Daniel R. Sandford and Sylvanus S. Sandford to Abraham Lincoln, 16 May 18551
Paris Ills May 16th 1855Mr A LincolnDear SirThe note left with us on Sizemore of five dollars has been paid herewith find inclosed the amt[amount]–2
We have repetedly called John Hendersons attention to his note for $5— & he has as often made some objection to paying3
The note is stil here— what shal we do with it
Your FriendsD R & S Sandford<Page 2>
[ endorsement
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[06]/[03]/[1855]
[06]/[03]/[1855]
The five dollars within named, received– From Paris I sent Harding an order for both claims–4 One of them he vo wont get; the other, I wish you and he would try to get
Yours trulyA Lincoln5[ docketing
]
06/03/1855
06/03/1855
2It is possible that John Sizemore, Sr. incurred this debt in relation to a legal case
in which Abraham Lincoln served as one of his attorneys. In 1846, Sizemore had the
Edgar County Circuit Court declare his thirty-year-old son, Joshua Sizemore, insane. In November 1850, the
court appointed George W. Moke as Joshua’s conservator and charged him with the management of Joshua’s real and
personal property, which was valued at $400. In April 1851, John Sizemore, Sr. retained
Lincoln, Usher F. Linder, and Milton M. Dill and sued Moke in an action of assumpsit. John was suing to recover $300, for expenses
he incurred caring for Joshua between the time he was declared insane and Moke was
appointed conservator. In May 1852, the jury found for John Sizemore, Sr. and awarded
$260 from Joshua’s estate.
Order, Document ID: 37702; Declaration, Document ID: 37709, Sizemore v. Moke, 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=135730.
3It is also possible that John Henderson’s debt to Lincoln related to a legal case
in which Lincoln served as one of his attorneys. In 1849, Henderson sold William
Reed a stallion for $175. Reed paid $25 and gave Henderson a promissory note for
$150. After Reed failed to pay the note, Henderson retained Lincoln and Kirby Benedict, and, in October 1851, sued Reed in an action of assumpsit in the Edgar County Circuit
Court for $300 in damages. Reed claimed that Henderson promised the stallion was
a “good covering horse and foal getter,” but it proved to be “entirely worthless”
as a stud. In April 1853, Judge Justin Harlan ruled for Henderson and awarded $100.
Henderson v. Reed, 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=135775.
4Lincoln wrote Jacob Harding a letter on May 25, 1855, in which he briefly discussed the Sizemore
and Henderson debts.
Copy of Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Association Files, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).