eagle," he said in his speech on the Dred Scott decision in 1857; "and it will be ever hard to find many men who will send a slave to Liberia, and pay his passage, while they can send him to a new country— Kansas, for instance— and sell him for fifteen hundred dollars, and the rise." 3 Speaking in Congress in 1849 he asked: "what motive would tempt any set of men to go into an exten- sive survey of a railroad which they did not intend to make? What good would it do? Did men act without motive? Did business men commonly go into an expenditure of money which could be of no account to them? He generally found that men who have money were disposed to hold on to it, unless they could see something to be made by its investment." 4 Four days after his election to the Presidency he castigated certain moneyed men who, in his opinion, were using their power for selfish purposes. "I am not insensible to any commercial or financial depression that may exist," he wrote in a letter to Truman Smith, a New York lawyer and former Congressional colleague, "but nothing is to be gained by fawning around the 'respectable scoundrels' who got it up. Let them go to work and repair the mischief of their own making, and then per- haps they will be less greedy to do the like again." 5 Early in his life Lincoln came to be known as an honest man— honest, that is, beyond common honesty. There is ample evidence to show that he prized this reputation. The letter he wrote to a patron of the New Salem post office who had impugned his integrity has already been cited. 6 In 1853 he went to great pains to disprove charges of professional dishonesty, instead of contenting himself with his accusers' failure to prove their case. After his nomination in 1 860 he wrote a hot tempered letter— a rare indiscretion for him— to a woman who had insinuated that he had collected money for her husband and then failed to remit it. "I have no money collected by me for Mr. Vance," he snapped, "and I had 3 Works, II, 338-39. *Ibid., 102. 5 Ibid., VI, 69. 6 See p. 16. Financial Views and Business Methods 1 1 7 ceased trying to collect any for him long before his death. ... I never keep any body's money, which I collect, an hour longer than I can find a chance to turn it over to him. If you doubt this, get some of the busy bodies who are imposing on you in this matter, to find somebody who will swear he paid me money for Mr. Vance. If there is any such man he can be found." 7 The reference in the preceding paragraph to charges of professional dishonesty deserves elaboration. Robert S. Todd, the father of Mrs. Lin- coln died in 1849. His estate was settled in 1853, and the share of his four daughters in Springfield turned over to George B. Kinkead, a Lexington, Kentucky, lawyer. Todd had been a member of the firm of Oldham, Todd and Company, cotton manufacturers, which the sur- viving partners Oldham and Hemingway carried on after his death. On May 12, 1853, before the final settlement of the Todd estate, Old- ham and Hemingway filed suit against Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, and Kinkead alleging that Lincoln owed the firm $472.54 for claims which he had collected and failed to remit, that Edwards owed a small sum for freight, and that Kinkead had in his possession sufficient funds from the Todd estate to pay their just claims. Lincoln was attending court in Danville when he received the first notice of the suit in a letter from his brother-in-law Ninian W. Edwards. He wrote to the Kentucky lawyer at once: "I find it difficult to suppress my indignation towards those who have got up this claim against me. I would really be glad to hear Mr. Hemingway explain how he was in- duced to swear he believed the claim to be just!" Lincoln enclosed his answer in which he demanded that a bill of particulars be filed "stating names & residences" so that he could "absolutely disprove the claim. I can really prove by independent evidence, every material statement of my answer, and if they will name any living accessable [sic] man, as one of whom I have received their money, I will, by that man disprove the charge. I know it is for them to prove their claim, rather than for me 7 Hertz, New Portrait, 777. 1 1 8 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln to disprove it; but I am unwilling to trust the oath of any man, who either made or prompted the oath to the Petition." 8 Lincoln denied, in his answer, that he had ever collected $472.54 or any other sum for Oldham, Todd and Company; that any claim had ever been placed in his hands by the firm for collection; "that he ever received anything whatsoever, to which said firm or said Petitioners could have a pretense of a claim." The burden of proof was on Oldham and Hemingway, but Lincoln disliked the prospect of a vindication by default. When the plaintiffs failed to push the case he wrote in "some anxiety" to Kinkead to find out how matters stood, and reiterated his desire to disprove any claim they could make. Kinkead replied that it was his opinion that Oldham and Heming- way would abandon the suit, a view which Lincoln would not accept. On September 13, 1853, he again informed Kinkead that no claim of the Lexington firm had ever been put into his hands for collection, and declared that he would take depositions as soon as he finished the fall term on the circuit. He soon found that the claims simmered down to two. In early November Lincoln took four depositions which so com- pletely sustained the allegations of his answer that on January 1 6, 1 854, the plaintiffs filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which was done at the opening of the next term of court on February 10, 1854. 9 Personal integrity was one thing; a political perquisite was another. Only thus can one account for Lincoln's indifference to the furor over the mileage charges of congressmen which broke out while he was a member of the House of Representatives. The distance between Spring- field and Washington, as set down in the official list of post offices, was 780 miles. Lincoln charged for 1,626 miles. The law expressly said that a member should receive eight dollars for every twenty miles traveled in coming to and returning from Congress "by the usually traveled route." In order to arrive at this figure Lincoln figured his mileage by s Angle, 114. 9\V. H. Townsend, Abraham Lincoln, Defendant, gives a detailed account of this case. Sangamon County Court House, 1846-1876 (left) , and Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company. Courtesy of the Illinois State Historical Library. First National Bank, Washington, D.C. Financial Views and Business Methods 119 way of Chicago and the lakes to Buffalo, New York and Washington. Three Illinois members of the House charged more and three less mile- age than Lincoln: John A. McClernand was lowest with 1,227 miles; Thomas J. Turner stood at the top with 2,080 miles. For the round trip to Washington Lincoln received $1,300.80. Un- der postal mileage he would have received $624.00, an excess of $676.80. Horace Greeley was outspoken in attacking the practice. In the New York Tribune for December 22, 1848, he wrote: When the compensation of Congress was fixed twenty miles' travel was just about equivalent to a day's work; the average rate of travel through the country not exceeding forty miles per day, and the cost being about ten cents per mile, all things included. At present, the average rate of travel is at least one hundred miles per day and the average cost hardly more than five cents per mile. Twenty dollars per hundred miles travel now is fully equal to twenty dollars for fifty miles travel then. Greeley foresaw trouble when California should become a state. If its representatives came to Washington "by the usually traveled route," which would be around Cape Horn, the federal government would be compelled to borrow money to pay for their mileage. Greeley's criticism provoked discussion in the House, and an amend- ment which would have allowed congressmen ten cents a mile instead of forty cents, and $2,000 per annum salary, instead of eight dollars per day, was introduced. The measure was voted down, 36 ayes to 150 nays. Lincoln voted nay. Lincoln's business methods were informal in the extreme. Herndon once described them in a letter to Jesse W. Weik, his literary collabor- ator. While Mr. Lincoln and I were partners, we kept no books as to our partner- ship, though we did, for a while, as to others. Mr. Lincoln did most of the circuit court business while I stayed at the office. Sometimes I went on the circuit and, if I were with Lincoln around in the counties, all the money collected by us was instantly divided. If I were not on the circuit . . . Lincoln would collect monies due us and our fees on the circuit and divide it, putting his half in his pocket- book and using it as he wanted to; he would wrap my half up in a roll, putting 1 20 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln my name on a slip of paper and then wrapping it, the slip, around the roll of money and then putting it in his pocketbook and when he came home he would come to the office and hand me my money; he did this always and at last it so excited my curiosity that I asked him this question: "Why, Lincoln, are you so particular in this matter?" and to which he replied: "Well, Billy, I do it for vari- ous reasons: first, unless I did as I do I might forget that I collected money or had money belonging to you; secondly, I explain to you how and from whom I got it so that you have not to dun the man who paid; thirdly, If I were to die you would have no evidence that I had your money and you could not prove that I had it. By marking the money it becomes yours and I have not in law or morality a right to use it. I make it a practice never to use any man's money without his consent first obtained. So you see why I pursue this course." 10 Lincoln's pockets and his hat were his filing cabinet. The hat was a "stove pipe" with a wide inside band, purchased of George Hall, dealer in hats, caps, and furs on the west side of Springfield's public square. On the lining was written: "A. Lincoln, Springfield, 111." In this caver- nous receptacle its owner kept his check book and letters and papers. Once at least the practice— or more exactly, a departure from it— got him into difficulty. Charles R. Welles, a Springfield lawyer, had given him a letter containing money to deliver in St. Louis as he passed through there on his way to Washington. What happened Lincoln explained in an apologetic letter to his fellow-citizen. "To make it [the letter] more secure," he wrote, "than it would be in my hat where I carry most all my packages, I put it in my trunk. I had a great many jobs to do in St. Louis; and by the very extra care I had taken of yours, overlooked it. On the Steam Boat near the mouth of the Ohio I opened the trunk, and discovered the letter." 11 He then handed the letter to a young man and asked him to deliver it in St. Louis. Whether it ever reached its destina- tion Lincoln did not know, nor do we. But there is ample evidence to show that Lincoln's business methods were not quite so casual as Herndon's description of them and the epi- sode of the Welles letter would indicate. We know that Lincoln was m Hertz, Hidden Lincoln, 212. "Tracy, 37-38; Herndon's Lincoln (Angle, ed.), 254. Financial Views and Business Methods 1 2 1 a customer of the State Bank, which operated, with its head office in Springfield, from 1835 until 1842; and we know that as a member of the legislature he was a staunch defender of that institution. After the failure of the State Bank and the Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown de- prived the people of banking facilities, Lincoln took advantage of those offered by merchants. For him, as for many others, Springfield merchants transmitted money by draft to distant points, and safeguarded funds in their heavy safes and strong boxes. Lincoln's transactions of this kind were usually handled by Robert Irwin, of Irwin & Co. There he accum- ulated money until 1849, when he withdrew $3og. 12 The limited banking facilities which merchants were able to offer were inadequate for the needs of a rapidly developing community, but opposition to banks, based on unhappy experiences with state banking, died hard. Despite strong pressure from commercial interests, the fram- ers of the Constitution of 1 847 provided that a bank could be chartered only by a majority vote of the people of the entire state, an impractical procedure. The need for banks was so pressing, however, that a way to get around the stringent provision was found. Banks could not be char- tered, but there was nothing to prevent the legislature from chartering an insurance company and bestowing upon it most of the powers cus- tomarily exercised by banks. This is what it did when it granted a charter in 1851 to the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company which, appropriately enough, opened for business in the Grecian struc- ture originally occupied by the State Bank. 13 The incorporators of the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company were Lincoln's friends, and its secretary, who was also cashier and bookkeeper, was Robert Irwin. But Lincoln bought none of the stock, issued at $50 a share, nor did he open an account until 1853, nearly two years after the institution's founding. However, from that time until his death he remained a customer, and after his death the 12 Irwin & Co., account book in Springfield Marine Bank. "Angle, Marine Bank, The Story of the Oldest Bank in Illinois (Springfield, 111., 1931), 6-7. 