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316. George Spears to William H. Herndon.

Tallula Ills No 30th 1866

Dear Sir

yours of Nov 27th came to hand & I hast to reply I went to Petersburg yesterday and engaged the servises of Mr Hamilton the County clerk to draw a sketch of New Salem he is a regular Railroad Enginear & practical Surveyor & this morning we went on to the spot & I pointid out the different old Locations & he Mr Hamilton skitched them as I pointed them out you may rely on them as being corect the Offit house on the Top of the hill on the East end of the Plat is the Little store that Mr Lincoln first Clerked in when he came to New Salem & after that him & Berry sold goods in the first House East of Hill as you will see from the Plat The old Bale House you will see marked on the Plat; North West of that some 60 or 80 feet stands the Rutledge Tavern it was the first Store house of Hill & McNamer after that remodeled & made a dwelling or Tavern it being due south of Lincoln & Berys Store now dear Sir I hope with this Explanation you may be able to understand this sketch I offered to pay Mr Hamilton for his servises sketch of services but he refused too Strong Lincoln for that; hoping to hear from you soon I remain as ever your friend

George Spears

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2825

nts

Notes.

1. This is probably the map now in the Lamon Papers at the Huntington Library. See the illustration on p. 428.