File:Lincoln, the lawyer (1912) (14767432542).jpg

Identifier: lincolnlawye00hill (find matches)
Title: Lincoln, the lawyer
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Hill, Frederick Trevor, 1866-1930
Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Lawyers Presidents
Publisher: New York : Century Co.
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: State of Indiana through the Indiana State Library

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ing now stands.The office was neither pretentious nor commodi-ous, but it met the requirements of the times, andits equipment, though meager, would comparevery favorably with that of many a country lawoffice of the present day. Lincoln saw but littleof this official work-room, however, for he leftall matters of routine and local business to Hern-don and devoted himself to circuit work—themost picturesque practice of the law which isrecorded in the legal annals of this country. Illinois in 1849 was divided into nine judicialdistricts, each presided over by a judge whotraveled from one county-seat to another withinhis jurisdiction, hearing civil and criminalcases and acting as an appellate tribunalfor minor causes decided by justices ofthe peace, and during the greater partof the year these judges were continually ontheir rounds, followed by the members of the 162 LIFE ON THE ILLINOIS CIRCUIT local bar.1 In early times the condition of theroads forbade the use of wheels, and the judge
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Drawn by Harry Fenn Original offices (on the second floor) ofLincoln & Herndon—exterior made his trips on horseback, accompanied by acavalcade of lawyers who forded the streams anddefied the weather in the interest of their clients, 1 Prior to 1848 the circuit judges convened twice a year atSpringfield and sat as a court of appeal (called the SupremeCourt) to pass on judgments of the circuit courts sent them for 10 163 LINCOLN THE LAWYER making light of many hardships in their zeal forthe profession, and forming a gay if not verylearned company, warmly welcomed and hon-ored in every county-seat. Before his election to Congress, Lincoln hadbeen one of the equestrian retinue of the Hon.Samuel Treat, who at that time presided overthe destinies of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, andthe big leather saddle-bags1 which carried thelawyers papers and belongings are in existenceto-day; but by 1849 wheels could be used withsome comfort in traveling, and when Lincolnresumed his professional du

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