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=herndon587.html

472. James H. Matheny (William H. Herndon Interview).

Octr 6th '81

I went into Mr. Matheny's office Octr 5th '81 and he and I had a conversation — Mr. Matheny said, substantially — "I do not know whether Lamon's life of Lincoln was before me when I wrote the Reed letter ^[1] or not — do not rember one way or the other whether I told Mr Reed that Lincoln investigated Christianity — Reed wrote the Letter and I signed it, telling him before he wrote the letter facts as I now remember it — I signed the note in Lamon's life of Lincol ^[2] — never supposing that it would be published — sorry it is published — don't blame you — I think he said it was private —

I then told him that I was in the act of financially breaking — and was compelled to sell — I expressed regret about the matter. ^[3] I said that the book was an unfortunate book for writer and publisher &c.

I took these notes on the morning of the 6th day of Octr. '81

W H Herndon

Further — I showed My my notes of Decr. 9th 1873 ^[4] — he said they were correct. down to — sharp game — he repeated to me however that the saying in his opinion was true so I say — I remarked. — I told him something about Yates — Lincoln — Ellis & myself — which I never will make public

Herndon ^[5]

Many of my papers have been lost — Some have been Eaten up by Mice — My office was once gutted by fire & by the People during the fire — Zane & I were then in partnership — up stairs above Miller's hard ware store — kept my papers there — I am surprised that many of my papers have been stolen — let every man see & read them — didnt watch them — Took Some papers with Me when I lectured in reply to Reed ^[6] — to the capital city where I had them [from] the one lost probably I can find Em. Think I had Stuarts & Mathenys & Mrs Lincolns notes at the Lecture — to Show — Read & Exhibit if I was contradicted — Cant lay my hand on them now —

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3170