Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1885 — ABRAHAM LINCOLN. [ARTICLE]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Reminiscences of His Life in the Town Which Bears His Name. This little city, writes a Lincoln, IIi*1Tno"&, correspondent to thei St Louis Globe-Democrat, which bears Lincoln’s na:no< was not laid off until the year 1853,- but the county sea,t of this (Logan) county was established and located at Postville as early as 1837, and there it was that Lincoln became Yuownsto the Indents of this county. Postville’ was about one mile west of where the court-house now stands, and now is a part of the city of Lincoln, and is generally known as the Fourth ward.

The court-house and the hotel opposite, built in 1837, are still standing, the former in a good state of repair, used as a residence, while athe latter is a tenement-house in the full sense of the word, containing a number of families, some of which turn an honest penny occasionally by pointing out to visitors “Lincoln’s room.” For it was in this house that Lincoln often stopped when practicing in this county. Postville was then a small village, and the attorneys came here from Bloomington and Springfield by stage coach, or on horseback. Many of the men who were then young attorneys are still living and occupying high positions in their profession and in the politics of the country, while many have died after acquiring state and national reputations. Among those livings and who is fond of telling a-“ Lincoln story,” is Hon. S. O. Parks, of this city. He is now one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of Wyoming. He .relates the following story characteristic of the acts that won for Lincoln the sobriquet of “Honest Abe At one term of court in Postville a man named Hoblit had brought suit against a man named Farmer. The suit had been appealed from a justice of (he peace, and Lincoln knew nothing of it until he was retained by Hoblit to try the case in the circuit court. G. A. Gridky, then of Bloomington, appeared for the defendent. Judge Treat, now on the United States bench, was the presiding judge at the trial. Lincoln’s client went upon the witness-stand and testified to the account he had against the defendant, gave the amount due after allowing all credits and set-offs, and swore positively that it had not been paid. The attorney for the defendant simply produced a receipt in full, signed by Hoblit, prior to the beginning of the case. Hoblit had to admit the signing of the receipt, but told Lincoln he supposed the man had lost it. Lincoln at once arose and left tho court-room. The judge told them to proceed with the case, and, Lincoln not appearing, Judge Treat told a bailiff to go to the hotel and call him. The bailiff ran across the street to< the hotel and found Lincoln sitting in the office with his feet on the stove, apparently in a deep study, when he interrupted him with: “Mr. Lincoln, the judge wants you.” “Oh, does he?” replied Lincqln. “Well, you go back and tell the judge I cannot come. Tell him I have to wash my hands,” The bailiff returned with the message, and Lincoln’s client suffered a nonsuit.

Lincoln came to this county a few times after the removal of the county seat to Lincoln, and for one case be tried here he received as a fee a deed to a lot on the south side of the square. The lot he never sold, but it is leased to a man who hais a wagon factory on it. Secretary Lincoln collects the rent through an agent here, and has never expressed a desire to sell it, although it would now bring a good price. During tno campaign last fall when the train bearing Gen. Logan and party passed through here Secretary Lincoln spoke briefly at the depot, and said he would always kindly remember the little city that bore his father’s name.