Contract between Charles Dresser and Abraham Lincoln, 16 January 18441
This memorandum witnesseth that Charles Dresser and Abraham Lincoln of Springfield Illinois have contracted with each other as follows: The said Dresser is to convey to,
or procure to be conveyed to, said Lincoln, by a clear title in fee simple the entire
premises (ground and improvements) in Springfield, on which said Dresser now resides,
and give him possession of said premises, on or before the first day of April next–2 for which said Lincoln, at or before the same day, is to pay to said Dresser twelve
hundred dollars, or what said Dresser shall then, at his own option, accept as equivalent
thereto; and also to procure to be conveyed to said Dresser, by a clear title in fee
simple, the entire premises (ground and building) in Springfield, on the block immediately
West of the Public Square, the building on which, is now occupied by H. A. Hough as a shop, being the same premises some time since by N. W. Edwards & wife to said Lincoln & Stephen T. Logan– Said Dresser takes upon himself to arrange with said Hough for the possession of
said shop and premises–
Jany 16.th 1844.Charles DresserA Lincoln(Signed duplicates)
1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed the deed, which was also signed by Charles Dresser.
Another copy of the deed contains an additional endorsement written by Lincoln.
2On May 2, 1844, Dresser and his wife conveyed the lot to Lincoln. Lincoln and his
family lived in the home until he was elected president and moved to Washington, DC,
on February 11, 1861. It was the only home Lincoln ever owned.
Deed of Charles Dresser and Louisa W. Dresser to Abraham Lincoln; The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 11 February 1861, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1861-02-11.
Autograph Document Signed, 1 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).