TABLET MARKS SIGHT OF
FORMER LAW OFFICE
"The following report made yesterday by Major Black, a member of the committee of the Sprinfield chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, explains the object of the chapter in placing the tablet.
"The undersigned committee of the Springfield Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, to whom was assigned the duty of providing and placing a memorial table for marking the site of the first law office of Abraham Lincoln, desire to report that a suitable bronze tablet has been secured and placed in position at 109 North Fifth street, Springfield, Ill.
"Mr. Lincoln's first law partnership was with Major John T. Stuart under the firm name of Stuart & Lincoln and their office was in Hoffman's row on the west side of Fifth street between Washington and Jefferson streets and on the sight of this building is now 109 North Fifth street, where the tablet has been placed.
"The building was erected in 1835 by Herman L. Hoffman, and was one of a row of four brick buildings of two stories and when built was one of the most imposing structures in the city.
"The second floor was used by Stuart & Lincoln as a law office in 1837, 1838, and 1839.
"When the state capital was removed from Vandalia to Springfield in the winter of 1836 the old county court house that stood in the public square was torn down to make room for the new capital building now known as the Sangamon county building. The ground floor of the Hoffman row was used for the Sangamon county court for a term of four years.
"After the election of Major John Stuart to congress in 1838 Mr. Lincoln formed a partnership with Stephen T. Logan under the firm name of Logan & Lincoln and occupied an office on the third floor of the old Farmer's National bank building on the southwest corner of Sixth and Adams streets.
"The United States court, over which Judge Nathaniel Pope then presided as district judge, occupied the second floor of said building.
"The firm of Logan & Lincoln was dissolved in 1843 and Mr. Lincoln then formed a partnership with Willim R. Herndon under the firm name of Lincoln & Herndon and occupied offices on the second floor over the store of John Irwin, 103 South Fifth street which is now the south half of the Myers Brothers clothing store.
"The partnership of Lincoln & Herndon continued during Mr. Lincoln's term of office as president and was only dissolved by the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 1865.
"Your committee on the memorial tablet referred to above find a suprising interest manifested by the citizens of Springfield in the marking of sites of historical importance and beg leave to recommend that other places in the city be designated by suitable markers.
"The bronze tablet placed on the site of the first law office of Mr. Lincoln at 109 North Fifth street by the Sons of the American Revolution isthe firdt of many historical landmarks that should be prominently displayed in this city."
-Ill. State Register Feb.13, 1909-
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