Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Matheny, James H. 'James H. Matheny (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon582.html

Springfield Decr 9. 1873.

Mr Matheny told me that he said that he understood that up to the time Lincoln left Springfield Ills in 1860 that he was a confirmed infidel, but that after he got to Washington and associating with religious People that he believes that Mr Lincoln [thought?] became a Christian — Knows nothing of Mr Lincolns investigations into the Subject of Christianity — He — M — says he told Reed & Melvin ^[2] the histories of this — Reed — Melvin & Matheney were talking about the home of the [illegible] — Reed wrote the letter which I signed ^[3] — Matheny

told me he thought Lincoln played a sharp game on the Christians in 1858 to 1860, and I somewhat coincide with him — ^[4]

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3108

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