To John McNamar1Jump to section
I write this to notify you that I have received the petition for the change of the state road, so as to make it run by Tilman Hornsecker's2Jump to section and Bowman's,3Jump to section and that unless you, who are opposed to the change, get up a remonstrance and send it on, I shall be forced to have a bill passed upon the petition. I might write you a long letter of political news but you will see that as soon in the newspapers, which will save me the trouble.
If you feel any particular interest in this affair don't fail to bestir yourself.4Jump to section Your friend, A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] Illinois State Journal, October 15, 1874. McNamar was a farmer residing seven miles northwest of New Salem. He is best known in the Lincoln story under the name of McNeil, the fiance of Ann Rutledge, for whom Lincoln's attachment has become a legend.
[2] Surely a misreading for ``Tilmon Hornbuckle.''
[3] George W. Bowman.
[4] McNamar's explanation made in the interview accompanying the letter as published in the Journal, was that Lincoln had surveyed the state road so as to run in front of his farm, but that the petition would have relocated it two miles behind him. Evidently Lincoln's warning was effective, for the 1836-1837 session laws show no change of route.