How Did Abraham Lincoln Practiced Law In Illinois?

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Prior to getting into politics, Abraham Lincoln practiced law in Illinois, throughout the state, including Coles and Clark counties, where some of my ancestors lived. Lincoln’s father, Thomas, and stepmother, Sarah, lived in Coles County as well, and Abe would visit on occasion. The Coles County courthouse “existed a few years before Abraham Lincoln would enters its’ chambers to practice his trial skills. . . .” . . . The square and the later court house (1835) would become the cultural and business of the little hamlet. Instead of covering the physical history of the building, this virtual field trip would like to consider the court house and square as a meeting place for one of America’s greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, to develop friendships and…show more content…
He had a whole list of relatives, and lawyers in the county that would actually guide and tutor him to success. Lincoln would practice with all the judges and lawyers of Coles County, but was actual partners with Orlando Bell Ficklin and Usher Ferguson Linder. Both of these men were of the Whig party, and then later would join the Democrat party, after the Whigs dissolved. Lincoln, of course was a Whig and then helped start the Republican Party of Illinois. Ficklin was a year older than Lincoln, while Linder was born the same year as Lincoln. They were all in their 30′s when practicing law in Coles County. According to Dr. Coleman, in his book Lincoln in Coles County, 1955, Abraham Lincoln’s court win/loss record in Coles County was about average and adequate. Records have been found for twenty-four cases. Twenty-two were civil cases of a large variety. Two were criminal cases. When he represented the plaintiff he won nine and lost two. When representing the defendant he won four, and lost five cases. In both of his criminal cases, both

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