Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Charles B. Hitt to Abraham Lincoln, 3 May 18581
Augusta Georgia May 3^rd 1858Abram Lincoln Esq[Esquire]dear Sir
Some few years ago I sent to a Mr Charles Hardin then Clerk of one of the Courts in your State at Springfield a transcribt of a judgement against one Willys Catlin formerly from this Citty Mr Hardin was of the opinion at the time I sent the claim that Mr Catlin was fully able to pay it But sold a stock of Books in which trade Mr Catlin was engaged in Springfield to avoid the payment of this claim2 I have not hear anything from Mr Hardin for some time and suppose he is dead my object in writeing is to get you to mange this claim against Willys Catlin please let me hear from

<Page 2>
you and inform me if Mr Charles Hardin is dead and If you know this Willys Catlin and his ability to pay $5003
Respectfully
yoursC. B. Hitt

<Page 3>

[Envelope]
AUGUSTA Ga.[Georgia]
MAY 3Abram Lincoln EsqSpringfieldIllinois

[ docketing ]
Lincoln, Abraham (President)

About Charles Hardin4

[ docketing ]
Lincoln, Abraham (President)

Answered.5

1Charles B. Hitt wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the envelope.

2Charles Hardin and Willis (Willys) Catlin were both residents of Jacksonville, Illinois, not Springfield, and Hardin was clerk there of the Morgan County Circuit Court.
U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Jacksonville, Morgan County, IL, 10, 58; History of Morgan County, Illinois (Chicago: Donnelley, Loyd, 1878), 265.

3Neither the outcome of Hitt’s claim nor the extent of Abraham Lincoln’s involvement in the case is known. Hardin did not die until 1863. At the time of the 1860 census, Catlin owned real estate valued at $5,000 and possessed personal property of a similar value.
Hitt asked Lincoln to conduct legal research, 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), https://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=141376; Illinois Daily State Journal (Springfield), 3 February 1863, 3:2; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Jacksonville, Morgan County, IL, 58.

4Lincoln wrote this docketing.

5Lincoln wrote this docketing. Neither Lincoln’s response to this letter nor any further correspondence between Hitt and Lincoln on the subject has been located.