James H. Matheny (1818-1890) On the morning of his wedding on November 4, 1842, Mr. Lincoln woke up James Matheny, told him he was getting married that night, and asked him to be his best man. At the home of Ninian Edwards later that day… Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

John Hanks (1802-1889) Unlike the rest of the Lincoln-Hanks clan, John Hanks became a Republican and served in the Union Army. His loyalty to Mr. Lincoln never wavered. John Hanks played a central role in… Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

William G. Greene (1812-1894) William Greene first met Mr. Lincoln in 1830 when he started working for Denton Offutt. At the Offut store, according to Herndon, “William G. Green[e] was hired to assist him, and between the two, a…” Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

William Butler (1797-1876) “First time I saw Lincoln was when he came down Sangamon River from Macon Co. in canoe. He was as ruff a specimen of humanity as could be found. His legs were bare for six inches between bottom of pants and top of socks.” William Butler told… Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Jack Armstrong (1804-1854) “I suppose you have heard of Lincoln’s wrestling match with Jack Armstrong. I saw part of that. [Jack] Armstrong was one of the Clary Grove gang and it was their habit to initiate newcomers into town. Lincoln was…” Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Supreme Court A real test for the President’s Illinois friendships came when a vacancy appeared on the Supreme Court for the district that included Illinois. Both Orville H. Browning and David Davis began angling for the… Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Illinois Patronage Patronage caused some of the biggest problems in Mr. Lincoln’s relationships with his Illinois friends. State Auditor Jesse Dubois bitterly recalled that “the moment [Mr. Lincoln] was elevated to his proud position he seemed…” Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Presidential Patronage The concept of friendship was never far from President Lincoln’s notions of patronage and military appointments. But dispensing patronage was a very delicate balancing act in order not to… Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Patronage and the Land Office In April 1849, Mr. Lincoln wrote Navy Secretary Preston: “I suppose Gen. Taylor, because both of his declarations, and his inclination, will not go the doctrine of removals very strongly; and hence the greater reason, when an office or…” Abraham Lincoln and Friends >

Sympathy for Pets and People Mr. Lincoln “had very great kindness of heart,” recalled another lawyer-friend, Leonard Swett. “His mind was full of tender sensibilities; he was extremely humane, yet while these attributes were…” Abraham Lincoln and Friends >