122 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln account was continued in the name of David Davis, Administrator, until May 27, 1867. Lincoln opened his account with a deposit of $310 on March 1, 1853. 14 Where he obtained the money cannot now be ascertained, but $250 of the $400 which constituted his second and only other deposit in that year was probably a retainer fee from the Illinois Central Rail- road, in the well known McLean County case. No deposits were made in either 1854 or 1858, and only eight deposits in the intervening years. Only six checks were drawn in the first four years the account was open. Checks were more numerous in 1857, there being fourteen in all, with none in 1858. The account became suddenly active in 1859, when twenty-five deposits, ranging from $27.00 to $625, were made, and eighty-four sums, varying from $1.60 to $505, were withdrawn. Lincoln's deposits of $4,680.43 in i860, the year of his nomination for the Presidency, were more than in any other year. The Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company provided a necessary service to business men in the transfer of money from city to city. To send a personal check was impossible, for no collection pro- cedure had been devised. To pay his subscription for the Chicago Press and Tribune in 1859, Lincoln was compelled to purchase a draft for $7.00 on H. A. Tucker & Co., of Chicago. When his son Robert attended Phillips Exeter Academy, at Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1859-1860, his father sent him occasional drafts for $25.00 or $50.00 drawn on the Metropolitan Bank or Ketchum, Son & Co., both of New York City. When Robert entered Harvard in July, i860, a draft for $150 was for- warded to pay his tuition. 15 Lincoln 8c Herndon had a firm account at the Marine and Fire In- surance Company for several years. Very few transactions were recorded either in this or in the personal account of William H. Herndon. The firm account appears to have been used simply for the collec- 14 Photo of Lincoln's account in files of A.L. Association. See the Appendix. lb See list of drafts purchased by Lincoln in the Appendix. Robkrt Irwin Robert Irwin, Cashier of Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company, Financial Views and Business Methods 1 23 tion of drafts, withdrawals being made soon after funds were deposited. When Lincoln left Springfield on February 11, 1861, to become President, he withdrew $400, and purchased three drafts of $100 each on the Metropolitan Bank. This left a balance of $600. Ten days after his departure the Illinois State Journal carried this notice: "The notes and papers of Mr. Lincoln are with Mr. Robert Irwin, where persons in- terested can find them. If any of his accounts were left unpaid, Mr. Irwin will pay them on being satisfied of their correctness." Irwin paid several small store bills and, during the next four years, paid the insurance and taxes on the Lincoln home and taxes on the 120 acres in Crawford County, Iowa. Clifton H. Moore of Clinton, Illinois, paid the taxes on the forty acres owned by Lincoln in Tama County, Iowa. 16 Irwin was paid for his services in handling Lincoln's affairs by being allowed to borrow $4,500 from the account without interest. Irwin died a month before Lincoln, but the loan was paid by his administrator. Before leaving Springfield for Washington, Lincoln handed Irwin a memorandum which was practically a summary of his savings of a quarter of a century. 17 Listed were eleven notes, each bearing ten per cent interest per annum. Varying in amount from $150 to $3,000, they totalled $9,337.90. Of this sum, one half was secured by mortgages. With the notes and mortgages were other papers— a Springfield City Bond for $1,000 reduced by two payments to $666.67, a certificate of six shares of Alton Sc Sangamon Railroad stock, 18 a certificate of scholarship in the Illinois State University, 19 and the fire insurance policy and lease on his home. With his real estate, unproductive though it was, the accumu- lation was a respectable one, and afforded ample proof of Lincoln's abil- ity to conserve his savings. 16 Original bill in Administration papers of Lincoln's estate. 17 Original memorandum in Springfield Marine Bank. iSFiles in Barrett v. Alton & Sangamon R.R., in 111. Supreme Court (No. 13,941), show that Lincoln purchased five shares of Alton & Sangamon R.R. stock when books were opened in Springfield in May, 1849. When he acquired the sixth share is not known. 19 Harry Evjen, "Illinois State University, 1853-1868," Journal, 111. State Hist. Soc, March, 1938, 58-59. In i860 the scholarship was used by Lincoln Dubois, named for Abraham Lincoln, a son of Jesse K. Dubois, Auditor of Public Accounts. VIII Savings During the Presidency We have laid by some money, and during this term we will try and save up more, but shall not have enough to support us. We will go back to Illinois, and I will open a law-office at Springfield or Chicago, and practice law, and at least do enough to help give us a livelihood. Lincoln's Statement to His Wife, April 14, 1865. Iincoln saved much of the salary which he received as President of the *J United States. The assertion of many authors that he was careless and shiftless in his personal finances is not borne out by a study of his savings during these years. His estate grew from $15,000 in 1861 to more than $85,000 at his death. The increment came principally from his $25,000 yearly salary as President. Lincoln received forty-nine warrants in payment of his salary. Nine- teen of these he deposited in Washington banks; with twenty-six he pur- chased government obligations; four were found in his desk after his death. A fiftieth warrant, issued in payment of his salary for the partial month of April, 1865, was paid to the administrator of his estate. Lincoln opened an account with Riggs 8c Co., Washington bankers, and deposited his first salary warrant there on April 5, 1861. He depos- ited seventeen other warrants, the last on January 31, 1865. 1 He made no effort to maintain a large balance, simply making deposits as they were needed. Only four deposits, other than salary warrants, were made to the Riggs & Co. account. Two of these were for amounts of $650. In both cases Lincoln had written a check in the same amount a few days before the deposit. Altogether, 222 checks, totalling $37,423.31, were written on Riggs & Co. Among them were two which have survived to 1 Photo of account of Riggs & Co. in files of A.L. Association. 124 Savings During the Presidency 125 become deservedly famous— one, for $5.00, to "Tad when he is well enough to present;" the other, also for $5.00, to "Colored man, with one leg." Beginning in the spring of 1864, a monthly withdrawal of $800 is shown on the Riggs & Co. ledger; this continues until March, 1865. It is surmised that this amount was used to pay family expenses. After Lincoln's death, Riggs & Co. turned over a balance of $1,373.53 to Lin- coln's estate. 2 Lincoln's salary warrant for August, 1864, in the amount of $1,981.66, was deposited in the First National Bank of Washington. Probably this deposit was made by mistake by George Harrington, As- sistant Secretary of the Treasury, who handled Lincoln's personal finan- ces during the last nine months of his life. From this account Lincoln withdrew $800 in March, 1865, and $800 in April. The balance of $381.66 was turned over to his estate. 3 For financing the Civil War, loans were the government's principal reliance. Laws passed in the summer of 1861 authorized large bond issues and an issue of $140,000,000 in Treasury Notes. The bonds bore interest at 6%; the notes carried a rate of 7.3% (two cents a day on $100) which was payable in gold semi-annually, and were commonly known as (7-30) "seven-thirties." Believing at first that the war would be short, the administration was reluctant to tax heavily. However, the revenue bill of August 5, 1861, did call for new levies, among them an income tax of three per cent on all annual income in excess of $800. This tax was to be paid June 30, 1862, but Congress met before that date and reported a new bill. The House committee which reported the bill made clear their antipathy to an income tax, but under the circumstances, one was un- avoidable. The tax, their report said plaintively, was an "inquisitorial one at best; but, upon looking into the considerable class of state officers, 2 Ibid. 3 Administration Papers of Lincoln's Estate in 111. State Hist. Lib. 1 26 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln and the many thousands who are employed on a fixed salary, most of whom would not contribute a penny unless called upon through this tax, it has been thought best not to wholly abandon it." 4 Income tax was first collected under the general revenue act, ap- proved July 1, 1862. A tax was imposed upon the salaries of federal officials at the rate of three per cent on incomes in excess of $600, and the disbursing officers were required to withhold the "income duty," as it was called, at the time of the payment of the salary. Some time was required to set up the machinery of collection, with the result that the first withdrawal of $6 1 from Lincoln's salary warrant was not made until September, 1862. Thereafter his warrant was re- duced from $2,083.33 to $2,022.33 a month. The continuance of the war and the pressing need of more revenue led to the enactment of a new law on June 30, 1864. Under its provisions salaries of federal offi- cials were taxed at five per cent on annual income above $600. With- holding $91.66 each month, the Treasury issued Lincoln's warrants in amounts of $1,981.67 from July 4, 1864 until the time of his death. Congress, by joint resolution on July 4, 1864, imposed an additional special income tax to defray expenditures for the war bounties. This called for the payment of five per cent on all income received in 1863. Lincoln paid this special tax in the amount of $1,279.13, on December 15, 1864. This figure represented five per cent of his salary of $25,000 less the $600 exemption, and additional income of $1,183 fr° m interest from 7-30 Treasury Notes. 5 Soon after the passage of the income tax law in 1862, newspapers asserted that President Lincoln was exempt from paying the tax, but that he was paying the tax by his own desire. 6 Attorney General Hoar, in an opinion rendered to the Secretary of the Treasury in 1869, held that the Constitution in the first section of the second article prohibited 4 Congressional Globe, 37th Congress, 2d Session, 1862, p. 1196. s Photo of U. S. Treasury records in regard to Lincoln's income tax in the files of A.L. Asso- ciation. 6 Chicago Tribune, Oct. 30, 1862. Savings During the Presidency 127 the diminution of the salaries of justices of the Supreme Court and the President during their respective terms of office; and that this prohibi- tion extended to the deduction from such salaries of an income tax. 7 On April 25, 1872, Administrator Davis filed a claim with the Treasury for a refund of Lincoln's tax payments of $2,305.94 from his salary and $1,250 paid under the joint resolution of Congress of July 4, 1864. The Treasury allowed the claim, and a warrant for $3,555.94 was issued to Davis. The money was placed by him to the credit of Robert T. Lincoln in the First National Bank, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Lincoln and her son sent their joint receipt to the administrator on May 14, 1872. Income tax was refunded to all members of the United States Supreme Court. 8 Lincoln made his first purchase of government bonds on March 15, 1862. At that time he had on hand seven salary warrants for the months of July, 1861, through January, 1862. With the money received for them Lincoln purchased $14,200 of 7-30 Treasury Notes. The notes bore interest payable in gold from date of purchase. The president used his salary warrant for March, 1862, to purchase $2,000 more of the same issue. This was his last purchase of 7-30 notes. 