Ferdinand Maxwell to Abraham Lincoln, 5 April 18491
Kaskaskia April 5th 1849.Dear sirI, on yesterday saw Colo Servant and upon consultation, he advised me to write you, on the subject, of my Petition,
sent you, last winter, naming me for the office of Register of the Land Office at this place, we wish to Know whether you had Received, them, and what are the chances
for the removal of those gentlemen Locos here, the facts as contained in those papers sent you are true, they were very active
in the Presidential canvass Last fall, and now state, that if Genl Taylor does not remove them, he does not do his duty if they are suffered to remain in office
it is no use for the whigs of this part of the state, to exert themselves, in the Cause of our principals, when such ultra demagouges are retained in office, your early attention to this matter will confer a favour on your friend
I am Respectfully you Obdt Servt[Obedient Servant]F. Maxwell22The petition that Maxwell references was enclosed in a letter from Richard B. Servant to Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1849. Jacob Feaman was incumbent register of the General Land Office in Kaskaskia. Peter Menard, Maxwell’s uncle, wrote Lincoln on April 4 asking Lincoln to further Maxwell’s application. Maxwell did
not get the office in 1849; Feaman retained his post until May 1850, when Maxwell
received the job. Maxwell held the position until 1853.
Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1845 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845), 213; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1847 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1847), 30; 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), 135; Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1887), 8:178; 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), 139; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853
(Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 138.
Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).