Abraham Lincoln to Henry E. Dummer, 13 October 18531
Springfield, Oct 13. 1853.H. E. Dummer, Esq[Esquire]My dear Sir:I need your testimony to be used in a suit in Kentucky; and I have appointed the 15th of November next to take your deposition at Beardstown– I write this to request you to be at home on that day– I expect to be there in person–
The matter I wish you to testify about is that old claim of Oldham Todd &Co against me some body; & on which you paid me fifty dollars– Please answer, saying whether you can be
at home on the 15th Nov[November]–2
Very truly Yours &C.[etc.]A. Lincoln–<Page 2>
2Henry E. Dummer’s reply has not been located.
Lincoln is discussing the case Oldham & Hemingway v. Lincoln et al. In this case, Edward Oldham and Thomas Hemingway, the surviving partners of Oldham, Todd and Company, which had included Robert S. Todd, father of Mary Lincoln, claimed that the company had hired Lincoln and Ninian W. Edwards to collect some debts for them in Illinois. Oldham and Hemingway claimed that Lincoln, Edwards, and George B. Kinkead (who was acting as Lincoln's attorney in Lexington, Kentucky) failed to pay them $472.54. In June 1853, Oldham and Hemingway sued Lincoln and
others in a chancery action in Kentucky’s Fayette County Circuit Court to recover the debt.
In September 1853, Lincoln gave Oldham and Hemingway notice of his intention to take depositions related to the case in November 1853 in Springfield,
Beardstown, and Shelbyville. In February 1854, after depositions Lincoln took supported his version of events,
Oldham and Hemingway dismissed the case.
Oldham & Hemingway v. Lincoln et al., 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=141851; Harry E. Pratt, The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln (Springfield, IL: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1943), 118.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Box 4, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).