9 A third purchase from the Treasury was made by Lincoln on August 1, 1863. Congress, under various acts, made provision for temporary loans of not less than thirty days, with rates from four to six per cent. Under these acts Lincoln turned over eleven salary warrants for the months of August, 1862, to June, 1863, totaling $22,306.67, for a Certifi- cate of Temporary Loan at five per cent. The interest was payable in currency. Lincoln's fourth purchase of securities, and his second purchase of temporary loan certificates, was made August 18, 1863, when he took his salary warrant for the previous month, and $1,852.40 in cash, and bought a certificate in the amount of $3,874.73. The cash represented 7 13 Op. A. G. 161. s Evans v. Gore, 253 U. S., 245-58. 9 Memorandum of David Davis in Davis MSS., owned by the heirs of Justice Davis, Blooming- ton, 111. 1 28 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln I Jvjup<~^ f^c^/Ar, ^fh^^e /s, /K£. of 7*H* / IV &*** r2r at* c<+ j4f^t M, 0+ K s „ 3, mn>.^ 3 Lp^U^Z cS&f+ittiMfl. /Kb, iZbifiCt? V. <** * /fr< *~ v i. r?v,?s ' nsi *~f* o~ /*£, II. L^r /^ }4 yd. Swiss @ .50 1 piece Silk per Lady 2}4 yds. Muslin per Lady .31 i^i yds. Black Silk @ 1.50 2.45 $}4 yds. Cap Ribbon @ .12^ .42 2.87 1 Black Lawn Veil per Son 1 y$ yds. Paper Cambric ©.15 1 piece Carpet Binding per Lady 34 pieces Wall Paper @ .45 6 pieces Border @ .50 1 }4 yds. Cross Barred Muslin @ .50 yi yd. White Crepe @ .50 1 yd. Gimp yi yd. Bobbinett 1 pair Slippers July 13 5 yds. Quilled Ribbon .89 Oct. 25 Nov. 6 8 29 Dec. 22 185 ►2 Jan. 8 16 Feb. 28 Apr. 6 12 24 June !5 July 10 2-59 ♦23 $2.82 1.29 1.85 1. 00 2.63 2.00 •50 .10 •30 5-53 •3° 1-97 3.00 4-97 1-25 ♦23 1.48 .75 ♦25 1. 00 .46 J-75 •27 .40 15-3° 3.00 18.30 •75 •25 •05 .08 1. 00 1.38 146 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln 1853 Jan. 25 Goods, per Lady, as per bill 8.80 Jan. 29 ifyi yds. Jaconet @ .37^ .61 1 Boys Cap •50 1. 11 Feb. 2 1 pair Blankets 7-50 5% yds. Cross Barred Muslin @ .50 2.63 ty& yds. Cross Barred Muslin @ .50 .18 Tape •05 i>£ doz. Linen Buttons @ .10 •15 10.51 9 1 Remnant Wool Delaine 1. 00 1 yd. Swiss Edging •37 1 yd. Thread Edging .20 1 Marseilles Quilt 6.50 8.07 21 1 4 Prong Fork J-25 Mar. 7 1 piece Velvet Paper Border 1.50 8 1 " * « " returned credit 1.50 15 1 « Wall Paper •45 17 iyi yds. Chambray Gingham @ .37^ .42 1 Remnant do •50 .92 19 4^ yds. White Cambric @ .35 i-57 iyi yds. Cross Barred Jaconet @ .50 .56 2.13 24 y 2 yd. Oil Cloth @ .50 •25 30 H yd. " " @ .50 .31 July 22 2 Worked Collars @ .75 1.50 Sept. 24 2 yds. Opera Flannel @ .75 1.50 2 Worked Collars ©3.25 6.50 1 Worked do J>3 8.63 Oct. 11 % yd. Flannel @ .75 .19 2 doz. Buttons .50 3 pes. 3^ yds. Calico @ .15 •57 1.26 29 Goods, per Lady, as per Bill 4.66 Nov. 6 5 yds. Lining @ .70 3-50 1854 Feb. 16 1 pair Boys Boots per Lady 1.50 Dec. 5 2 yds. Silk @ .62^ per Lady 1.25 1 Remnant Velvet Trimming .70 i}4 doz. Buttons @ .15 .23 2 doz. Whalebones @ .20 .40 Appendix 147 Dec . — Con tin ued 5 2^4 yds. Black Velvet ©3.20 8.80 3 " Pink Cambric @ .i2}4 •37 2^ " Black " @ .I2>f •3i White Cord .05 12. 11 Dec. 12 2 Spools Silk per Son .10 1855 Jan. 12 i}4 Plaid Delaine @ .50 per Lady .63 Sewing Silk .25 1 pair Gloves •25 4>2 yds. Velvet Ribbon @ .06*4 .28 r 2)4 " " " @ .20 •45 1 ^ Galloon Trimming .25 2. 11 Jan. 23 1 pair Overshoes 1.50 2 Tuck Combs @ .20 .40 2,^2 yds. Cotton Flannel @ .12^ •3i 1 Small Shawl l '*5 3.46 Jan. 27 1 Small Shawl 1-25 Feb. 24 1 pair Boys Boots 2.75 Mar. 1 }4 lb. Tea @ 1.25 per Son .63 Mar. 31 1 pair Boys Boots by A. Lincoln 1.50 3i 1 French Collar per Lady 4.00 i*4 Thread Lace ©1.25 1.56 5-56 May 3 9 yds. Somerset Lawn @ .33^ 3.00 9 /tf/2 yds. Ribbon, 2 pieces @ .35 per Lady 1.58 14 Sewing Silk per Son .10 J ul y 3 Sewing Silk .10 2 Spools Cotton .10 1 doz. Button Molds .05 •25 July 6 12 pieces Wall Paper @ .40 4.80 14 " " " @ .40 5.60 4 " " " @-37^ 1.50 6 " Border @ .75 4-5° 2 " @ .25 •5° 4 " Wall Paper @ .37 1.50 18.40 July 21 ^ lb. Gun Powder Tea @ 1.25 per Son .63 Aug. 15 )/2 lb. Tea per Son .63 18 1 % yds. Delaine @ .60 per Lady •75 148 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln 1856 May 10 5 pieces Wall Paper @ .37^ 1.88 6 " " " @-37^ 2.25 2 " Border @ .50 1. 00 2 " Wall Paper @ .37^ •75 5.88 17 2 White Chambers ©1.25 per Son 2.50 20 1 Small Hat per Lady 1. 00 1 yd. Ribbon .06 % yd. Elastic •23 1 pair small Congress Garters 1.50 2-79 June 17 1 pair Garters per Son 2.25 20 1 pair Slippers " " 1. 00 July 22 1 Buggy Whip " " 1-25 Sept. 3 1 Bonnet per Lady i-75 3^ yds. Bonnet Ribbon @ .30 1.05 y 2 " White Silk @ .80 .40 2 " Holland @ .31 .62 2 pair small Shoes 1 @ .70, 1 @ .75 I -45 3 pair Ladys Slippers @ 1 .00 3.00 1 pair Shell Side Combs •50 8.77 Oct. 11 1 pair Slippers 1. 00 Nov. 26 1 Glass Lantern per Son 1. 00 Dec. 15 1 pair Kid Gloves 1. 00 Dec. 16 To Exchange of Gloves •25 1857 Jan. 7 1 pair Slippers 1. 00 H 2 Cards Buttons @ .25 per Son •50 23 y& lb. Tea @ 1.25 per Son .62 Mar. 11 1 pair Slippers per Lady 1. 00 31 5 yds. Drilling @ .12^ .63 13^ yds. Muslin @ .10 !-35 1.98 April 6 16 lbs. Batting @ .18^ per Lady 3.00 H io>£ yds. French Chintz per Lady 3.00 2J/2 yds. Calico @ .i2}4 •3i 331 May 19 36 yds. Buff Linen @ .25 per Lady 9.00 1^4 yds. Bobbinet @ .25 •44 9-44 20 36 yds. Cotton Damask @ .30 per Lady 10.80 1 yd. Bobbinet •25 11.05 36 yds. Buff Linen returned @ .25 9.00 2.05 Appendix 149 June 3 1 doz. Silk Dress Buttons per Lady .40 6^4 yds. Hair Skirting @ .50 3.38 iJ4 " Fancy Delaine @ .45 .56 4.34 July 11 Aug. 3 Dec. 26 1858 June 9 July 2 July Aug. 3i 5 18 20 21 Sept. 21 11 Sept. Oct. 25 16 Dec. 10 3i l8 59 Feb. 2 Apri] l4 8 Aug. 18 20 Oct. 23 24 29 2^2 yds. Delaine @ .45 per Lady 1. 13 2 Skeins Silk @ .05 " " .10 1.23 yi lb. Tea @ 1.25 per Son .63 1 pair Linen Kid Gloves per Son 1.25 o.yi yds. Linen goods @ .25 per Lady •73 i l A " " u @-34 .56 4 yds. Galloon .20 i-49 2 Fans per Lady 1.20 1 pair White Gloves per Robert .25 i-45 4 yds. Trimming @ . 1 .40 3 yds. Castonade @ .37^ per Lady 1-13 \]/2 u English Remmes @ .62^ •94 2.07 1 yd. Linen per Lady •38 1 lb. Tea 1. 00 1 box Palm Soap 62 @ .07 4-34 5 lbs. Java Coffee 1. 00 5-34 8 lbs. Sugar per Son 1. 00 2 bags (?) per Lady 3.00 5 lbs. Java Coffee 1. 00 4.00 5 lbs. Java Coffee 1. 00 9 lbs. Sugar 1. 00 5 lbs. Java Coffee 1. 00 2.00 2 yds. White Ribbon @ 1.25 per Lady 2.50 1 pair Kid Gloves per Robert 1. 00 1 Watch Guard per Robert •15 Flannel for Gun Cover per Robert .38 6 Bars Lead @ .05 per Robert •30 2 pair Heavy Drawers @ 1.25 per Son 2.50 1 pair Drawers per Robert 125 6 French Towels @ .35 per Robert 2.10 1 pair Gloves for Bob per Lady 1. 00 3 yds. Blue Silk @ .80 per Lady 2.40 2 skeins Silk @ 05 .10 2.50 Nov. 2 4 yds. Blue Silk @ «8o per Lady 3.20 150 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln i860 June 2 1 President Abraham Lincoln to R. Goon & Bro. 1 pair small heeled Boots for Tad 1.25 Oct. 19 3 yds. Irish Linen @ 1.00 per Lady 3.00 2 pieces 4 yds. Figured Linen @ .62^ 2.50 5.50 2 3 3^2 yds. Figured Linen @ .62^ per Lady 7 " Bleached Muslin @ .40 3 " Linen Drilling @ .75 u Cashmere ©1.25 % " @ 1.40 6 doz. Pearl Buttons Dec. 5 3 yds. Cashmere @ 1.40 per Lady 12 8 yds. Figured Moreno ©1.25 per Lady 1 Shawl 6 yds. French Moreno @ .90 13 8 yds. Purple Muslin 4 yds. Jet Edging 1 Pocket Handkerchief 17 3 yds. Linen @ .62^ per Lady 3 (?) @ .50 i^yds. Edging® .37 20 2}4 yds. Linen @ .75 per Lady 1 yd. Edging 2 4 3K yds. Corset @ ,\2}4 8 " Purple Muslin 4 Childs Silk Handkerchiefs 4 Linen " @ .15 1 Gents Silk " 2 " " " .90 $318.19 The account books of John Williams & Co., are in the Illinois State Historical Library. 2.19 2.80 2.25 4.06 4-55 •50 16.35 4.20 0.00 8.00 5-40 23.40 1. 00 2.60 •75 4-35 1.88 1. 00 .58 3.46 1.88 .60 2.48 .44 .80 1. 00 .60 •63 .90 4-37 Appendix 151 PURCHASES FROM CORNEAU & DILLER, SPRINGFIELD, ILL. 1 855-1 860 1855 Feb. 15 Castor Oil Calomel Mar. 3 Pearl Powder Woods Restorative « 7 Bottle Lubins Extract - 15 Sweet Oil June 29 Bottle Vermifuge July 3 Castor Oil » 6 1 # Cream of Tartar y 2 % Soda Soda Water Aug. 10 1 paper Horse Powder " 17 1 paper Horse Powder Sept. 1 Box Pills * 15 Box Lubins Extract Box Ox Marrow Oct. 4 3 sticks Cough Candy " 31 1 % Cream of Tartar }4§ Soda Bottle Liniment 1856 Feb. 29 Sweet Oil Oct. 11 Dose Pills 1857 Jan. 29 Bal. on Gelatine Feb. 11 Olive Oil June 13 2 # Cream of Tartar July 20 2 bottles Extract Vannella Oct. 8 Bottle Carminative " 26 1 oz. Syrup Ipecac Nov. 2 1 oz. Syrup Ipecac .10 .10 .20 •25 1. 00 1.25 •75 .10 .25 •15 .60 .10 .10 .80 .40 •75 •25 •75 .40 1. 15 •25 .60 .10 .20 .90 15 15 .40 •15 1. 00 .70 •25 •*5 •J5 J 52 1 he rersonal finances of 1858 Aug. 9 Adhesive Plaster 1859 Jan. 1 2 3 oz. Red Gelatine Isinglass u 27 Lubins Extract 2 cakes Soap Hair Brush * 31 6 oz. Red Gelatine Cooper Isinglass 1 # Cream of Tartar Feb. 5 4 lbs. Starch - 14 Bottle Castor Oil « 18 Br. Mixture Cough Candy May 13 2 bottles Extract for Handkerchiefs 1 " Spirits of Camphor 1 " Bay Rum 3 cakes Soap Magnesia « 21 Bottle Allen's Restorative " Indelible Ink u Pomatum " Cologne " Extract for Handkerchiefs June 3 Bottle Brandy " 7 Extract of Almond " 13 Bottle Brandy « 27 Tripoli Aug. 6 Toilet Soap Toilet Powder « 13 Honey Soap Hair Balsam Sept. 6 Bottle Dead Shot " Lubins Extract 1 pt. Spirits of Camphor 1 oz. Glycerine " 10 Box Wright's Pills Dec. 23 Borax .10 .60 .60 1.20 1. 00 •50 1.50 3.00 1. 00 •75 .50 2.25 •50 •25 25 .25 •50 1.50 •75 •50 .50 .10 3-35 1.50 •25 •25 1. 00 •75 3-75 2.00 •35 2.00 .15 i-35 •15 .60 1.50 .40 1. 00 •25 1. 00 •35 •25 1.85 •25 ■05 i860 Appendix 153 May 30 Bottle Allen's Restorative 2 Bottles Hair Balsam Oct. 12 Woods Restorative Lubins Extract Cocaine Box Powder (?) Nov. 10 Box Allen's Restorative Bottle Hair Balsam 1.50 .80 2.30 1. 00 1. 00 •50 .15 .25 2.90 1. 00 .40 1.40 $40.95 T The two day books of Corneau & Diller include purchases from Feb. i, 1855 to Dec. 31, i860. Lincoln made three cash payments on this account: Si 2.50 on June 29, 1856; $3.20 on Feb. 13, 1858, and $24.70 on Feb. 1, i860. The account books are in the Illinois State Historical Library. Earlier records of Corneau & Diller, not available for this study, are owned by the Claypool Drug Store, Springfield, 111. 154 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln C. M. & S. SMITH, SPRINGFIELD, ILL. Account of Abraham Lincoln for 1859 Jan. 4 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son $1.00 6 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 per Son 1.00 8 Paid Express from St. Louis .35 I gallon G Syrup 1.00 1.35 10 8 lb. Turkey @ .10 per Lady 13 6 lb. Crushed Sugar @ .16^ per Son 14 5 doz. Eggs @ .20 per Son 15 1 gallon Syrup per Son II lbs. Sugar 1 7 1 Umbrella per Bob 25 1 gallon G Syrup per Son 11 lbs. Sugar 26 1 box Blacking per Son 28 1 pair Shoes per Son 31 6 lbs. Sugar @ .16/^3 per Son Feb. 1 1 paper Tacks per Son 4 1 gallon G Syrup per Son 11 lbs. Sugar 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 8 Paid for 3 Loads Wood per Bob 1 o A. Lincoln Dr. to John F. Baker For 1 Load Wood $1.75 14 11 lbs. Sugar per Son 17 1 set Knitting Needles per Son 24 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Son 3 papers Tacks @ . 1 o 1 gallon G Syrup 24 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 per Son Mar. 7 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Son 10 5 lbs. Coffee @ .20 per Lady 19 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son 4 lbs. Candles @ .25 21 1 pair Gaiter Boots per Lady 2.50 1 pair Kid Boots 1.50 .80 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 2.00 •75 1. 00 1. 00 2.00 .10 .40 1. 00 .10 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 3.00 6.00 1. 00 •05 1. 00 .30 1. 00 2.30 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 2.00 Appendix 155 Mar . — Continued April 21 3^ yds. Marseilles @ .60 1.88 1 Shirt 2-75 15 yds. Oriental Luster @ .60 9.00 17.63 24 10 yds. Calico @ .12^2 per Lady 1-25 2>2 yds. Silk Luster @ .60 1.50 2.75 26 10 yds. Calico @ .12^2 per Son 1-25 1 pair Kid Shoes 1.50 3 cards Hooks and Eyes @ .8^3 •25 6 cards Buttons @ . 1 .60 yi yd. Silk Luster @ .60 •30 4^2 yds. Cotton Flannel @ .15 .67 2 yds. Drilling @ .40 .80 2 spools Thread .05 1 yi yds. Linen @ .40 •50 2 spools Thread @ .05 .10 1 paper Needles .10 18 yds. P. Cambric @ .I2>£ 2.25 8.37 28 32 lbs. Java Coffee @ .18 per Dyer 5-76 Drayage [Aaron Dyer, Drayman] .20 5.96 29 2 Bonnet Ruches @ .75 per Lady 1.50 y£ yd. Crepe @ .75 .38 1 yd. Silk Lining .90 5 1/2 yds. Swiss Lining @ .20 1. 10 3.88 30 1 $4 yds. Cashmere @ 1.25 per Lady 2.19 \y 2 yds. Muslin @ .10 •15 1 Boys Hat 1. 00 1 pair Boys Shoes 1-25 4-59 2 1 Boys Hat per Lady 1-75 4 4 doz. Eggs @ .10 per Son .40 6 y£ lb. Tea per Son .50 9 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son 1. 00 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 1. 00 2.00 13 3^4 yds. Ribbon per Lady 1.63 H 2 papers Tacks @ . 1 .20 1 peck Potatoes •30 •50 16 16 yds. Plaid Silk @ 1.00 per Lady 16.00 19 1 ]/ 2 yds. Cashmere @ 1 .50 per Lady 2.25 i}4 yds. Cashmere @ .75 1-13 7}4 yds. Cambric @ .I2>^ •94 1 >6 yds. Silk @ 1 .00 1. 