Abraham Lincoln to Joshua R. Stanford, 12 May 18531
Pekin, May 12. 1853.Mr Joshua R. Stanford:SirI hope the subject-matter of this letter will appear a sufficient apology to you for
the liberty I, a total stranger, take in addressing ^you.^– The persons here, holding two lots under a conveyance2 made by you, as the attorney of Daniel M. Baily, now nearly twentytwo years ago, are in great danger of losing the lots; and very much— perhaps all— is
to depend on the testimony you give as to whether you did, or did not account to
Baily for the proceeds received by you on the sale of the lots–3 I therefore, as one of their counsel, beg of you to fully refresh your recollection,
by every means in your power, before the time you may be called on to testify– If
persons should come about you and show a disposition to pump you on this subject,
it may be no more than prudent to remember that it may be possible they design to
misrepresent you, and to embarrass the real testimony you may ultimately give– It
may be six months or a year before you are called on to testify–4
RespectfullyA. Lincoln<Page 2>
Mr Joshua R. StanfordGrigssvillePike Co,Illinois1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the last sheet,
which was folded to create an envelope.
2In legal terminology, a “conveyance” is the transfer of property ownership between
people via written instrument. It can also refer to the instrument itself. In this
context, it refers to the latter.
“Conveyance,” Reference, Glossary, 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/Reference.aspx?ref=Reference%20html%20files/Glossary.html.
3Lincoln is referencing a lawsuit between Leonard H. Wilkey and others and Daniel M.
Bailey and others in the Tazewell County Circuit Court.
In 1831, Samuel P. Bailey and James Bailey conveyed two lots in Pekin, Illinois, by deed of trust to Daniel
Bailey for the payment of debts. In the same year, Daniel Bailey gave Joshua R. Stanford
power of attorney to carry out the deed's trust duties. Under that power and with
the Baileys' knowledge, Stanford sold the lots to Rawley Doolittle and Peter Menard, Jr., and Daniel Bailey received the purchase money. Rawley Doolittle and Menard leased
the lots to Wilkey, then sold the lots to Irwin B. Doolittle and William B. Doolittle. In 1850, Daniel Bailey sold the same two lots to Thomas C. Reeves. In April 1850, Reeves sued Wilkey, Irwin Doolittle, and William Doolittle in two
actions of ejectment. Lincoln represented Wilkey and the Doolittles. In September
1850, Irwin Doolittle and William Doolittle sued Bailey and Reeves for an injunction
to stop the ejectment suits. Lincoln represented the Doolittles. In May 1853, the
court ruled for Reeves in both ejectment cases and dismissed the injunction case.
During these cases, Reeves sold the lots to Benjamin S. Prettyman, and Irwin Doolittle and William Doolittle leased the lots to Charles Yacle and John
Stoltz. Reeves and Prettyman had notice that Menard, Rawley Doolittle, William Doolittle,
Irwin Doolittle, Wilkey, Yacle, and Stoltz had possession of the lots. In April 1851,
Prettyman sued Yacle and Stoltz in two actions of ejectment. Lincoln represented
Yacle and Stoltz. In May 1853, Wilkey, Yacle, Stoltz, William Doolittle, and Irwin
Doolittle retained Lincoln and sued Prettyman, Reeves, Samuel Bailey, James Bailey,
and Daniel Bailey for an injunction to stop the two ejectment cases against Yacle
and Stoltz and to stop the execution of the two ejectment cases against Wilkey and
against Irwin Doolittle and William Doolittle. In October 1857, the court ruled for
Wilkey and others and dismissed the ejectment cases. Prettyman and others appealed
the judgment to the Illinois Supreme Court, which affirmed the judgment in December 1857. Lincoln did not participate in the
Supreme Court appeal. In October 1858, the Tazewell County Circuit Court dismissed
the ejectment suits against Yacle and Stoltz.
Reeves v. Wilkey, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=136278; Doolittle et al. v. Bailey et al., Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=136351; Prettyman v. Stoltz, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=136281; Prettyman v. Yacle, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=136280; Wilkey et al. v. Bailey et al., Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=136282; Prettyman et al. v. Wilkey et al., 19 Ill. (Peck) (1877), 236.
4Stanford did not testify, but provided a deposition for the Illinois Supreme Court
case, Prettyman et al. v. Wilkey et al. In his deposition, he confirmed that he sold the land to Menard and Rawley Doolittle
using the power of attorney that Daniel Bailey gave him, executed a deed for the land,
informed Bailey of the sale, and remitted payment to him for the sale.
Prettyman et al. v. Wilkey et al., 19 Ill. (Peck) (1877), 238-39.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Box 4, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).