Abraham Lincoln to John R. Herndon, 11 June 18391
Dear Row2:
MrRedman3 informs me that you wish me to write you the particulars of a conversation between Dr Felix & myself relative to you—
The Dr overtook me between Rushville and Beardstown— He, after learning that I lived at Springfield, asked if I was a acquainted with you— I told him I was— He said you had lately been elected constable in Adams, but that you never would be again— I asked him why?— He said the people there, had found out, that you had been Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff in Sangamon county, and that you came off and left your securities to suffer— He then asked me if I did not know such to be the fact— I told him I did not think you had ever been Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff in Sangamon; but that I thought you had been constable— I further told him that if you had left your securities to suffer in that or any other case, I had never heard of it, and that if it had been so, I thought I would have heard it—
If the Dr is telling that I told him any thing against you whatever, I authorize you to contradict it flatly— We have no news here—
Your friend, as ever—A. Lincoln
1Abraham Lincoln wrote the text of the letter and his signature.
2Herndon was known by his middle name Rowan.
3In the The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Roy P. Basler identified this person as “probably George Redman,” but we could discover no evidence of a George Redman living in Sangamon County in 1839. “Mr. Redman” remains unidentified.

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page(s), Lincoln Manuscripts, Indiana University (Bloomington, IN).