Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Memorandum concerning Orville Paddock and William S. Wallace, [1 May 1849]1

I have already recommended W. S. Wallace for Pension Agent at this place,–2 It is however, due to the truth, to say that Orville Paddock, within ^above–^ recommended, is every ^way^ qualified for the office; and that the persons recommending him, are of our business men, and best ^whig^ citizens–3

1Abraham Lincoln wrote this memorandum. There is another handwritten version of this memorandum, not in Lincoln’s hand.
Roy P. Basler, editor of The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, speculates that this slip of paper may have been a draft of an endorsement which Lincoln wrote on the bottom of a petition in favor of Orville Paddock which he forwarded to the Commissioner of Pensions James L. Edwards. Such a petition has not been located.
Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), 2:45.

2Lincoln’s recommendation for William S. Wallace has not been located.

3Wallace, Paddock, Charles W. Matheny, and William Butler were vying to replace Charles R. Hurst as agent for the U.S. Bureau of Pensions in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln recommended Butler for the position in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ewing on April 7. Hurst resigned as agent in June 1849, and Wallace replaced him on June 30. Wallace would hold the position until 1853.
Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1847 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1847), 139; Illinois Journal (Springfield), 13 June 1849, 3:1; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), 140; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 151; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 152; Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), 2:45.