12 1 56 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln April — Continued 19 lyZ doz. Buttons @ .30 .45 2 spools Thread @ .05 .10 1 Tuck Comb .75 6.74 21 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son 1 box Cinnamon 23 1 Table Cover per Lady i^i yds. Marsaline Silk @ .90 1 box Pins ZYa yds. Oil Silk @ .90 26 2 Ruches per Lady 1 Ruche 1 piece Chenille 1 Silk Hat 27 \yi yds. Cashmere @ .75 per Lady % yd. Oil Silk @ .80 2 pair Stockings @ .35 Sewing Silk 30 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Bob 1 Bowl 1 Pitcher 1 pair Cott Shoes 30 For difference in exchange Hats .50 May 4 3 yds. Cashmere @ 2.00 per Lady 3 yds. Cambric @ .10 724 yds. Oil Silk @ 1.00 6 6^4 yds. Table Linen @ .75 per Lady 1 Gents Stock 6 lbs. Crushed Sugar @ 16^ 4 lbs. Candles @ .25 7 1 }i yds. Plaid Silk @ 1 .00 per Lady 1 1 3 yds. Cashmere @ 1 .50 per Lady 3 yds. Marseilles @ .60 i^i yds. Marseilles @ .50 11 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son 1.00 12 \yi yds. Marseilles @ .75 per Self & Son 1.12 i]4 yds. Marseilles @ .50 .75 3>^ yds. Marseilles @ .60 1.88 3 skeins Silk .15 3 cards Hook & Eyes .25 1 doz. Whale Bones .30 1. 00 •15 *-*5 3-75 I.OI 1. 00 2-93 8.69 1.80 •30 .10 5.00 7.20 1.03 .20 .70 •05 1.98 1. 00 .87 > 1-25 •50 3.62 6.00 •30 7.75 14.05 5.06 125 1. 00 1. 00 8.31 "•1.3 4.50 1.80 .81 7.11 Appendix 157 May — Continued 12 2 Straw Hats @ .50 1.00 2 skeins Silk Braid @ .10 .20 1 Cravat .40 6.05 June July 12 Difference in Cravat per Son .25 4^4 yds. [illegible] @ 3.00 H-25 I4.5O 18 1 Water Bucket per Son .25 19 1 pair Silk Mitts per Lady 2.00 20 y& lb. Star Candles @ .25 per Bob •13 21 2 Silk Collars 4.00 & 2.50 per Lady 6.5O 23 yi lb. Tea @ 1.00 per Son •50 26 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Son I. OO 2 Cash per Bob •25 3 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Son 1. 00 1 Silk Cravat .60 I.60 7 6 lbs. White Sugar @ .16^ per Bob 1.00 9 16 yds. Grenadine @ 2.00 per Lady 32.00 9 Salt for Ice Cream per Dyer .40 10 6 doz. Eggs @ 8^3 per Son •50 11 1 piece Crimped Trimming per Lady 2.40 1 yd. Lining @ .60 .60 2 pair Boys Socks @ .40 .80 3.80 13 Difference in Socks per Lady .20 2 yds. Lining @ .60 1.20 1.40 17 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Bob 1.00 21 1 paper Pepper per Bob .05 25 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Son 1.00 29 20 yds. Lawn @ .12^ per Lady 2.50 io>£ yds. Lawn @ .18^ 1-97 447 30 4 Handkerchiefs @ .20 per Lady .80 ^i yd. Edging @ .50 •38 2 papers Needles @ . 1 .20 1.38 7 1 Boys Hat per Lady 1-25 1 Boys Hat .40 1 pair Boys Gaiters !-25 2 Linen Handkerchiefs .60 2 spools Thread .IO 3.60 11 lbs. Sugar per Son 1.00 1 58 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln July — Continued 12 1 Box per Lady .25 66 lbs. Soap @ .07 4.62 1 Wash Bowl •50 2 yds. Irish Linen @ .60 1.20 2^4- yds. Jackenett @ .50 1.38 1 Shirt Front .60 1 piece Linen Cambric .20 3*4 yds. Edging @ .50 1.62 Drayage • r 5 10.52 13 1 pair Suspenders per Self •75 18 J/2 gal. Vinegar @ .25 per Son •13 20 1 Comb per Son .20 23 1 1 lbs. Sugar per Son 1. 00 25 22 lbs. Sugar per Son 2.00 29 6 Chickens @ .15 per Son .90 30 5 yds. Cotton Flannel ©.15 per Lady •75 ;. 2 1 Blacking Brush per Son •25 4 2 doz. Nutmegs @ .12J/2 per Son •25 5 1 doz. Buttons @ .30 per Lady •30 6 1 pair Boys Shoes per Lady 1. 10 1 doz. Buttons •30 1 Fine Comb •25 1 Hair Brush •75 2.40 8 10^ yds. Calico @ .12^2 per Lady i-35 iyi yds. Muslin @ .20 •30 1 spool Thread •°5 1.70 9 1 Hooped Skirt per Lady 3-75 13 3 Linen Handkerchiefs @ .75 per Lady 2.25 3 " u @-50 1.50 3-75 16 4^ yds. Cashmere @ 1 .50 per Lady 7-3i <$y A yds. " @ 1. 00 3-25 % yd. " @ .90 •35 8 yds. Cambric @ .123/2 1. 00 1 1 lbs. Sugar 1. 00 12.91 18 1 Table Cloth per Lady 14.00 i}4 doz. Napkins @ 4.25 6.38 1 Linen Handkerchief •75 j. u a a .30 21.43 18 Amount of Bill Rendered per Lady 30.00 Appendix 159 Aug. — Continued 20 Difference in Exchange of Napkins per Lady i .88 i pair Gloves .40 2.28 22 1 Pocket Knife per Bob 1 1 yds. Lawn @ . 1 8 1 yd. Calico @ .12^ 3 1 8 Tassel Buttons ©.15 per Lady 10 « « @sy 3 Sept. 6 1 Boys Cap per Lady 1 Tidie 1 Bonnet Ruche 2 skeins Silk @ .05 1 Tassel Button 8 yds. Calico @ .I2>£ 7 1 Tidie per Lady 8 For 1 Tidie Returned 1.00 9 6 lbs. Sugar @ 8^3 per Lady 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 5 lbs. Java Coffee @ .20 Nutmeg 14 1 Gents Stock per Lady 1 Boys Cap 2 pair Boys Socks @ .40 2 1 Amount of Bill Rendered per Lady 22 2 pair Boys Boots @ 2.00 per Lady 27 1 yd. Linen per Lady 29 1 Parasol per Lady Oct. 1 5 lbs. Java Coffee @ .20 per Lady 5 lbs. Sugar @ .10 3 y}4 yds. Dress Trimming @ .60 per Lady 5 1 pair Kid Gauntlets per Lady 1 Boys Cloth Cap 4 Dress Buttons ©.15 6 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 Per Lady <$y 2 lbs. Crushed Sugar @ .16^3 33/2 lbs. Pulverized Sugar @ .16^3 1 oz. Nutmeg 3 papers Tacks @ .8^ 1 bottle Lemon 1 doz. Eggs 1-25 1.98 .12 3-35 I.20 .84 2.04 1-25 I. OO .60 .IO •15 1.00 4.10 J -25 •50 1.00 1.00 .10 2.6o 1.50 .75 .80 3-05 28.00 4.OO •30 3.OO 1.00 •50 I.5O 4-5° 1.50 2.25 .60 4-35 1.00 •50 •50 .15 •25 •25 .10 2-75 160 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Oct. — Continued 7 1 Broom per Lady 1 doz. Jet Buttons 3 rolls Tape 8 A. Lincoln Dr. to George Brunk for 10 cords of Wood @ 4.00 IO 2 Barlow Knives @ . 1 per Self 13 5 lbs. Java Coffee @ .20 per Son 1 box Salt *9 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Lady ■25 .10 .25 .60 5 lbs. Coffee @ .20 2 oz. Indigo @ .12 }4 1 bottle Lemon 21 1 box Cinnamon per Son 24 2 pair Boys Gloves @ .20 per Lady 2 " " " ©.40 1 " Gloves for Bob 1 Necktie fy& yd. Ribbon @ .37^2 y% yd. Ribbon @ .25 4 yds. Domestic @ .10 Nov. 12 10 lbs. Sugar @ .10 per Lady 4 lbs. Star Candles @ .25 1 box Blacking 1 paper Matches 14 2 Brooms @ .30 per Lady 3 bu. Potatoes @ .40 1 bottle Lemon 2 boxes Cinnamon @ .12^ 3 yds. Osnaburg @ .16^3 17 y A yds. Osnaburg @ .16^ per Lady 2 pair Wool Socks @ .40 26 3 / l6 yds. Inserting @ 1.25 per Lady 2 spools Thread @ .05 Dec. 1 12 lbs. Sugar @ .08^3 per Lady 1.00 5 lbs. Java Coffee @ .20 1.00 2 lbs. Starch @ .I2>^ .25 2 boxes Cinnamon @ .12^ .25 1 Cream Tartar .50 1 peck Turnips .08 1 bottle Extract .25 3.33 4O.OO .20 1. 00 •25 1-25 1. 00 1. 00 •25 •25 2.5O •15 .40 .80 .75 .80 .22 .16 .40 3-53 I. OO I. OO .IO •15 2.25 .60 1.20 •25 •25 •50 2.80 .10 .80 .90 .22 .IO .32 Appendix 161 Dec. — Continued 2 2 Boys Hats ©1.50 per Lady 1 pair Gum Shoes 2 Comforts @ .75 Amount of Bill Rendered Lady 2 1 peck Apples per Lady 23 7 yds. Calico @ .10 per Lady 2}i yds. Oil Calico @ .20 2 skeins Silk 31 9 lbs. Crushed Sugar per Self 3.00 .60 1.50 33.93 39.03 .30 .70 •47 .05 1.22 I. OO $500.61 The account books of C. M. & S. Smith are owned by B. H. Luers Sons shoe store Springfield, Illinois. 1 62 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ACCOUNT SPRINGFIELD MARINE AND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY i 853-1 865 Deposits 1853 Mar. 1 $310.00 Oct. 1 1 111. Central R. R. fee of $250.00 probably part of this deposit. 400.00 1855 Oct. 9 Money collected for Mrs. Maria L. Bullock on sale of land. 198.00 1856 Nov. 13 "For Mrs. Bullock" — money collected on notes given for purchase of land owned by Mrs. Bullock. 970.00 1857 May 16 Possibly part of payment of $225 received same day in full settlement of Lincoln's claim against estate of Nathaniel Hay. 200.00 Aug. 12 Balance of fee in Illinois Central R. R. v. McLean County. 4800.00 Aug. 20 200.00 Sept. 26 Possibly payment of fee, or part of fee, in "Erne Afton' , case. 400.00 1858 Feb. 19 Note on bank record: "for his half C. & A. R. R. debt" 344-65 Nov. 26 Payment of principal of Ritta daSilva first mortgage. 1 25.00 1859 Feb. 3 Possibly interest on $500 note @ 10% of J. Ruckel, Sept. 28, 1857. 50.00 " 15 60.00 " 16 Payment on principal of two promissory notes made by A. & J. Haines of Pekin for legal fees, in amount of $200 each. 50.00 " 19 40.00 " 22 625.00 [Lincoln deposited $375 on this date to Wm. H. Herndon's account. He collected $ 1 000 as part payment of claim on which he had brought suit in U. S. Court — Ambos v. Barrett.] Appendix 163 Mar. 4 250.00 [Lincoln also deposited $250.00 to Herndon's account.] 40.00 112.50 $30 payment on promissory note for $80 made Nov. 7, 1857, by Milton Davis of Vermilion County. 50.00 50.00 Possibly interest on John Cook note for year ending April 1 j, 1859. $750 @ 10%. 75.00 Fees collected from the circuit. 100.00 Another payment on principal of A. & J. Haines notes. 50.00 100.00 24-75 75.00 Lincoln's half of fee in Springfield case. 225.00 250.00 [Lincoln also deposited $250 to Herndon's account.] 50.00 Fourth payment on principal of A. & J. Haines notes. 50.00 Possibly interest on J. Ruckelnote, $500® 10%, Sept. 28, 1857. 50.00 100.00 Possibly interest on Wm. Cline note for $750 @ 10% due Nov. 22, 1859. 75-oo 100.00 Deposited by Herndon. 87.00 75.00 Deposited "By Lincoln". 27.00 118.25 [Lincoln deposited the same amount to the accounts of S.T. Logan, M. Hay and Wm. H. Herndon.] Feb. 1 539.95 [Lincoln deposited $125.00 to Herndon's account and $275 to his own. On the bank record is this notation — "Ch. 122.95 G y42"] " 6 265.00 Mar. 15 604.00 [Lincoln had just returned home from delivering his Cooper Union speech for which he had received $200.] u 12 a 21 a 28 Apr. 4 u 16 a 29 May 2 a 14 u 21 June 9 a 11 July 28 Sept. • 7 a 12 a 26 Oct. 10 Nov. 16 Nov. 22 Dec. 9 i860 Jan. 12 a 21 a 21 64 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln 325.00 Possibly included interest on John Cook note due April 1 7, i860 in amount of $75. 100.00 500.00 [Lincoln deposited same amount to Herndon's account.] Possibly part of principal (Si 25) paid this date on second Ritta daSilva mortgage. 100.00 Fifth payment on principal of A. & J. Haines notes. 50.00 300.00 Possibly interest for 1 year due Aug. 28, i860 on Isaac Lind- say note for $600 @ 10%. 60.00 On this date Stephen T. Logan paid Lincoln $500, of which $250 was deposited to Herndon's account in Cairo eject- ment case. 250.00 Oct. 6 On this date Logan paid balance of Cairo ejectment fee ($1,500 total fee) by $239 in cash and note of Logan for $400 and note of Jos. Smith for $361. 239.00 645.00 42.23 40.00 Payment of Stephen T. Logan note given in Cairo eject- ment case — no interest charged. 400.00 Apr. 5 a 16 May 25 June 9 Aug. *3 u 26 u 29 Sept. 4 a 16 Nov. 17 Dec. 10 a 26 186 il Jan. *9 u 23 u 25 Feb. 5 u 6 u 200.00 165.10 136.00 100.00 642.91 75.00 " 1 1 Payment by S. H. Melvin for certain household furniture bought from Lincoln. 82.25 Deposits After February 9, 1861 by Robert Irwin 1861 May 14 Interest on Cline note from Nov. 22, 1859 to May 22, i860. $ 1 12.50 Sept. 2 Interest on Lindsay note for 1 year from Aug. 28, i860 to Aug. 28, 1 86 1. 60.00 Nov. 25 Half year's rent paid by Lucian Til ton. 175.00 Appendix 165 1862 Jan. 7 Feb. 5 Mar. 24 Apr. 1 1 June 30 July 29 Sept. 10 Dec. 5 " 31 1863 Jan. 6 Mar. 21 May 15 June 5 u I3 Sept. 2 Oct. 6 « 19 1864 Jan. 11 " 25 « 29 Mar. 12 Interest on notes of N. W. Edwards — 2 years — Jan. 16, i860 to Jan. 16, 1862. 3 1 7.58 Payment on notes of N. W. Edwards. 680.00 Tilton rent to Feb. 1862. 87.50 One year interest on note of A. J. Van Deren to March 18, 1 86 1. 100.00 Payment on notes of N. W. Edwards — balance of principal and interest. 955-8o Tilton rent to May, 1862. 87.50 Payment on A. J. Van Deren note. 600.00 Interest on Wm. Cline note from May 22, 1861 to May 22, 1862. 75.oo Principal of Smith, Edwards & Co. note, interest Si 95.83, from Jan. 16, 1861 to Dec. 31, 1862. 1195-83 Two payments on principal of Springfield bond, each for Si 66.66, due Jan. 1, 1862 and Jan. 1, 1863, with interest S66.66 and S50.00 due same dates respectively. 450.00 Balance principal and interest on A. J. Van Deren note. 472.50 Interest on Wm. Cline note, May 22, 1862 to May 22, 1863. 75-°° Lucian Tilton rent to May, 1863. 35°-°° Payment of Wm. Cline note of S750.00 with interest from May 22, 1863 — S4.60. 754.6o Interest on Isaac Lindsay note from Aug. 28, 1861 to August 28, 1863. 120.00 Deposit by W. H. Herndon. Possibly payment of Jos. Smith note in Cairo ejectment case. 213.00 Payment on J. K. and Thomas Lewis note. 25.00 Payment of John Cook note S750.00, with interest from April 17, 1861 to date. 956.25 Payment on principal of Springfield Bond of Si 66.66 with interest of S33. 33 due Jan. 1, 1864. 200.00 Payment of J. Ruckel note of Sept. 28, i860, with interest from date. 667.05 Payment of balance due on J. K. & Thomas Lewis note in- cluding interest for 4 years from date. 185.00 1 66 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln May 20 Lucian Tilton rent to May, 1864. 350.00 June 1 Principal Isaac Lindsay note $600.00, plus interest for 9 mos. from August 28, 1863 — $45.00. 645.00 1865 Jan. 18 Balance of principal of Springfield bond plus interest of $16.67, l ess 5°^ charge. 182.83 Withdrawals 310.00 400.00 37.00 Check, dated Dec. 9, to W. W. Watson & Son, confectioners. 41.72 65-64 107.36 Check, dated Jan. 18, to Self. 53-64 Remittance to Mrs. Maria L. Bullock of money collected for her. 970.00 40.30 I59-70 Lincoln withdraws $4,800. He gives Wm. H. Herndon one half, then buys draft on H. A. Tucker & Co., Chicago, with other half plus $100. 