Abraham Lincoln to Isaac N. Onstott, 14 October 18491
Springfield, Oct– 14. 1849Dear Isaac:I have but a moment to say your letter is received; and that when a Petition comes
to me in relation to your Post-Master it shall be attended to at once–2 Give my respects to your father and mother, and believe me ever.
Your friendA. Lincoln<Page 2>
Free. A Lincoln M. C[Member of Congress]SPRINGFIELD Ill.[Illinois]OCT[OCTOBER] 15
FREE
I. N. Onstot, Esq[Esquire]HavannaMason co.Ills.1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the second
sheet, which was folded to create an envelope.
2Neither Isaac N. Onstott’s letter nor a petition has been located. Onstott had written to Lincoln on May 30, 1849, regarding the postmaster in Havana.
Onstott was looking to supplant Jonathan Dearborn, who had replaced Northcup J. Rockwell as postmaster in December 1845. Dearborn would remain postmaster until November
1849, when the Taylor administration removed him and appointed Philo Noble as his
successor. Noble held the job until November 1850. Lincoln wrote Onstott on November 6, expressing his support for Onstott’s appointment and promising
to send a letter of reference to the U.S. Post Office Department on his behalf. Onstott received the appointment and remained postmaster until Nathan
Powell replaced him in June 1851.
Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841,
145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1845-1855, 18:132, National
Archives Building, Washington, DC; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1845 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845), 388*; 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),*413; 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), 476*; 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), *533; 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), *505.
Copy of Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Association Files, Lincoln Collection.