VIII. Letter of Rev. J. M. Peck on the Old Lemen Family Notes........................................ 42 PIONEER LETTERS {p.04} IX. Letter of Senator Douglas to Rev. Jas. Lemen, Sr...... 46 X. Announcement by J. B. Lemen........................... 48 XL. Letter of Gov. Ninian Edwards to Jas. Lemen, Jr....... 49 XII. Letter of A. W. Snyder to Jas. Lemen, Sr.............. 49 XIII. Letter of Abraham Lincoln to Jas. Lemen, Jr........... 50 XIV. The Lemen Monument--Lemen's War Record................ 51 XV. Sketch of Rev. James Lemen, Sr., by J. M. Peck........ 52 XVI. Old Lemen Family Notes, Statement by Jos. B. Lemen.... 56 References............................................ 59 NOTE {p.05} The materials here presented were collected in connection with the preparation of a history of the first generation of Illinois Baptists. The narrative introduction is printed substantially as delivered at a special meeting of the Chicago Historical Society, and, with the collection of documents, is published in response to inquiries concerning the so-called "Lemen Family Notes," and in compliance with the request for a contribution to the publications of this Society. It is hoped that the publication may serve to elicit further information concerning the alleged "Notes," the existence of which has become a subject of more or less interest to historians. The compiler merely presents the materials at their face value, without assuming to pass critical judgment upon them. W. C. M. INTRODUCTION {p.07} RELATIONS OF JAMES LEMEN AND THOMAS JEFFERSON IN THE EXCLUSION OF SLAVERY FROM ILLINOIS AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY In view of the approaching centennary of statehood in Illinois, the name of James Lemen takes on a timely interest because of his services--social, religious, and political--in the making of the Commonwealth. He was a native of Virginia, born and reared in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. He served a two-years' enlistment in the Revolutionary War under Washington, and afterwards returned to his regiment during the siege of Yorktown. His "Yorktown Notes" in his diary give some interesting glimpses of his participation in that campaign.[1] His Scotch ancestors had served in a similar cause under Cromwell, whose wedding gift to one of their number is still cherished as a family heirloom.