Prentiss, William S.

Born: 1801-XX-XX Kentucky

Died: 1852-12-23 California

In 1840, Prentiss, a Whig, was an alderman in Springfield, Illinois. In April 1841, Prentiss received appointment as U.S. marshal of the District of Illinois. He moved to Shelby County in 1844. In July 1844, President John Tyler removed Prentiss as U.S. marshal. In 1849, he received an appointment as an Indian agent in California. In 1850, he was still living in Shelby County, where he was farming and owned $3,000 in real estate. He eventually moved to California, where he built his home, "Mountain Cottage." He died there in 1852.

For Lincoln's cases involving Prentiss, search "Prentiss, William," 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; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 24 April 1840, 2:5; 30 April 1841, 2:6; 8 February 1844, 2:4; 4 July 1844, 2:6; 25 July 1844, 2:2; Illinois Daily Journal (Springfield), 6 April 1849, 3:1; 9 February 1853, 3:1; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, From the Thirtieth September, 1841, to the Thirtieth September, 1843 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1843), 257; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Town D, Shelby County, IL, 127.