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Know all men by these presents that I Abraham Lincoln of the County of Sangamon in the State of Illinois reposing special trust and confidence in the skill and ability of John P. Davies in the
County of Dubuque State of Iowa do appoint him my true & lawful attorney in fact for me & in my name to Locate the Land Warrant no. 52076 for 40 acres issued to me on the North West 1/4 of South West [quarter] of section no 20 in Township 84 north in range no 15 west of the Land subject to private entry at the Land office at Dubuque Iowa & for me & in my name to Execute all instruments in writing that may be necessary or legal in order fully to Execute the power herein granted & for your so doing this shall be your sufficient warrant.
Given under my hand & seal this 15th. day of July AD 1854
A. LINCOLN---(LS)
[1] DS, DNA RG 49, Records of the General Land Office. The document also carries the certification of William F. Elkin, J. P. On July 21, 1854, John P. Davies entered the forty acres which Lincoln had designated. For details concerning these land holdings, see Pratt, Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln, p. 67 ff.