4,800.00 Check, dated Aug. 28, to Joel A. Matteson. 200.00 Check, dated Sept. 28, to J. Bunn. 16.68 Check, dated Sept. 27, to Wm. H. Herndon. 23.00 39-68 Check to Wm. H. Herndon, probably one-half of fee from "Effie Afton" case. 200.00 8.50 18.50 227.00 47.62 14.70 Check, dated Sept. 28, to Bailhache & Baker for subscription to Illinois State Journal. 1 o. 00 72.32 1853 Apri] [ 8 Nov. 18 ^55 Nov. 24 Dec. J 9 a 19 1856 Jan. 18 Dec. 16 1857 May 28 July 22 Aug. 3i Sept. 1 u 28 a 28 u 29 u 29 a 29 a 30 a 3° a 30 Oct. 2 Nov, .27 1859 Jan. J 4 a 15 a 18 u 18 it 18 it 18 u 19 u 20 it 20 a 25 it 26 it 29 Feb. 5 u 5 it 10 a 10 it 12 It 16 tt 16 it 17 it 17 it 19 tt 19 23 u 23 u 26 a 28 Appendix 167 Check, dated Sept. 28, to John Hutchinson for furniture. 1 1 .00 33-34 Check to John Williams & Co., dry goods and groceries. 6.00 50-9I 35-25 88.94 22.74 1. 15 148.08 12.50 38.35 15-70 54-05 2.05 2.78 5-!2 80.50 12.00 92.50 5.18 1.47 6.65 2.52 26.03 2.60 28.63 72.10 10.00 82.IO 40.90 7.21 48.II Check, dated Feb. 16, to Bressmer, McQuinton & Matheny, dry goods. 2 1 Draft on H. A. Tucker & Co. to A. Lincoln. This was to pay S. Little, Urbana, 111., for guaranty to Henry Chew. 25.00 23 43-27 10.50 5-25 59-02 Check, dated Feb. 2 1 , to Van Ness & Co., dealers in china, glassware, and lamps. 35-75 12.00 1 68 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Mar. . I a 4 u 4 u 4 a 15 u 21 u 21 u 21 a 28 Apr. 4 a 6 u 16 u 18 u 18 u 19 a 29 May 2 u 12 u 16 u 18 a 23 u 23 (I 24 ti 28 a 3i June 11 a 11 u 13 u 15 u 17 u 25 u 29 u 30 Check to G. M. & S. Smith for dry goods and groceries. Draft on Ketchum, Howe & Co., New York City, to A. Lincoln for $497.50. The $7.50 was probably the cost of the draft. Check, dated May 2, to Robert T. Lincoln. 6.00 30.00 15.00 5-5 1 5°-5 28.48 407.72 22.50 6.00 56.98 28.64 505.00 4-5° 5.00 10.00 5.00 15.00 10.00 5.00 6.00 6.93 38.80 3.00 44.00 1 17.61 41.80 8.45 7.00 5.00 3045 11.25 41.70 7-25 Draft on H. A. Tucker & Co. to A. Lincoln to pay subscription to Chicago Press & Tribune. 7.00 3-75 8.04 Check to Clifton H. Moore, Clinton, 111., for taxes on Tama County, Iowa, land. 1.60 4.00 July 8 U 9 a 9 a ii a 25 a 3° Aug, 5 u 6 u 8 a 8 u 8 u 23 Sept . i « 3 u 6 a 7 u 8 u 9 u 10 u 12 a 27 a 28 u 28 Oct. 21 u 22 a 24 a 25 u 28 Nov. 4 a 7 Appendix 1 69 2.87 3.20 3.70 16.90 Possibly a check to Mrs. J. A. LaBarthe, milli- ner and dressmaker. Possibly check to Nutt & McMurtry, grocers. 38.00 2.60 88.70 92.66 8.77 24.00 40.00 540 69.40 101.00 2.00 50.00 10.00 12.30 7.67 20.00 i-75 50.00 50.00 40.00 11.60 51.60 7.40 8.00 2.00 50.00 30.00 89-35 3.68 16 Draft on Metropolitan Bank, New York City, to R. T. Lincoln for $50. Charge for draft prob- ably 75c. 50.75 17 10.00 22 Draft on Ketchum, Howe & Go. to R. T. Lincoln. 25.00 1 70 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Nov .— c u 26 a 26 u 30 Dec. 3 u 9 u 10 a 16 u 17 a 23 a 24 u 26 a 30 i860 Jan. 5 a 5 a 6 u 10 a 14 u 14 a id. a 17 u 20 a 21 u 21 a 24 a 30 Feb. 1 a 1 Draft on Ketchum, Howe & Co. to R. T. Lincoln for $25.00. Charge for draft probably 25c. 25.00 6.00 31.00 3-75 15.00 6.10 5.00 25-25 8.38 9-30 4-55 5.00 10.10 1-25 3.38 4.63 37-50 4.30 26.25 18.25 5-65 50-15 5-90 5.00 38.63 27.00 65-63 48.03 24.70 86.80 4.20 1 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to A. Lincoln Sent to Officer & Pusey, Council Bluffs, Iowa, to have deed to land recorded. 5.00 77-73 2 100.00 2 12.50 2 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to A. Lincoln for $15.00. Charge for draft probably 25c. J 5-25 29 [ar • H a 14 11 ig u 20 a 22 U 23 a 23 u 31 Appendix 1 7 1 Feb. — Continued " 2 10.93 " 2 Check to John Williams & Co., dry goods and groceries. 17.28 " 2 Check to First Presbyterian Church. 10.00 " 2 Check, dated Feb. 1 , to Bressmer, McQuinton & Matheny, dry goods. 6.46 2 40-34 2 11-75 2 64.80 289.31 3 4 6 6 7 7 8 9 17 17 18 25.00 21 23.00 22 Draft on Ketchum, Son & Co. to A. Lincoln for $50. Lincoln probably took draft and $50 in cash for trip to New York for Cooper Institute Address. 100.00 11.05 2.10 24.00 26.10 Draft on Ketchum, Son & Co. to R. T. Lincoln. 25.00 169.52 !53-46 15.00 3-5° l8 -5° 1.60 Apr. 4 15-00 " 5 7-39 5.00 23.28 25.00 3-70 28.70 340 7.40 10.80 29.00 2.50 7-75 4-5o 12.25 1 72 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Apr. — Continued 7 12.50 7 3-45 15-95 16 Payment to Mrs. Maria L. Bullock of John Cook note, with interest. 16 1 7 Draft on Ketchum, Son & Go. to A. Lincoln for $1 18.51 . Charge for draft probably $2.40. 17 21 26 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln. 30 May 12 " 26 This may have been a part of the $ 1 00 promised to M. W. Delahay. " 26 " 28 " 29 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln. June 5 " 5 " 6 " 7 " 8 Check to Obed Lewis, carriagemaker. " 8 " 18 " 30 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln for Si 50 to enroll at Harvard College. Charge for draft probably $3.00. July 5 7 10 11 11 13 13 16 16 493-13 10.00 503.13 120.91 79-09 200.00 5.00 10.00 10.00 3.75 50.00 122.75 172.75 6.30 10.00 25.60 2.00 505 7.05 12.00 22.73 75.00 13.15 88.15 5.00 153.00 6.00 12.50 25.00 8.87 15.00 23.87 75.00 550 80.50 5.00 5.00 10,00 Appendix 1 73 July — Continued u 19 10.00 a 20 25.00 " 23 11.00 u 28 5.00 ■ 30 5.00 Aug. 1 25.00 u 4 6.70 " 9 12.50 a 9 6.00 " 9 5-°° 23.50 « 13 « 20 a 20 a 24 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln. " 24 Draft on Barlow & Taylor, St. Louis, Mo., to A. Lincoln. " 27 " 28 « 29 a 3 1 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln for S20. Charge for draft probably 25c. « 31 Sept. 3 5 5 8 10 15 17 19 20 24 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln for $30. Charge for draft probably 30c. 27 Oct. 25.00 25.00 5.00 30.00 30.00 6.40 36.40 150.00 15.00 14-25 20.25 14-57 34.82 11.25 2.00 101.55 10355 H-5 1 6.25 5.00 1.30 25.00 5.00 30.30 10.00 6.87 3.00 9.87 74 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Oct. — Continued " 6 26 Nov. u 7-50 10 50.00 16 6.50 17 10.81 20 12.50 23 10.00 25.00 2 7 5.87 3 1 5- 00 31 Check to Wm. H. Herndon for his half of fee re- ceived from S. T. Logan in Cairo ejectment case. 119.50 124.50 1 5.00 2 5.00 " 7 4-io " 7 2.00 6.10 " 8 25.00 " 9 1. 00 " 16 Draft on Metropolitan Bank to R. T. Lincoln for $50. Charge for draft probably Si. 00. 5 loo " 21 50.00 11 22 Check to Elkin & Davis, dry goods. 150.00 " 27 5.18 Dec. 1 2.00 4 2.30 6 10.00 8 5.40 8 9.00 14.40 10 5.50 11 10.00 12 Check to E. B. Hawley & Co., dry goods. 13-20 13 10.80 18 14.50 27 5-15 28 Check to Wm. H. Herndon for his half of fee re- ceived from S. T. Logan in Cairo ejectment case. 200.00 29 3-3 8 Appendix J 75 1861 Jan. 7 a 9 a 9 u IO u 12 a 14 a 14 a 19 u 19 u 26 u 28 u 28 a 28 a 28 u 29 Feb. 5 a 6 a 6 u 6 a 6 u 6 ti 7 u 7 a 8 u 8 a 9 u 9 a 9 u 9 u 9 a 11 20.00 Check, dated Jan. 7, to Bressmer, McQuinton & Matheny, dry goods. Probably a draft for insurance on house and out buildings, $24.00 plus cost of draft. Check for taxes on lot in Lincoln, 111. Three drafts, each for $100, on Metropolitan Bank to A. Lincoln, and $100 in cash. 1 1 1 1 10.97 10.00 20.97 24.05 3-3o 20.00 10.00 30.00 28.00 3-25 3^25 5-25 19-3° 9-5° 7.10 5.00 40.90 25.40 10.00 149-94 205.75 33-93 3.00 •50 392.12 5.00 99-7Q 104.70 12.50 5.00 i7-5o 20.00 12.19 26.00 7-85 2.00 68.04 400.00 32.80 50.00 482.80 176 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Feb. — Continued « T T " 12 * 12 u I3 « I 3 « I 3 " 15 " 15 " '5 " 15 " 16 " 20 « 21 « 22 « 23 « 25 " 26 " 26 Check to John Williams & Co., dry goods and groceries. Mar. 2 " 6 " 18 • 19 « 19 « 21 " 21 « 21 Apr. 2 " 3 Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. May 30 June 10 Aug. 17 « 19 Nov. 5 25.00 6.00 31.00 330.00 1 36.34 466.34 10.85 4.38 1. 00 16.23 !9-69 5.00 5.00 990 39-59 io-75 7.00 72.24 9.20 50.00 5-5° 33-34 65-34 98.68 4.00 2.65 4.00 5.00 •75 5-75 2.00 2.00 4.00 25.00 42.00 9.00 51.00 2.50 31.65 1. 00 5.00 12.50 Appendix Dec. 23 « 30 1862 Jan. 7 " 14 Feb. 4 " 8 Mar. 7 Apr. 18 May 3 June 27 July 1 Dec. 9 Dec. 23 1863 Jan. 8 Feb. 7 " 24 Mar. 25 Apr. 1 1 Apr. 22 Oct. 15 1864 J an - 25 Feb. 6 " 8 Apr. 1 June 3 "Tax" Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Insurance on home. Taxes. Withdrawal by Robert Irwin. Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Withdrawal by Robert Irwin. Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Taxes. Insurance on house. Draft to Officer & Pusey, real estate agents at Council Bluffs, Iowa, for taxes on Council Bluffs land. Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Withdrawal by Robert Irwin. Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Taxes. Insurance on home. Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois State University, Springfield, 111. Draft to Officer & Pusey, real estate agents at Council Bluffs, Iowa, for taxes on Council Bluffs land. 177 99.00 9.00 3.00 7.00 2.00 24.00 49-53 !7-33 1 ,000.00 9.00 2.00 1,500.00 9.00 102.00 24.25 25.13 10.79 9.00 2,000.00 9.00 102.00 24.00 33-55 9.00 3-53 178 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Oct. 1 5 Semi-annual payment of interest on scholarship at Illinois Mate University, bpringheld, 111. 9.00 " 29 4.00 Dec. 3 50.00 1865 Jan. 18 Taxes. 50.88 Feb. 3 Taxes. 37-74 " 10 Insurance on home. 24.00 Mar. 23 Draft to Officer & Pusey, real estate agents at Council Bluffs, Iowa, for taxes on Council Bluffs land. 4-23 June 16 Check written by David Davis, Administrator, closing the account. 9,044.41 Appendix J 79 DRAFTS PURCHASED BY LINCOLN AT THE SPRINGFIELD MARINE AND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY 1857-1861 Date Drawn On In Favor Of Amount Aug. 31, 1857 H. A. Tucker & Co., Chicago A. Lincoln $2,500.00 Feb. 1 1 , 1858 Metropolitan Bank, New York a 11 94.00 Dec. 20, 1858 LaFayette Banking Co., Bloomington, 111. Dredge & Lincoln 230.85 Feb. 14, ^59 Ketchum, Howe & Co., New York Lincoln & Herndon 985.20 Feb. 21, ^59 H. A. Tucker & Co. A. Lincoln 25.00 Apr. 4, 1859 Lafayette Banking Co. Dredge & Lincoln J 99-95 Apr. 4, ^59 Ketchum, Howe & Co. A. Lincoln 497-5° June 15, l8 59 H. A. Tucker & Co. u 11 7.00 Nov. 16, 1859 Metropolitan Bank R. T. Lincoln 50.00 Nov. 22, 1859 Ketchum, Howe & Co. 11 11 11 25.00 Dec. 16, J 859 u u u u 11 11 11 25.00 Jan. 10, i860 J. M. Taylor, St. Louis Lincoln & Herndon 1,236.00 Jan. 30, i860 Metropolitan Bank R. T. Lincoln 10.00 Feb. 1, i860 a a A. Lincoln 5.00 Feb. 2, i860 it a 11 11 15.00 Feb. 22, i860 Ketchum, Son & Co., New York 11 11 50.00 Mar. 19, i860 u u it a it it R. T. Lincoln 25.00 Apr. 17, i860 u a a it u u A. Lincoln 118.50 Apr. 26, i860 Metropolitan Bank R. T. Lincoln 10.00 May 29, i860 a u a u u 10.00 June 30, i860 tt it u u u 150.00 Aug. 24, i860 a u u a u 30.00 Aug. 24, i860 Barlow & Taylor, St. Louis A. Lincoln 6.40 Aug. 31, i860 Metropolitan Bank R. T. Lincoln 20.00 Sept. 24, i860 a 11 11 11 11 30.00 Oct. 10, i860 u a 11 11 11 25.00 Nov. 16, i860 a 11 11 it 11 50.00 Feb. ii, 1861 11 11 A. Lincoln 300.00 (3 drafts — Si 00 each) 180 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln BOOK PURCHASES FOR THE LIBRARY OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION Books marked with (*) were paid for by President Lincoln Washington, July i, 1862 Library of the Executive Mansion To: William F. Richstein, Dr. Bookseller and Dealer in Foreign and American Stationery 278 Pennsylvania Avenue May 7 May 21 May 26 May 27 1 set Hood's Poems 3 vols. % calf $6.50 1 Goldsmiths Poems calf 5.00 * 1 Homes of American Authors Morocco 6.00 1 set Stricklands England 7 vols. @$ 3 .00 21.00 1 " " Scotland 8 « @ 2. 50 20.00 *i Mrs. Brownings Poems A U 4 @ 2. 25 9.00 *i Mrs. Sigourneys Poems 1 " 125 1 Mrs. Osgood Poems .90 1 Pearls of Ord Island 1 25 1 Agnes of Sorrento 1-25 1 East Lynne .50 1 Castle Wafer •50 1 Earl Herr •50 1 Chemmings •50 1 Heir to Ashley .50 1 Life Secret .50 $75- I 5 New York, Aug. 7, 1862 Mrs. President Lincoln To: T. J. Crowen, Dr. Publisher, Bookseller, and Stationer 699 Broadway, Cor. of 4th Street 1 set Waverly Si 6.00 1 " Cooper 34.00 1 u Shakespeare 12.00 1 Spencers Poems 8.00 1 Cor Am. Revolution 15*00 1 Sigourney Poems 5.00 Appendix 181 *i Hist, of New York 4.50 *i Indian Tales 2.25 *i Hist, of Revolution 6.00 *i Hist, of Washington 9.00 *i Hist, of England 5.00 *i Hist, of Voyages 2.25 *2 Albums 9.00 * 1 Portrait Gallery 16.00 1 Land & Book 3.25 1 Field Book 10.00 1 Kanes Expeditions 10.00 *i Travels 2.25 *i Hist, of Creation 2.50 *i Hist, of Birds .63 *i Hist, of Beasts .75 *i Hist, of Art .50 *i Text Book .37 * Box .75 $113.00 President Lincoln wrote the following note to B. B. French, Commissioner of Public Buildings, who had charge of White House expenditures, including the annual appropriation of $250 for books. At the same time he authorized French to draw $125.90 from the appropriation. Washington, Aug. 26, 1862 Hon. B. B. French Sir: With the sum created by what you draw on the book fund and my private check for $124.25, pay T.J. Crowen of New York $175.00, and William F. Richstein, $75.00. A. Lincoln Original bills and check are in the General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C. 82 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln DISPOSITION OF LINCOLN'S SALARY WARRANTS How 31 of these warrants became part of Lincoln's estate Month Amount Date deposited in Riggs & Co. Washington, D.C. 1861 March April May June $2083.33! 