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272. George Spears to William H. Herndon.

Tallula Ills Oct 17th 1866

Dear Sir

yours of the 17th inst came Safe to hand but I was absent from home in the State of Missouria at the time it came so that I now hasten to answer your enquiries My first acquaintance with Mr Linken was whilst in a Dry goods Store with a man by the name of Offit he was Clerk the Nex thing he was engaged in for a short time he was Postmaster Then him & Berry engaged in a Dry Goods Store & I think they got their Goods of Blankenship though I am not positive Row & James Herndon wer in Buisiness a bout that time whether he Bought them out or not I cant say as for the Grocery that Greene Speaks of I think it was so but I do not know whether Lincoln ever attended I think not he about that time he went into the Black Hawk war & whilst absent Berry Squandered evry thing & left Lincoln flat it always was a mistory to me why a man of Mr Lincoln integrity would enter in to partnership with such a caractor Poor Lincoln he was honest & manly the next then in Lincolns Life he came home from the Black Hawk war & we Elected him County Surveyor Served in that capacity 2 years & then Elected him to the Legislator after that as yo know he went to Springfield & commenced the study of Law

Respectfully yours
George Spears

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2714; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:428 — 29

nts

Notes.

1. Denton Offutt.