Abraham Lincoln to Thomas Ewing, 22 March 18501
Springfield, Ills. March 22. 1850Hon Thomas Ewing:Secretary &C–[etc.]Dear Sir:I understand you have under consideration the question of appointing Dr A. G. Henry to some Indian Agency or Sub- Agency– I wish now merely to say that of all those whom I have desired should receive appointments
from this Administration, Dr Henry was at first, has always been, and still is, N0 One with me–2 I believe, nay, I know, he has done more disinterested labor in the Whig cause, than any other one, two, or three men in the state–3
Your Obt Servt[Obedient Servant]A. Lincoln<Page 2>
[ docketing
]
71
Indian Agency
Dr A G Henry
Letter of Hon A Lincoln
Indian Agency
Dr A G Henry
Letter of Hon A Lincoln
2During the spring and fall of 1849, Lincoln wrote several other letters of recommendation
to officials in President Zachary Taylor’s administration supporting Anson G. Henry for several different patronage appointments,
none of which Henry received.
3Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ewing replied to this letter on April 3, 1850. On June 24, 1850, Henry received appointment as
Indian agent in the Oregon Territory. He accepted this position and started for Oregon, but never assumed the job, returning
to Springfield before reaching the territory.
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), 250; 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), 271; Edward D. Neill, History of the Minnesota Valley (Minneapolis: North Star, 1882), 123-24; Elbert F. Floyd, “Insights into the Personal
Friendship and Patronage of Abraham Lincoln and Anson Gordon Henry, M.D.: Letters
for Dr. Henry to His Wife, Eliza,” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 98 (Winter 2005/2006), 220, 223.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s),
Rosenbach Museum and Library (Philadelphia, PA).