LINCOLN

Yard Sale

FEBRUARY 9

TO HELP PAY FOR HIS JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON, LINCOLN SOLD furniture from his home. One eager buyer was Samuel H. Melvin, a Springfield dealer in medicinal drugs and supplies. According to a receipt signed by Lincoln and dated February 9, 1861, Melvin spent $82.25 on the following items:

6 CHAIRS

1 SPRING MATTRESS

1 WARDROBE

1 WHATNOT [a cabinet with open shelves, equivalent to a French étagère]

1 STAND

9 1/2 YARDS stair carpet

4 COMFORTERS

Lincoln and his wife and sons moved into a hotel, Chenery House, for their final days in Springfield.