Abraham Lincoln to Caleb B. Smith, May 31, 1861

When I was a member of Congress a dozen years ago, I boarded with the lady who writes the within letter.¹ She is a most worthy and deserving lady; and if what she desires can be consistently done, I shall be much obliged I say this sincerely and earnestly—

May 31, 1861

A. Lincoln

[Endorsement:]

Hon Mr Smith:

We boarded some months, with Mrs. Sprigg, & found her a most estimable lady & would esteem it a personal favor, if her request, could be granted.

Mrs. A. Lincoln

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¹ While a member of the United States House of Representatives Abraham Lincoln boarded in 1848 and 1849 at Mrs. Ann G. (Thornton) Sprigg’s boarding house on First Street between A Street and East Capitol Street. Mrs. Sprigg’s letter to Lincoln has been lost, and exactly what she was requesting remains unknown.

SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress

Abraham Lincoln to William P. Fessenden, July 21, 1864

Executive Mansion,

Washington, July 21, 1864.

Hon. Sec. of Treasury

My dear Sir.

The bearer of this is a most estimable widow lady¹, at whose house I boarded many years ago when a member of Congress. She now is very needy; & any employment suitable to a lady could not be bestowed on a more worthy person.

Yours truly

A. LINCOLN

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¹ The “widow lady'” was Mrs. Ann G. (Thornton) Sprigg, who received an appointment as clerk in the loan branch of the Treasury Department.

SOURCE: Roy P. Basler, Editor, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 7, p. 454