Goforth, Thomas J.

Flourished: 1834-1837 Springfield, Illinois

Goforth lived in Springfield as early as 1834, where he was a hatter. In 1836, Goforth and his business partner Brooker agreed to pay $100 for the yearly rental of a house in Springfield from March 1837 to March 1838 but failed to pay any of the rent. The last advertisement for Goforth's hat shop appeared in the local newspaper in May 1837. In 1839, Abraham Lincoln was retained to sue Goforth and Brooker for the debt. Religiously, Goforth was a Baptist.

Petition of George Pasfield and Others to Lilburn W. Boggs; Duncan v. Goforth & Brooker, 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=138779; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 11 January 1834, 4:1; 4 July 1835, 1:4; 21 May 1836, 3:1; 6 August 1836, 3:2; 1 October 1836, 2:7; 3 December 1836, 2:7; 27 May 1837, 1:2.