Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Promissory Note of James Gambrel to Abraham Lincoln, 24 February 18421
Springfield Feb^y 24^th 1842
On or before the first day of November next I promise to pay A. Lincoln twenty dollars in good fire wood f about four feet in length, at the selling price when delivered, to be delivered at any place designated by said Lincoln, in the city of Springfield—for value received—2
James Gambrel

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Gambrel note $20.
Logan & Lincoln

1Abraham Lincoln wrote this promissory note, and James Gambrel signed it.

2On March 18, 1842, Logan & Lincoln appeared for Gambrel in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, representing him in his petition for bankruptcy. This promissory likely represents Gambrel’s payment of the lawyers’ fee for attending to his case. $20 was the price per bankruptcy case that Lincoln estimated for another lawyer at the same time.
Public Notice, 4 March 1842, In re Gambrel, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=137809; Abraham Lincoln to Garland B. Shelledy.