Abraham Lincoln to Abraham Bale, 22 February 18501
Mr. Abraham Bale,Dear Sir:
I understand Mr Hickox will go, or send to Petersburg to-morrow, for the purpose of meeting you to settle the difficulty about the wheat– I sincerely hope you will settle it– I think you can if you will; for I have always found Mr Hickox a fair man in his dealings– If you settle, I will charge nothing for what I have done, and thank you to boot– By settling, you will most likely get your money sooner; and with much less trouble & expense.
Yours trulyA. Lincoln2
<Page 2>
Abraham Bale Petersburg Illinois–
1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the last sheet, which was folded to create an envelope.
2On February 7, 1850, Abraham Bale sold Virgil Hickox and Asa D. Wright a consignment of wheat for $1,000. Hickox and Wright refused to pay, and Bale retained Lincoln & Herndon and filed an assumpsit suit in the Menard County Circuit Court on February 19. In April 1850, the parties reached an agreement and the court dismissed the case.
“Declaration, Praecipe,” Bale v. Wright & Hickox, 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://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=135006.

Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).