o. He wrote an excellent life of his distinguished partner.
Herndon was one of the earliest Republicans of his State. While
Lincoln believed in the principles of the party from the very
beginning, the truth is, he was a little slow in becoming a member
of it; and Herndon always claimed that he had much to do with making
Abraham Lincoln an active member of the Republican party. Herndon
believed that he was qualified to fill almost any office, and I
think he was a little dissatisfied that Lincoln did not give him
some high position.

William Butler, belonging to this same period, was one of the
leading citizens and a devoted friend of Lincoln and an excellent
man. Nor can I forget Antram Campbell, one of my first law partners.
We were always warm friends. I saw him on his death-bed when I
returned home from Washington, where I was serving as a Member of
Congress. He recognized me, but could not speak, and I can see
now the tears falling from his eyes.

Of the State officers of that day, Richard Yates was Governor.
The State, under the lead of its War Governor, did not waste time
or spare money in putting the troops in readiness for the field,
and perhaps there was no governor of any State more watchful of
the State's interests, or more devoted to the interests of the
Union, or more loved by the people of his own State, including the
troops in the field, than was Governor Yates. He was loyalty
itself, and for many years was an apostle of liberty. He retired
from the office of governor, to take his place as a senator from
Illinois in the United States Senate. His fame, however, rests on
being the great War Governor of the State of Illinois, the compeer
of Morton, Andrews, and Curtin.

His son, Richard Yates, many years later succeeded to the office
of governor, and is one of the prominent men of Springfield to-day.

O. M. Hatch was Secretary of State. He was among my early influential
friends in Springfield. Uncle Jesse K. Dubois, for whom I had high
regard, and who was quite well known in and out of Illinois, was
one of the State officers. O. H. Miner was Auditor of the State
at one time. He was a very good man. His son, Louis Miner, and
Harry Dorwin, a nephew of my deceased wife, are joint owners of
the Springfield _Journal_, one of the oldest Republican organs of
the State.

Colonel John Williams could not be said to be a National or State
character, but he was a good business man, and one of the bes