Milton K. Alexander to Abraham Lincoln, 6 June 18541
Paris Ills, June 6th 1854A. Lincoln Esqr[Esquire]Dear SirSome time since I had Mr Blackburn of this place to write you2 in reference to a town3 lot in Clinton. Dewitt Co. Ills,– [...?] ^belonging^ to me, which had been sold for taxes, and the time of redemption having Expired, and ^to^ desire4 you to [...?] ^examine^ the case and if possible recover the property.5 My object in desiring to recover the property is not so much on account of its value
as the manner in which I have been treated in reference to it, I have not heard anything
from you directly, and as I desire to have the matter [...?] ^investigated^ and the [...?] ^lot^ recovered if possible, write to you at present to suggest it the matter6 to you. I believe [...?] ^Mr^ B forwarded to you a description of the lot &c[etc.] please write me at your convenience in reference to it
Respectfully &cM. K. Alexander<Page 2>
[ endorsement
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06/13/1854
06/13/1854
It pains me to have to say that I forgot to attend to your business when I was in
Clinton, at Court in May last–7 Your best way would be to address me a letter at Clinton, about the time I go there
to court in the fall (Oct[October] 16th I think) and then it will be fresh, & I will not forget, or neglect it–
Yours trulyA. Lincoln8<Page 3>
[Envelope]
2No such letter has been found. Mr. Blackburn may have been Edgar County attorney John W. Blackburn.
5Lincoln filed suit in DeWitt County Circuit Court on May 18, 1855 on Alexander’s behalf against John Warner in order to eject the latter from lot two, block twenty-one in Clinton. The suit
was continued on October 15, 1855, at the agreement of the attorneys, and on May
12, 1856, the case was dismissed by Lincoln as plaintiff’s attorney.
The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 18 May 1855, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1855-05-18; 15 October 1855, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1855-10-15; 12 May 1856, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1856-05-12; Alexander v. Warner, 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=135436.
7Between May 15 and May 20, 1854, Lincoln was in Clinton attending the DeWitt County
Circuit Court, where he served as defense attorney in several cases brought against
the Illinois Central Railroad Company.
The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 15 May 1854, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1854-05-15; 16 May 1854, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1854-05-16; 18 May 1854, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1854-05-18; 19 May 1854, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1854-05-19; 20 May 1854, http://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1854-05-20.
Copy of Autograph Letter Signed, 3 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Association Files, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).