Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Simon Kinney to Abraham Lincoln, 12 February 18491
Indiantown February 12^th 1849Hon. A. LincolnMy dear Sir
I took the liverty[liberty] of writing to you a few days ago, notifying you that I had advised Warren Brown Esq.[Esquire] of Peru to send his application &^c[etc.] for the office of Post Master at that place to your charge.2

Resting on your kindnes to bear with my presumption, I again venture to impose myself upon your notice, in behalf of Stephen Smith Esq. the late Sheriff of this County.

He has concluded, on the earnest suggestion of myself and others of his friends, to become an applicant for the office of Register of the Land office at Dixon Ill. I urged him to this step, because I sincerely believed he possessed superior qualifications for the office.– He has had considerable experience in the business of the office by having formerly served as Clerk in a Land office in Ohio, some two years, previous to his coming to this State in 1837.

He is well skilled as a practical surveyor of Government Lands. Though poor in property, he is highly respected & esteemed throughout the extent of his acquaintance of strict integrity and impartiality,– ready, acurate and capable in business, and courteous and accommodating in his manners and disposition.

You may recollect him; he having had an introduction to you at Springfield in the summer of 1847, whilst he was Shff.–[Sheriff]

I am satisfied, my dear sir, that you would confer a favor on the Government and the people of this Land District, by aiding the appointment

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appointment of M^r Smith; and by doing so, you would lay an especial obligation upon him and his friends which will be ever gratefully acknowledged by them.
I remain Most Respectfully
Your Ob^t Ser^t[Obedient Servant]Simon Kinney 3

1Simon Kinney wrote this letter in its entirety.

2Kinney’s letter regarding Warren Brown has not been located.
On May 7, 1849, Brown received the appointment as postmaster, retaining the position until 1851.
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), 485; 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), 512.

3Stephen Smith did not get the appointment; Silas Noble served as register at Dixon from 1849 to 1853.
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; 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), 140; 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.