2083.33 2083.34 2083.33 April 5, 1 86 1 May 8, 1861 June 10, 1 86 1 July 9, 1 86 1 July August Sept. Oct. Nov. 2083.33 2083.34 2083.33 2083.33 2083.34 2083.33 > < Dec. 1862 Jan. 2083.33 Feb. 2083.34 March 1, 1862 March 2083.33 2083.33 2083.34 2083.33 2083.33 i April May June July 1 Sept. 3, 1862 Oct. 20, 1862 April 2, 1863 July 29, 1863 August Sept. Oct. 2083.34 2022. 33 2 2022.33 Nov. 2022.34 Dec. 2022.33 1863 - < Jan. Feb. 2022.33 2022.34 March 2022.33 April May 2022.33 2022.34 June 2022.33 Purchased on March 15, 1862 with these seven warrants, totalling $14,585.33, Treasury notes of 186 1 in the principal amount of $ 1 4,200, bearing interest at 7.3% per an- num, payable in gold. J Purchased on April 15, 1862 $2,000 of Treasury notes of 1 86 1 . 1 Lincoln's salary was $25,000 per annum or $2,083. 2 Income tax law of July 1, 1862 provided for a 3% in salaries to Federal officials, to be withheld at time of S61 thereby. These eleven warrants, totalling $22,306.67 delivered to Treasury on August 1 , 1 863 for a Certificate of Deposit in same amount. Cer- tificate bore interest at 5%, pay- able in currency, and represented a temporary loan as authorized by Act of February 25, 1862. 33 per month. tax for all amounts over $600 per annum paid payment. Lincoln's monthly warrants reduced July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 2022.33 2022.34 2022.33 2022.33 2022.34 2022.33 Appendix 183 December 8, 1863 In July Lincoln had approximately Si, 2 02 in gold received as interest on his $16,200 Treasury notes of '6 1. This sum in gold would pur- chase $1,852.40 in greenbacks at the then market rate. Currency in this amount and July warrant, to- talling $3,874.73, were exchanged on August 18, 1863 for a Certifi- cate of Deposit. Purchased on January 12, 1864 with warrants for Aug., Sept., Oct. and Dec, totalling $8,089.33 Treasury notes of '62 in principal amount of $8,000 bearing interest at 6% per annum in gold. 864 Jan. Feb. March 2022.33 2022.34 2022.33 March 4, 1864 April 2022.33 November 7, 1864 May 2022.34 June 7, 1864 June 2022.33 July 9, 1864 July 1 98 1. 67 s November 7, 1864 August 1981.67 Deposited in First Natl. Bank, Washington, D.C Sept. 1981.66 November 18, 1864 Oct. 1981.67 January 6, 1865 Nov. 1981.67 January 31, 1865 Warrants for Feb. and March, plus balance of $89 in greenbacks from purchase of notes on Jan. 12, 1864, and all his Government securi- ties turned over by Lincoln to Chase, Secretary of Treasury, for reinvestment. Warrants became part of $32,800 reinvestment in Treasury notes of '81. 3 Income tax law of June 30, 1864 increased percentage of salary withheld to 5%. Lincoln's monthly warrants reduced $101.66 thereby. A total of $2,407.60 was withheld from Lincoln's salary under income tax laws. In 1872 a refund of $3,555.94 was made to the Administrator of his estate, representing amount withheld from his salary, plus $1,250 paid by Lincoln in December 1864, as a special 5% tax on his 1863 salary. 84 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln Dec. 1981.66 1865 Jan. Feb. March 1981.67 1976.22 1981.67 April 847.83 Totals $ [00,668.72 These four warrants found in Lin- coln's desk after his death. {Paid to Administrator of Lincoln's estate as salary from April 4-15, 1865, income tax deducted. $38,770.01 $61,898.71 THE ESTATE OF THOMAS LINCOLN Tn November, 1867, David Davis was appointed guardian of Thomas (Tad) Lincoln, ■*■ who was then fourteen years old. On Davis's recommendation Judge William Prescott of the Sangamon County Court authorized the payment of $100 a month to Mrs. Lincoln for her minor son's support. The bonds held in Thomas Lincoln's name yielded $1,983 in interest annually. The interest, paid in gold, was sold at a premium, which brought the income from his father's estate well above the cost of his main- tenance. With the surplus, Davis purchased a $1,000 McLean County bond in 1868. Thomas Lincoln died on July 15, 1871. His only heirs were his mother and his brother, Robert Todd Lincoln. His estate consisted of $1,315.16 in cash and bonds totalling $35,750. Mrs. Lincoln was entitled, under the law, to two- thirds of the estate, but, at her request, it was divided equally between herself and Robert. MRS. LINCOLN'S FINANCES, 1865-1882 On December 21, 1865, me Congress of the United States voted to pay Mrs. Lincoln one year's presidential salary, minus any payments made to the President or to his estate between March 4, 1865 and March 4, 1866. Such payments amounted to $2,829.50, and were deducted. Deducted also was the five per cent income tax on these payments, or $145.16. The remainder, $22,025.34, was paid to Mrs. Lincoln in 7-30 bonds of 1865. No income tax on this amount was withheld because the Treasury ruled that it was a donation. Mrs. Lincoln used most of the money ($18,000) to pur- chase a house at 375 West Washington Street, Chicago. In July, 1870, Congress voted an annual pension of $3,000 to Mrs. Lincoln. A year later she received one-half of the estate of her son Thomas. In May, 1875, Mrs. Lincoln was adjudged incapable, because of mental illness, of handling her own finances, and her son Robert was appointed conservator. He acted in this capacity until June, 1876, when his mother was declared to be competent. Robert Lincoln reported that her estate amounted to $68,750, with income of $1 1,140.35 during the period of his conservatorship. Appendix 185 Mrs. Lincoln placed her business affairs in the hands of Jacob Bunn, Springfield banker in September, 1876. From him she borrowed $1,800 in gold to make a trip to France, reimbursing him in January, 1877. Bunn was empowered to collect for her the $1,800 semi-annual interest on $60,000 on six per cent federal bonds which she owned, and $125 monthly payment on her Chicago house, and the $3,000 annual pension. He attended to these matters faithfully and to the satisfaction of Mrs. Lin- coln. She lived comfortably on her annual income of $9,100, in Pau, a resort in the southern part of France which was patronized by many English people. When the weather became warm she stayed at resorts high in the Pyrenees. There were occa- sional trips to Paris, Rome and Naples, but most of the time she resided in Pau. 1 Bunn's Bank failed on January 1, 1878 — a casualty of the long depression which followed the Panic of 1 873.2 To a letter announcing his failure Mrs. Lincoln sent a reply which the man who had lost the results of his life work cherished as long as he lived. She wrote: "Most truly do I sympathize with you and your amiable, kind hearted family in this unexpected trouble. . . . Allow me to thank you for your kind- ness in going up to Chicago to collect money on interest. Your kind attention to my business, as well as your great promptitude, is most gratefully remembered by me. Please present my affectionate regards to your family." 3 When Jacob Bunn again suggested that in view of his bankruptcy she might wish him to turn the management of her affairs over to another, Mrs. Lincoln wrote: "I entreat you in the future to send my remittances yourself, take charge of my business & I will endeavor to give you as little trouble as possible. Retain my Bonds & my papers, for in your honourable hands I feel well assured, they are perfectly safe. Will you please respect my wishes in regard to this dear Mr. Bunn, for I wish to feel at rest re- garding these matters." 4 He continued to look after her business matters until her return to the United States in October, 1880. In January, 1882, Mrs. Lincoln's pension was increased from $3,000 to $5,000 a year. At the same time, Congress voted her a donation of $15,000. Mrs. Lincoln died on July 16, 1882, leaving no will. Robert Todd Lincoln, who served as administrator, filed his final report on November 6, 1 884. Her estate, worth $84,035, went to him as the sole heir. 5 *Data on Mrs. Lincoln's four years in France is taken from ninety-two letters which she wrote to Jacob Bunn, 1876-1880, presented to the Abraham Lincoln Association by his daughter, Miss Alice E. Bunn. 2 Bunn's Bank — J. Bunn & Co. — had liabilities of $800,000 when it closed. In the liquidation, $572,- 000 was distributed among the creditors. On January 1, 1926, Jacob Bunn's four children paid the remaining $228,000, with interest at five per cent, to the creditors or their heirs. The sum distributed nearly equalled the original liability of $800,000. 3 Mrs. Abraham Lincoln to Jacob Bunn, Pau, France, Jan. 24, 1878. 4 Ibid., Feb. 26, 1878. 5 Original court records of the administration of Mrs. Lincoln's estate are in the 111. State Hist. Lib. Bibliography MANUSCRIPTS Auditor's Records. Warrant ledgers and receipt books in the office of Auditor of Public Ac- counts, Springfield, 111. Some of the pay rolls and all of Lincoln's legislative salary war- rants are on file. Gorneau & Diller Drug Store, Springfield, 111. Two volumes of the Day Books, 1855-1861, containing purchases made by the Lincolns are in the Illinois State Historical Library. County Commissioners' Record of Sangamon County, 111. Volumes A, B, and C are in the Illinois State Historical Library. Volumes D and E and the files are in the office of the County Clerk, Springfield, 111. Davis manuscripts. Private memoranda of Justice David Davis of the administration of the estate of President Lincoln, and of the guardianship of Thomas (Tad) Lincoln. Original manuscripts now owned by the heirs of Justice Davis, Bloomington, 111. Fee Book of Stuart & Lincoln. This book covering 183 7- 1840, is owned by Mrs. Edna OrendorfT Macpherson, Springfield, 111. Fee Book of Lincoln & Herndon. This book covering 1845-1847, is in the Illinois State His- torical Library. General Accounting Office files, Washington, D. C. The Executive Mansion bills of Lincoln's administration are on file. Herndon manuscripts. Three large copy books of material collected by Wm. H. Herndon. These volumes, with some unbound letters, now in the Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, Gal., were sold to Ward H. Lamon in 1869. Irwin, Robert, & Co., Account Book and Letter Book, 1839- 1849. These volumes are in the Springfield Marine Bank. A typed copy of the Letter Book is in the files of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Springfield, 111. Lincoln. Administration papers of the estate of Abraham, Mary and Thomas Lincoln are in the Illinois State Historical Library. Moore Copy Book, Vol. 12. This is one of ninety-two copy books of correspondence, kept by Clifton H. Moore, and now owned by the Moore-Warner estate, Clinton, 111. Photo. A photostatic copy in the files of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Springfield, 111. Smith, Clark M. & S., Ledger for 1858, and Day Book for 1859, containing Lincoln's account are owned by B. H. Luers Sons shoe store, Springfield, 111. Trumbull manuscripts. Correspondence of Lyman Trumbull in the Library of Congress. United States Treasury income tax records of the refund to the Lincoln estate. Williams, John, & Co., Invoice Book and Day Books. The pages giving Offut's account have been cut out, leaving only a marginal notation. These volumes are in the Illinois State Historical Library. OTHER SOURCES Abraham Lincoln as Attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad (Chicago, 1905) Angle, Paul M., "Lincoln in the United States Court 1855-1860," Bulletin No. 8, Sept. 1927. Lincoln Centennial Association (Springfield, 111.) "Lincoln's Land Holdings and Investments," Bulletin Nos. 16 and 17, Sept. and Dec. 1929, Abraham Lincoln Association (Springfield, 111.) New Letters and Papers of Lincoln (Boston and New York, 1930). 187 1 88 The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln The Marine Bank: The Story of the Oldest Bank in Illinois (Springfield, 111., 1931) Lincoln, 1 854-1 861: Being the Day-by-Day Activities of Abraham Lincoln from January 1, 1854 to March 4, 1861 (Springfield, 111. 