Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Amos C. Babcock and William P. Kellogg to Abraham Lincoln, 4 August 18581
Canton Aug 4^rd 1858.Mr Lincoln.Dear Sir
Your letter came duly to hand–

Judge Kellogg this day went to Galesburg Knox Co. and requested us to write you.2 That their would be an audience in assembled at Lewistown, to hear you speak, large we hope & enthusiastic. Come by all means.3 We are sending hand Bills, over the County to that effect.4 You will be well rec^d[received]
yours trulyAmos. C. BabcockW. P. Kellogg 5To Hon. A. Lincoln

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[Envelope]

CANTON Ills
AUG[AUGUST] 5Hoⁿ Abram. LincolnSpringfieldIllinois

[ docketing ]
Lincoln, Abraham (President)

Kellogg.6

1William P. Kellogg wrote this letter, including both signatures and the address on the envelope.

2Abraham Lincoln’s letter has not been identified, but was likely an unlocated response to William Kellogg, who had written Lincoln on July 26, 1858, inviting him to speak in Lewistown after a planned speech by Stephen A. Douglas. In a letter to Charles W. Michael and William Proctor, who had also invited him to appear in Lewistown, Lincoln summarized his missing response to William Kellogg as indicating that he was willing to speak in the town if a crowd could be guaranteed.

3Lincoln had recently been nominated at the 1858 Illinois Republican Convention to run against incumbent Douglas to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. Douglas addressed an audience estimated variously at 4,000 or 5,000 people in Lewistown on August 16, 1858, following the Fulton County Democratic Convention earlier in the day. Lincoln chose to speak in Lewistown on the next day, August 17, since Douglas had informed him that his presence was unwelcome at Douglas’ campaign events. William Kellogg introduced Lincoln in Lewistown and also gave a speech.
Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 1:457-58; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 21 August 1858, 2:2-3; Chicago Daily Press and Tribune (IL), 19 August 1858, 1:1-2; 21 August 1858, 2:3; The Lincoln Log: A Daily Chronology of the Life of Abraham Lincoln, 17 August 1858, https://www.thelincolnlog.org/Results.aspx?type=CalendarDay&day=1858-08-17; Report of Speech at Lewistown, Illinois; Abraham Lincoln to Charles W. Michael and William Proctor.

4William Kellogg informed Proctor that some such handbills were to be sent to Lewistown for distribution.
William Proctor to Abraham Lincoln.

5No response to this letter, nor further correspondence between Lincoln and either Babcock or William P. Kellogg on the subject has been located.

6Lincoln wrote this docketing.