Description:

Abraham Lincoln
Danville, IL, April 1858
Abraham Lincoln PSA Gem Mint 10 and Fellow Attorney - He Examined for Admission to Bar, Among Rarest of Partners!
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Autograph Document Signed, Demurrer in case of O. M. Conkey & Co. v. Draper and Curtis, April 1858, Vermilion County, Illinois. 1 p., 7.75" x 5.5". General toning; separated from additional demurrer. Certified, graded an outstanding GEM MT 10, and encapsulated by PSA/DNA.

This document from Lincoln's law practice is a portion of a demurrer from the case of O. M. Conkey & Co. v. Draper and Curtis. Otis M. Conkey (1808-1874) was a merchant in western Indiana and eastern Illinois. He and his brother and partner William A. Conkey (1820-1907), doing business as O. M. Conkey & Co., recovered six court judgments against several people totaling more than $250, likely for overdue debts. When Vermilion County constable John P. Draper failed to execute the judgments, Conkey sued Draper and Handy K. Curtis, who had signed Draper's 1856 bond as a surety to ensure that Draper would perform the duties of his office as constable. Conkey sued to recover the $1,000 penalty on the bond. Draper and Curtis retained traveling attorney Abraham Lincoln and local attorney George W. Lawrence to represent them.

Lincoln filed this demurrer in April 1858. Judge David Davis sustained the demurrer but permitted the plaintiffs to amend their declaration. In October, Oliver L. Davis and Oscar F. Harmon filed an amended declaration for O. M. Conkey & Company. In May 1859, the court sustained one demurrer to the amended declaration and overruled another. A jury heard the evidence and found in favor of O. M. Conkey & Company, awarding $68 in damages plus their court costs of $67.31. In July 1859, the sheriff of Vermilion County offered 50 acres of Draper's land for sale at the door of the courthouse but received no bids. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell property to satisfy the judgment, O. M. Conkey & Company sold the judgment to local drugstore owner William W. R. Woodbury (1824-1901), who purchased the property for the debt, interest, and court costs in January 1861.

The document is entirely in Lincoln's hand and contains 91 words written by him, including the file note on the verso.

Complete Transcript
Draper impleaded with & Curtiss
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O. M. Conkey &Co
And the said defendants come, and as to each and all the counts, except the last, of plaintiffs' declaration, say actio non because they say said counts, and the matters and things therein contained, in manner and form as the same are therein stated and set forth, are not sufficient in law for the said plaintiffs to have and maintain their action; and the defendants are ready to verify, wherefore &c.
Lawrence & Lincoln p d.

[File Note by Lincoln:]
Draper, impleaded
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Conkey &Co


George W. Lawrence (1825-1864) was born in Virginia. In 1847, he married Nancy Ann Neal in Clark County, Ohio. They had at least five children. In 1854, he gained admission to the Illinois bar, after being examined by a committee that included Abraham Lincoln. He became a prominent attorney in Vermilion County, Illinois, which was on the extreme eastern edge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit that Abraham Lincoln frequently traveled. During the Civil War, he served for 8 months in the 35th Illinois and 27th Missouri regiments. He served for three months as a corporal in the 35th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1861. He enlisted in the 27th Missouri Infantry in St. Louis in August 1862, but was discharged with tuberculosis in December 1862.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 5.5"
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