1933) 'Here I Have Lived'': A History of Lincoln's Springfield 1821-1865 (Springfield, 111., 1935) Barrett, Roger W., A Strange Affair (Peoria, 1933) Carpenter, Francis B., Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York, 1869) Harlan, E. R., "Lincoln's Iowa Lands," Annals of Iowa, April, 1927, pp. 621-623 (Iowa City, Iowa, 1927) Helm, Katherine, Mary, Wife of Lincoln (New York and London, 1928) Herndon, William H., and Jesse W. Weik, Herndon' s Life of Lincoln. Introduction and Notes by- Paul M. Angle (New York, 1930) Hertz, Emanuel, Abraham Lincoln: A New Portrait (New York, 1931) The Hidden Lincoln: From the Letters and Papers of William H. Herndon (New York, 1938) Howells, William Dean, Life of Abraham Lincoln (Springfield, 1938) McMurtry, R. Gerald, Kentucky Lincolns on Mill Creek (Harrogate, Tenn., 1939) Nicolay, John G., and John Hay, Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, 12 vols. (New York, 1906) Pratt, Harry E., "David Davis 1815-1886," Transactions, Illinois State Historical Society, 1930, pp. i57" l8 3 (Springfield, 111., 1930) "Administration of the Estate of Abraham Lincoln," Bulletin No. 45, Dec. 1936, Abra- ham Lincoln Association (Springfield, 111. ) "Lincoln's Savings From His Salary as President of the United States," Bulletin No. 52 June, 1938, Abraham Lincoln Association (Springfield, 111.) "Lincoln's Memorandum of His Savings," Bulletin No. 53, Sept. 1938, Abraham Lin- coln Association (Springfield, 111.) "In Defense of Mr. Justice Browne," Bulletin No. 56, June, 1939, Abraham Lincoln Association (Springfield, 111.) Lincoln, 1840-1846: Being the Day-by-Day Activities of Abraham Lincoln from January 1, 1840 to December 31, 1846 (Springfield, 111., 1939) -Lincoln, 1809-1839: Being the Day-by-Day Activities of Abraham Lincoln from February 12, i8og to December 31, 1839 (Springfield, 111., 1941) Reep, Thomas P., Lincoln at New Salem (Petersburg, 111., 1927) Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military and Naval in the Service of the United States (Wash- ington, D. C, 1 83 1, 1833, 1835 and 1837) Rice, Allen T., Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln By Distinguished Men of His Time (New York, 1886) Stringer, Lawrence B., History of Logan County, Illinois (Chicago, 191 1) Tarbell, Ida M., Early Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York, 1896) "Abraham Lincoln's Money Sense," American Magazine, Sept. 1923. Thomas, Benjamin P., "Lincoln the Postmaster," Bulletin No. 31, June, 1933, Abraham Lin- coln Association (Springfield, 111.) Lincoln's New Salem (Springfield, 111., 1934) Lincoln, 1842-1853: Being the Day-by-Day Activities of Abraham Lincoln from January 1, 1842 to December 31, 1853 (Springfield, 111., 1936) Townsend, William H., Abraham Lincoln, Defendant (Boston, 1923) Lincoln The Litigant (Boston, 1925) Lincoln and His Wife's Home Town (Indianapolis, Ind., 1929) Tracy, Gilbert A., Uncollected Letters of Abraham Lincoln (Boston, 191 7) Ward, William H., ed., Abraham Lincoln (New York, 1895) Warren, Louis A., Lincoln's Parentage and Childhood (New York, 1926) Weik, Jesse W., The Real Lincoln (Boston and New York, 1922) Whitney, Henry C, Life on the Circuit With Lincoln. Introduction and Notes by Paul M. Angle (Caldwell, Idaho, 1940) The Abraham Lincoln Association This book is published by the Abraham Lincoln Association. This Association, originally known as the Lincoln Centennial Associa- tion, was organized in 1909. Its purposes are: "To observe each anni- versary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; to preserve and make more readily accessible the landmarks associated with his life; and actively to encourage, promote and aid the collection and dissemination of authentic information regarding all phases of his life and career." The regular publication of the Association is The Abraham Lincoln Quarterly. This forty-eight page publication is issued in March, June, September and December. It contains articles on Lincoln's life, news items of general interest, unpublished letters, descriptions of important collections of Lincolniana, and the results of the latest research in the field. The Qiiarterly, first published in March, 1940, enlarged the scope of The Bulletin, fifty-eight numbers of which were published between 1923 and 1939. The list of members of the Association is published annually in The Quarterly. The Abraham Lincoln Association . Papers were issued annually from 1924 to 1939. These volumes contained the addresses delivered under the auspices of the Association on successive Lincoln birthday anniver- saries. Since 1940 the addresses have been published in The Quarterly. Eight special volumes have been issued by the Association. The first four listed, with dates of publication, are studies of the day-by-day ac- tivities of Abraham Lincoln from his birth to the presidency. 1933 — Paul M. Angle, Lincoln, 1 854-1 861. 1936 — Benjamin P. Thomas, Lincoln, 1847-1853. 1939 — Harry E. Pratt, Lincoln, 1840-1846. 1 941 — Harry E. Pratt, Lincoln, i8og-i8jg. 189 i go The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln 1930 — Paul M. Angle, New Letters and Papers of Lincoln. 1934 — Benjamin P. Thomas, Lincoln's Mew Salem. 1935 — Paul M. Angle, "Here I Have Lived" : A History of Lincoln's Springfield, 1821-1865. 1938 — William Dean Howells, Life of Lincoln. The Association is a not-for-profit corporation. It has a small endowment, but is supported principally by the dues of its Sustaining Members. Dues are five dollars a year for Junior Members, those under thirty-five years of age, and ten dollars a year for Senior Members, those over thirty-five years. The library membership is five dollars annually. Members receive all publications issued during the period of their membership without additional charge. Anyone desiring to be- come a member or desiring further information about the Association or its work should communicate with Harry E. Pratt, Executive Sec- retary, First National Bank Building, Springfield, Illinois. Index Albany, 111., 18 Allen, John, 14 Alley, Nelson, 10, 15 Alton & Sangamon R.R., 81, 123 Amos, Joshua F., 73 Anderson, Robert, 66 Anderson et al.; People v., 39 Armstrong, Duff, 56 Armstrong, Hannah, 18 Armstrong, Pleasant, 59 Arnold, Isaac N., 52, 94 Aspinall v. Lewis et al., 46 Atchison, Kan., 106 Atchison; Logan & Lincoln v 45 Baker, Edward D., buys Lincoln lot, 59; de- fends Truett, 29; Fisher murder case, 43 Ball v. McGuire, 35 Bank of Illinois (Shawneetown, 111.), 121 Barlow & Taylor (St. Louis, Mo.) , 173, 179 Barrett, James A., 35 Bath, 111., 18 Battery, The (Washington, D.C.) , 101 Beach, R. H., 74 Beardstown, 111., floatboat trip to, 7, 9; Lincoln speaks in, 105; postal receipts of, 17; road to Springfield, 42 Beaty v. Miller, 35 Beaver v . Taylor et al., 57 Bell, James, 33 Beloit, Wis., 108 Benedict, Kirby, 41 Berry, William F., 12, 13, 14 Beveridge, Albert J., 32 Bissell, William H., 52, 114 Black, Alexander, 89 Black, William J., 96 Black Hawk War, Lincoln in, 10, 11, 27, 60, 67, 70 Blankenship, Eli C, 14 Bledsoe, Albert Taylor, 84 Bledsoe, Sophia, 84 Bloomington, 111., Lincoln in, 36, 39; Lin- coln buys lots in, 66, 67; Republican Con- vention (1856) , 103; mentioned, 105 Bogue, Vincent A., 9, 10 Brayman, Mason, 51 Brecht, Adam, 69 Breese, Sidney, 113 Bressmer, McQuinton & Matheny (Spring- field, 111.) , Lincoln's trade at, 89, 167, 17^ *75 Brewer, Morris P., 79 Broadwell, Norman M., 134 Brough, John, 49 Brown, John, 109 Brown v. Offut, 71 Browne, Thomas C, 112, 113, 114 Browning, Orville H., 94 Brunk, George, 91 Bullock, Mrs. Maria L., 162, 166, 172 Bunn, Jacob, 110, 112, 166, 185 Bunn, John W., 110 Burkhardt, John, 112 Burnet House (Cincinnati, Ohio) , 107, 108 Burrall, William P., 48 Bush, Isaac, 3 Butler, Charles E., 52 Butler, William, 60, 1 10 Butterfield, Justin, 102 Cairo, 111., 164, 174 Cairo city case see Beaver v. Taylor et al, 57 Calhoun, John, 17 Campbell, Alexander, 103, 104 Campbell, Antrim, 76 Canisius, Theodore, 112 Cannon v. Kinney, 27 Cantrall, Charles S., 75 Cantrall, Thomas, 75 Carlin, Thomas, 113 Carman, Caleb, 17 Carrollton, 111., 103 Cartwright, Peter, 100 Cataract House (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) , 93 Caton, John D., 46 Champaign County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 37, 38, 40, 49, 50, 137 Charleston, 111., 38, 61 Chase, Salmon P., 128, 129, 183 Chenery House (Springfield, 111.), 110 191 192 Index Chew, Henry, 167 Chicago, 111., death of Lincoln, 131; Lincoln in, 101; Republican Convention (i860), 106, 109-10 Chicago & Alton R.R., 162 Chicago Press & Tribune, 106, 168 Choate, Rufus, 52 Christian County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 37>47 Christian County; Overholt & Squier v., 37 Church, M. B., 82, 137 Cincinnati, Ohio, 107 Clary's Grove (Menard Co., 111.) , 42, 43 Clay, Henry, 102 Claypool Drug Store (Springfield, 111.) , 153 Cline, William, 77, 80, 163, 164, 165 Clinton, 111., 40, 41 Close, George, 7 Coler, W. G., 40 Coles County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 38,61 Columbus, Ohio, 107 Compher et al. v. People, 39 Condell, Thomas, 110, 135 Cook, Daniel Pope, 82 Cook, John, Lincoln's loan to, 79, 80, 163, 164, 165; note to, 172 Coon & Bro., R. (Springfield, 111.) , 90 Cooper Union (New York, N.Y.) , 109, 163, 171 Corneau & Diller (Springfield, 111.) , Lin- coln's trade at, 89, 151-53 Council Bluffs, Iowa, 78, 79, 106 Crawford County, Iowa, Lincoln's land in, 69, 137, 139 Crowen, T. J., 180-81 Danville, 111., 47, 117, 137 Davies, John P., 68 Davis, David, adm. of Lincoln estate, 70, 77, 81, 122, 127, 131-41* i? 8 ' 183-84; guardian of Thomas Lincoln, 184; judge of Eighth Circuit, 37, 40, 53; land deals, 68; recollections of Lincoln, 94; at Re- publican Convention (i860), 109; sells lots to Lincoln, 67 Davis, J. F., 26 Davis, Levi, 66, 67 Davis, Lucy, 66, 67 Davis, Milton, 137, 163 Davis, Oliver L., 47 Dawson, John, 22 Dayton, Ohio, 107 Dean, Frederick S., 60 Dean, Harriet W., 60 Decatur, 111., 7, 37 Dehaven, Samuel, 40 Delahay, Mark W., 106, 107, 172 Democratic Party, 29 Dent, Thomas, 141 DeWitt County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 37, 40, 41, 49 Dickson, William M., 108 Dickson, Mrs. William M., 107 Doniphan, Kan., 106 Dorman, William, 31 Dorman v. Lane, 31 Douglas, Stephen A., atty. for McClernand, 113; candidate for Congress, 26; debates with Lincoln, 104, 105; in legislature, 22; speaks in Ohio, 107; Turner murder case, 40, 41 Douglass, John M., 54 Dredge, , 179 Dresser, Charles, 63-66 Drummond, Thomas, 131 Dubois, Jesse K., 52, 53, 110, 123 Dubois, Lincoln, 123 Dummer, Henry E., 26 Duncan, Joseph, 22 Early, Jacob M., 29 Edgar County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 38 Edwards, Benjamin S., 39, 49, 57 Edwards, Mrs. Benjamin S., 96 Edwards, Cyrus, 102 Edwards, Henry, 69 Edwards, Julia, 66 Edwards, Ninian W., entertains, 84, 85; Hu- ron proprietor, 58; in legislature, 23; Lincoln's loan to, 75, 80, 165; Long Nine, 22; sells lot to Lincoln, 63; Todd estate, 117 Edwards, Mrs. Ninian W., 63, 95, 96 Edwards & Co., N. W., Lincoln's loan to, 76, 80; Lincoln's trade at, 75, 76, 89 Edwards, Thomas S., 59 Effie Afton (steamboat) , see Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Co. Elizabethtown, Ky., 3 Elkin, William F., 22 Elkin & Davis (Springfield, 111.) , 174 Index J 93 Emerson, Ralph, 55, 56 Enos, Zimri, 18 Epperson, Thomas, 27 Evans, W. A., 84, 85 Evarts, William M., 52 Exeter, N. H., 108, 109 Federal Courts in Illinois, 32, 35, 55, 56, 57, 131 Fell, Kersey H., 39 Fenn, Ira I., 16 Field, Alexander P., 113 Field, Maunsell B., 129 First National Bank (Washington, D.C.) , Lincoln's account in, 125, 127, 129, 130, 134, 136, 139, 183 First Presbyterian Church (Springfield, 111.) , gas lights in, 95; Lincoln's pew rent, 72, 171 Fisher, Archibald, murder of, 41-45 Flagg & Savage (Quincy, 111.) , 36 Fletcher, Job, 22 Flint, Abel, 18 Floyd, George P., 36 Fondey, Mrs. William B., 95 Ford, Allen N., 136 Francis, Simeon, 58 French, B. B., 181 Gentry, James, 5, 6, 7 Gibson, Robert, 18 Gillespie, Joseph, 115 Gilmore, Dr. , 41, 43 Globe (steamboat) , 101 Globe Tavern (Springfield, 111.) , 83, 84 Godbey, Russell, 18 Graham, Alexander, 60 Great Western R.R., 87, 88, 137 Greeley, Horace, 119 Greene, William G., 12, 13, 72 Grimsley, Mrs. William, 95 Haines, A., 137, 162, 163, 164 Haines, J., 137, 162, 163, 164 Hall, George, 120 Hall, John J., 62, 63 Hamilton, Ohio, 107 Hanks, Charles, 7 Hanks, Dennis, 5 Hanks, James, 7 Hanks, John, 7 Hannah, William H., 105 Hannan & Ragsdale (Springfield, 111.) , 88 Hardin County, Ky., 3 Harding, George, 55, 56 Harper & Co., Walter (Washington, D.C.) ,86 Harrington, George, 125, 129, 135 Harrison, Peyton L., 27 Harrison v. Taylor et al., 28 Hart, Ellis, 44 Hart; McKibben v., 38 Hartford Fire Insurance Co., 88, 177 Harvard University, 122, 132 Hatch, Ozias M., friend of Lincoln, 52; at Republican Convention (i860) ,110; Sec. of State, 105, 114; trip with Lincoln, 78 Hatch; People ex rel. Lanphier & Walker v., 112, 113, 114 Hawley & Co., E. B. (Springfield, 111.) , 174 Hay, Charles, 72 Hay, John, 72, 73 Hay, John Milton, 72, 100, 163 Hay, Logan, 99 Hay, Milton, 72 Hay, Nathaniel, 72-73, 162 Hay v. Mock & Laswell, 72 Henry, Anson G., 14 Henry, James D., 10 Herndon, Archer G., 22, 23 Hern don, James, 14 Herndon, J. Rowan, 12, 14 Herndon, William H., biography of Lin- coln, 94; collects Lincoln papers, 33; draft to Lincoln, 134-35; fees of, 33-35; Illinois Central R.R. case, 51; law prac- tice, 26; lecture on Lincoln, 92, 115; let- ter from Lincoln, 36; Lincoln's estate, 137, 139; presidential elector, 103; recol- lections of Lincoln, 