Lincoln, as a lawyer, was employed in a number of noted cases involving great interests. One was the defense of a slave girl, Nancy, in 1841, in the Supreme Court of Illinois, who, through him, was made free. At this time Mr. Lincoln was only thirty-two years of age. The case excited great interest, and the decision forever settled the few traces of slavery which had then existed in southern Illinois. Another case was the Central Illinois Railroad Company against McLean County, Illinois, tried at Bloomington. This case was decided in favor of the railroad. Mr. Lincoln received from the company a fee of $5,000, the largest fee he ever received. Another suit in which he was employed was the McCormick Reaper Patent case, tried in 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here Mr. Lincoln first met the Honorable Edwin M. Stanton, who was employed on the same side of the case. Mr. Stanton treated Mr. Lincoln with great disrespect. Mr. Lincoln overheard him, in an adjoining room, ask, "Where did that long-armed creature come from, and what can he do in this case?" He also declared if "that giraffe" was permitted to appear in the case he would throw up his brief and leave it. He further referred to Lincoln as a "long, lank creature from Illinois, wearing a dirty linen duster for a coat, the back of which the perspiration had splotched with stains that resembled the map of a continent." As there were a number of attorneys on both sides, it was ordered that only two speeches be made on each side. This order would exclude either Lincoln or Stanton, as there were three attorneys on that side of the case. At Lincoln's suggestion, Stanton quickly decided to speak. Mr. Lincoln was greatly disappointed, for he had made much preparation. Four years later, Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States, and he chose Mr. Stanton as a member of his cabinet, and they were close friends during the Civil War. The most celebrated case in which Mr. Lincoln figured was the Armstrong case, in 1858. All the Lincoln biographers refer to it, and as I have some unpublished facts in reference to it and some of the parties connected with the case, it is here presented at length. There was near New Salem a band of young men known as the "Clary Grove Boys." The special tie that united them was physical courage and strength. Every newcomer of any great strength had to be tested. So Lincoln was required to go through the ordeal of a wrestling match. Seeing that he could not be easily floored, Jack Armstrong, their champion, was chosen to lay Lincoln on his back. Many gathered to witness the contest, and a number of bets were made. After quite a spirited engagement, Lincoln won, and was invited to become one of the company. Jack Armstrong declared, "Abe Lincoln is the best man that ever broke into the settlement," and he became a lifelong, warm friend of Lincoln.