Lot 227

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Judge David Davis’s Notes in Two Cases Argued by Abraham Lincoln in His Home County

[ABRAHAM LINCOLN.] DAVID DAVIS, Autograph Document, Notes in Tunison v. Lewis et al. and Sangamon County Commissioners v. Funderburk, ca. September 11, 1849, Sangamon County Circuit Court, Springfield, Illinois. 3 pp., 8? x 12.125? Expected folds, tears on several folds and some edge tears.

This document is Davis’s notes from two cases. In the first case, Abraham Lincoln’s first law partner, John Todd Stuart, served as one of the attorneys for Tunison, and Lincoln’s second law partner, Stephen T. Logan, joined Lincoln in representing the defendants. The case began in the July 1848 term of the Sangamon County Circuit Court, but was not resolved until the August 1849 term that continued into September.

Cornelius H. Tunison and Thomas Lewis were partners in manufacturing and selling the Farmhaus Patent Pump. Lewis gave Tunison a half-interest in three lots in Springfield, Illinois, for the right to join him in partnership. After a few years, the partners ceased operations, and Tunison claimed that Lewis owed him a substantial amount of money and had failed to convey the lots.

The firm of Wickersham and Herndon recovered a judgment against Tunison for $113.75, and Lewis recovered a judgment against Tunison in an ejectment case for another piece of property. Tunison sued Thomas Lewis, Isaac Wickersham. and Richard H. Herndon, and sheriff William Harvey for an account against Lewis to settle the partnership and for an injunction against Lewis, Wickersham, and Herndon, and Harvey to stop them from satisfying the judgments against him.

Lewis and the other defendants retained Lincoln. After Tunison and Lewis settled their accounts, Judge David Davis dismissed the injunction, ordered Tunison to pay Wickersham and Herndon $113.75 for the debt and an additional $11.37 in damages, ordered Tunison to pay Lewis $50 for delaying satisfaction of the ejectment case, and ordered Lewis to convey to Tunison the half-interest in the three lots and to pay Tunison $137 to finalize the partnership accounts.

In the second case, Logan served as attorney for the Sangamon County Commissioners, and Lincoln and his third law partner William H. Herndon, as well as John Todd Stuart and his current partner Benjamin S. Edwards, served as attorneys for defendant David Funderburk.

The Sangamon County Commissioners had sued Funderburk in the Justice of the Peace Court, apparently to obtain a right of way through his land. When the justice of the peace ruled for the commissioners, Funderburk retained Lincoln and Herndon and appealed the judgment to the Sangamon County Circuit Court, where David Davis made these notes. The outcome of the case remains unknown.

Excerpts:

[Tunison v. Lewis et al.]
“A. Lincoln- When a client in a foreign State, sends a note to a Lawyer it is custom & practice for the Lawyer to take the control of the judgment until the case goes through the mill and the money is collected.
“The matter in controversy is whether Tunison can compel Lewis to convey to him undivided Half to 3 lots in Whitney’s addition to Springfield, known as ‘Warehouse’”
“The Master [in Chancery] had no right to make a decision on the case, by the terms of submission.
“Referred to Master – to State – Evidence – Because the evidence does not warrant the decision.”

“Stuart / On all subjects submitted to the Master, he is bound to express opinions.”
“... No right to except Master’s report, unless he has filed his objections with the Master. / Answer evasive.”

“Logan / Stuart says – as no allegation in answer of property being encumbered – the proof surprises him.”
“Judge Logan wants damages.”

[Sangamon County Commissioners v. Funderburk]
“Logan / Inquiry under the Statute that construction of a Statute to be taken which is rightful.”
“Stuart / commented on article concerning Right of Way.”


David Davis (1815-1886) was born in Maryland and graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio in 1832. After studying law in New England, he gained admission to the bar in 1835 and moved to Pekin, Illinois, where he opened a law practice. Within a year, he relocated to Bloomington. Elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1844, he became judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in 1848, with the reorganization of the judiciary based on the Illinois Constitution of 1848. At the time, the Eighth Circuit consisted of fourteen counties in central Illinois stretching eastward to the Indiana border. There, he heard thousands of cases argued by Abraham Lincoln, for whom he developed a strong personal and political friendship. Effectively Lincoln’s campaign manager in his 1860 bid for the Presidency, Davis worked tirelessly at the Republican national convention in Chicago to secure Lincoln’s nomination. In 1862, Lincoln appointed Davis to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until 1877, when he resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. He served as the administrator of Abraham Lincoln’s estate and assisted Robert T. Lincoln, when it became necessary to commit his mother Mary Lincoln to an asylum.

From the famous Supreme Court collection of Scott Petersen.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

August 19, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000