119-20; Springfield Marine account, 122, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 174 Hewett, Josephus, 59 Hickox, Virgil, 42 Hill, Samuel, 17 Hoar, Ebenezer R., 126 Hoffman Row (Springfield, 111.) , 28 Hood Sc Co., P. H. (Washington, D.C.) , 86 Hough, H. A., 63 Huntington, Mrs. George L., 96 Hurd, Captain , 56 Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Co., Lincoln's fee in, 56, 78, 162, 166 1 94 Index Hurlbut, Stephen A., 101 Huron, 111., 18, 58, 59 Hutchinson, John, 92, 167 lies, Elijah, 60 Illinois Central R.R., Lincoln lobbies for, 48; Moore counsel for, 68; mentioned 36 Illinois Central R.R.; Lincoln v., 53, 77, 93, 122, 162 Illinois Central R.R. v. McLean County, 50-54 Illinois Gazette (Lacon, 111.) , 136 Illinois Staats Anzeiger (Springfield, 111.) , 112 Illinois State Journal (Springfield, 111.) , 123, 136, 166 see Sangamo Journal Illinois State Register (Springfield, 111.) , 108, 109, 136 Illinois State University (Springfield, 111.) , Lincoln's scholarship in, 81, 123, 176, 177, 17 8 Illinois Supreme Court, Lincoln in, 31, 39, 45' 5*> 83 Income tax, 125-27, 182-83 Irwin, Robert, borrows money of Lincoln, 177; campaign of (i860), 110; Lincoln's financial agent, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80-81, 121, 123, 135, 164; suit against Sidener, 76 Irwin & Co. (Springfield, 111.), 35, 89, 113 Irwin & Co.; McClernand v., 112, 113 Jacksonville, 111., 103 Janesville, Wis., 108 Jayne, Gershom, 14, 59 Johnson, Joel, 28 Johnson, Willis H., 46 Johnston, Andrew, 45 Johnston, John D., in Coles County, 60; flat- boat trip, 7; Lincoln's letters to, 61-63 Jonas, Abraham, 44 Joy, James F., atty. for 111. Central R.R., 36, 48, 49, 51 Judd, Norman B., chairman, Rep. party, 105; Effie Afton case, 56; Lincoln's loan to, 54, 78, 79, 81, 137 "Junto" (Springfield, 111.) , 100 Kansas-Nebraska bill, 103 Keefer, William E., 69 Ketchum, Howe k Co. (New York, N.Y.) , drafts on, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 179 Ketchum, Son & Co. (New York, N.Y.) , 122, 179 Keys, James, 42, 44 Kinkead, George B., 117, 118 Kinney; Cannon v., 27 Knob Creek farm, 3, 4 Knox, Joseph, 56 Labarthe, Mrs. Albina M., 92, 169 Lafayette Banking Co. (Bloomington, 111.) , 179 Lamon, Ward H., 1 10 Lamb, Caroline, 96 Lamborn, Josiah, 43 Lane, Ebenezer, 53 Lane; Dorman v., 31 Langford, James P., 44 LaSalle, 111., 103, 104 Lavely, William, 43 Leavenworth, Kan., 106 Lesure & Bliss v . Menard County, 37 Lewis, J. K., 80, 82, 165 Lewis, Obed, 172 Lewis, Thomas, Anderson murder case, 39; Lincoln's pew rent, 93; Lincoln's loan to, 80, 82, 165; Moffett sues, 46 Lewis et al; Aspinall v., 46 Lexington, Ky., 66, 85 Linder, Usher F., 38 Lindsay, Isaac, Lincoln's loan to, 76, 77, 80, 164, 165, 166 Lincoln, Abraham, bank account, 122, 162- 78; in Black Hawk War, 10-11, 27, 60, 67, 70; books for White House, 180-81; boy- hood of, 3, 5, 6; Cairo city case, 57; cam- paigns of: (1840), 100, (1848), 101, (i860), 109, 110, 111; candidate for U.S. Senate, 99; church contribution, 93; com- missioner of land office, 45, 102-103; in Congress, 118, 120; death of, 131; de- bates with Douglas, 89, 104, 105; de- fends Truett, 29; Effie Afton case, 56; election clerk, 19; estate of, 132-41; Fisher murder case, 41-45; governorship of Oregon Territory, 103; home of, 87, 88, 89; and 111. Central R.R., 48-54, 77, 93, 122, 162; Irwin, financial agent, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80-81, 121, 123; land holdings, 58-70; lecturer, 55; in legislature, 17, 19- 2 4> l 43-44; m McCormick v. Manny et al., 54-56; in Macon County, 7; money Index J 95 lender, 71-82; money sense, 115, 116; pilots Talisman, 9-10; postmaster, 15-17; as President, 124, 125-30, 182-83; pro- bate court practice, 33; store accounts, 89-92; storekeeper, 8, 12-15, 71, 85; sues to collect fees, 40-54; surveyor, 17-18, 58; views on fees, 25 Lincoln, Mrs. Abraham, books for White House, 180, Council Bluffs land, 79; death of husband, 132; estate of, 184-85; estate of father, 117, 118; estate of hus- band, 82, 133-34, 136, 138, 139, 140; land from father, 66, 86, letter to Davis, 141; lives at Globe Tavern, 83, 84; shops, 90, 92, 145-50, 154-61; social affairs, 94-98; Tama County land, 69; trips: to Buffalo, 101, to Cincinnati, 94, 107, to New York, 93, to Washington, 85; see Mary Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker, 85 Lincoln, Robert T., boyhood of, 92, 96; brother's estate, 184; Council Bluffs land, 79; death of father, 127, 131; drafts to, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 174; estate of fa- ther, 132, 133, 138, 139, 140; at Harvard University, 122, 132; letter to Davis, 141; mother's estate, 185; at Phillips-Exeter, 108, 109, 122; shops, 145-50, 154-61; Tama County land, 68, 69; trip to Wash- ington, 85 Lincoln, Sarah Bush Johnston, 60, 61, 62 Lincoln, Thomas, bio. sketch, 3-6; in Coles County, 60; death of, 61; moves to Illi- nois, 7 Lincoln, Thomas "Tad," Council Bluffs land, 79; estate of, 184; estate of father, 139, 140, 141; letter of, 138; Tama County land, 68, 69 Lincoln, William, 92, 145-50 Lincoln, 111., 67, 175 Lincoln & Herndon, bank account of, 122; drafts from, 179; fee book of, 33-35 Lincoln & Herndon v. Moftett, 46-47 Lincoln v. 111. Central R.R., 53, 77, 93, 122, 162 Little, S., 167 Lockwood, Samuel D., 16 Logan, Mary, 96 Logan, Stephen T., Anderson murder case, 39; atty. for State Bank, 30; bank ac- count of, 163, 164; Cairo city case, 57, 174; defends Truett, 29; fees of, 30-31, 32; Fisher murder case, 43; Huron pro- prietor, 58; 111. Central R.R. case, 51; partner of Hay, 72; partner of Lincoln, 15; social affairs, 96 Logan & Lincoln, buy lot of Edwards, 63; law office of, 65 Logan & Lincoln v. Atchison, 45 "Long Nine," 22 Louderman k Co., J. C. (St. Louis, Mo.) , 92 Louisville, Ky„ 42 Lovejoy, Owen, 103 Lucas, J. M., 102 Ludlum, Cornelius, 85, 88 McCallan, Andrew, 25 McClernand, John A., 113, 119 McClernand v. Irwin & Co., 112, 113 McCormick, Andrew, 22 McCormick, Cyrus H., 54 McCormick v. Manny et ah, 54-56 McCrery, James, 4 McDaniel, Jas. H., 137 McDaniel, Jas. S„ 137 McGuire; Ball v., 35 McKibben v. Hart, 38 McLean, John, 55, 56 McLean County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 37- 39- 49' 5° McLean County; Illinois Central R.R. v., 5°~54 McNeil, C. F., 108 Macpherson, Mrs. Edna Orendorff, 26 Madison & Indianapolis R.R., 49 Manny, John H., 54 Manny et al.; McCormick v., 54-56 Marsh, Matthew S., 15-16 Marshall, Samuel D., 31 Martin, Isaac, 33 Martin, Matthew K„ 41 Martin, William, 48 Mason, Lucinda, 27 Matteson, Joel A., builds house, 87; letter from Lincoln, 106; Lincoln's check to, 166; Lincoln endorses note to, 67; social affairs, 96 Maxcy, James, 42, 43, 44 May, William L., 30, 43 Melvin, S. H., 164 Menard County; Lesure & Bliss v., 37 Metropolitan Bank (New York, N.Y.) , Lin- coln's drafts, 169, 172, 173, 174, 175, 179 9 6 Index Mexican War, 100, 101 Mill Creek farm, 3, 4 Miller, George G., 58 Miller, William, 7 Miller; Beaty v., 35 Milwaukee, Wis., 108 Mississippi & Atlantic R.R., 49 Mississippi & Missouri R.R., 78 Moore, Clifton H., atty. for 111. Central R.R., 49; Lincoln's land, 68, 123, 168 Mock & Laswell; Hay v., 72 Moffett, Thomas, 26 Moffett, William T., 47 Moffett; Lincoln & Herndon v., 46-47 Munsell v . Temple, 35 Neale, Thomas M., 18 Nelson, David P., 9 New Boston, 111., 18 New Orleans, La., Lincoln's trips to, 6, 7, 8 New Salem, 111., distance to Vandalia, 143- 44; Lincoln settles in, 8; post office in, 15- 17, 116; stores in, 12, 13 New York, N.Y., Lincoln in, 93 Nicolay, John G., 100, 110 Nolin River farm, 3 Norton, Jesse O., 53 Nutt & McMurtry (Springfield, 111.) , 169 Offut, Denton, borrows money, 71; flatboat trip, 7, 8; storekeeper, 9 Offut; Brown v., 71 Officer & Pusey (Council Bluffs, Iowa) , Lin- coln's land, 78, 79, 170, 177, 178 Old Soldier, The (Springfield, 111.) , 100 Oldham, Todd & Co. (Lexington, Ky.) , 86, 117,118 Orendorff, Alfred, 26 Osborn, W. H., 53 Overholt & Squier v. Christian County, 37 Pate, C. L., 47 Patterson, Golden, 137 Patterson, Thomas, 40 Patterson, William, 137 Paris, 111., 32 Pau, France, 185 Pekin, 111., 17 People v. Anderson et al., 39 People v. Brown, 47 People; Compher et al. v:, 39 People ex rel. Lanphier and Walker v. Hatch, 112, 113, 114 People v. Turner, 40, 41 Peoria, 111., 29, 32 Petersburg, 111., 18, 100 Pope, Nathaniel, 32 Porter, William, 44 Portland Landing (Sangamon County, 111.), 9 Prescott, William, 184 Primm, James, 67 Purple, Norman H., 45 Radford, Reuben, 12, 13, 14 Ransdell, Wharton, 43 Rantoul, Robert, 48 Republican Party, conventions of: (1856) , 103, (1858), 99, (i860), 106, 109-10 "Reaper case," see McCormick v. Manny et al. Richstein, William F., 180-81 Ridgley, Nicholas, 96 Riggs & Co. (Washington, D.C.) , Lincoln's account in, 124, 125, 129, 134, 136, 182-83 Rock Island Bridge Co.; Hurd v., 56 Rockwell, Julius, 132 Roll, John E., 87 Roll, John Linden, 87 Roll, Rachel, 27 Rosenwald, Julius, 60 Ross, E. C, 26 Ruckel, Catherine, 74 Ruckel, Daniel E., 74 Ruckel, Jacob, Lincoln's loan to, 74, 80, 162, 165 St. Louis, Mo., 9, 120 St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Springfield, 111.) , 63, 93 Sangamo Journal, 45; see also Illinois State Journal Sangamo Town, 111., 8, 87 Sangamon County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 10, 27, 45 Sangamon River, 9 Schuckers, J. W., 129 Scott, Dallas, 10 Scott, Winfield, 103 Seward, William H., 6, 107 Sheldon & Jaques (Champaign, 111.) , 40 Shelledy, Garland B., 32 Index *97 Short, James, 13, 14 Sidener, Samuel, 76 Silva, Ritta Angelica da, 77, 162, 164 Simmons, Pollard, 17 Smith, Clark M., 89, 90 Smith, Mrs. Clark M., 95 Smith, C. M. & S. (Springfield, 111.) , Lin- coln's trade at, 90, 154-61, 168 Smith, J. Taylor, 76 Smith, James D., 45 Smith, Joseph, 164, 165 Smith, Truman, 116 Smith, Edwards & Co. (Springfield, 111.) , 76, 80, 165 Smoot, Coleman, 22 Southmayd, Charles F., 52 Spears, George, 16 Speed, Joshua F., Lincoln's letters to, 42, 83, 93, 102; storekeeper, 33, 100 Spinner, Francis E., 136 Spottswood's Rural Hotel (Springfield, HI.) , 29 Springfield, 111., bonds of, 81, 123, 166; Everybody's Mill, 79; Fisher murder case, 42-45; gas lights in, 95; improvements in, 88; legislature meets in, 144; Lincoln's first visit to, 7, 8; murder of Rev. Early, 29; Republican rally (i860), 110; society in, 94-99; State Bank in, 121 Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Co. (Springfield, 111.) , Lincoln's account in, 54, 75, 92, 107, 122, 123, 162-79 Stackpole, Thomas, 82 Stanton, Edwin M., 55, 56 State Bank (Springfield, 111.) , 23, 30 Stone, Dan, 22 Stuart, Elizabeth J., letters to, 87, 94-98 Stuart, John T., Cairo city case, 57; cam- paign for Congress, 26; fees of, 39; on First Circuit, 29; Huron proprietor, 58; 111. Central R.R. case, 51; letters of, 94, 95, 96; Lincoln's estate, 134; railroad charter opinion, 49 Stuart, Mrs. John T., 87, 95, 96 Stuart & Lincoln, fee book of, 26-28 Swett, Leonard, 5, 40 Taylor, Zachary, 100, 101, 102 Taylor et al.; Beaver v., 57 Taylor et al.; Harrison v., 28 Tazewell County Circuit Court, Lincoln in, 28, 39 Temple; Munsell v., 35 Thomas, Francis, 67 Thorne, R., 104 Thornton, Anthony, 48 Tilton, Lucian A., rents Lincoln house, 88, 137, 141, 164, 165, 166 Tinsley, Seth M., 35, 63, 65 Todd, Anna Maria, 90; see Mrs. Clark M. Smith Todd, Emilie, letters from Mrs. Lincoln, 93, 97; visits Lincolns, 95 Todd, Mary, engagement to Lincoln, 23; rides on dray, 44; see Mrs. Abraham Lin- coln Todd, Robert S., 66, 86, 117, 118 Townsend, William H., 86 Trailor, Archibald, 41-44 Trailor, Henry, 41-44 Trailor, William, 41-45 Treat, Samuel H„ 58, 113 Tremont, 111., 28 Tremont House (Chicago, 111.) , 109 Trent, Alexander, 15 Truett, Henry B„ 29 Trumbull, Lyman, 78 Tucker & Co., H. A. (Chicago, 111.) , Lin- coln's drafts on, 122, 166, 167, 168, 179 Turner, Thomas J., 119, 137 Turner; People v., 40, 41 Union Pacific R.R., 78 Urbana, 111., 40, 137 Van Bergen, Peter, 13 Vance, Mrs. Deziah, 116-17 Vandalia, 111., Lincoln in legislature, 17, i9-23> 1 43-44 Van Deren, Archibald, 79, 80, 165 Van Deren, Cyrus W., 79, 80 Van Deren, John M., 79, 80 Van Ness & Co. (Springfield, 111.) , 92, 167 Talisman (steamboat) , 9, 10 Walker, Cyrus, 29 Tama County, Iowa, Lincoln's land in, 68, Wallace, William S., 83, 95, 97 69, 123, 137, 139 Wallace, Mrs. William S., 66, 95, 97 Taylor, J. M., 179 Ware, Nathaniel A., 66 1 98 Index Warnick, William, 7 Watkins, William, 13 Watson, Peter H., 55, 56 Watson & Son, W. W. (Springfield, 111.) , 92, 166 Webber, T. R., 50 Webster, Daniel, 102 Weik, Jesse W., 119 Welles, Charles R., 120 Whig Party, 100 White, John, 60 Whitney, Henry C, 37, 38, 40 Wickersham, Josiah, 42 Williams, John, 110 Williams & Co., John (Springfield, 111.) , ac- count with Offut, 71; Lincoln's check to 167, 171, 176; Lincoln's trade at, 88, 89, 90, 145-50 Wilson, James, 36 Wilson, Robert L., 22 Wren v. Wren, 32, 33 Yardley, John, 59 Yates, Richard, 72, 103 4 0< ■J. & i £ 6&w. x 4\ i-vl: ••:-.