Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Pirtle, Henry. 'Henry Pirtle to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon071a.html

Louisville, 4 July, 1865.

Dear Sir:

Yours of the 2nd. instant is at hand.

The Act repealing the Law of primogeniture was passed in Virginia in 1785, to take effect on the 1st. day of January, 1787.

I do not know that any of the Lincolns were ever members of our legislature.

I think the anecdote of Mordecai killing the Indian is true. He was then about sixteen years of age; Josiah two or three years younger, and Thomas younger than he. I always understood they were born in Virginia.

The Lincolns were modest people; but Mordecai was celebrated for his bravery, and had been in the early campaigns of the west.

very respectfully
Henry Pirtle.

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2223; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:68