author
Abram J. (Abram Jesse) Dittenhoefer
1836–1919
A Civil War–era political insider, New York judge, and noted lawyer on theatrical and copyright law, he left behind a lively firsthand memoir of Abraham Lincoln’s campaigns. His career moved from the courtroom to public life, giving his writing the feel of someone who had truly been there.
1 Audiobook
How we elected Lincoln : personal recollections of Lincoln and men of his time
by Abram J. (Abram Jesse) Dittenhoefer
About the author
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1836 and raised in New York City, Abram Jesse Dittenhoefer became a lawyer, judge, and active Republican during the years around the Civil War. He served as a judge of New York City Court in the 1860s and built a reputation in legal practice afterward.
Dittenhoefer was especially known as an authority on theatrical and copyright law, and he acted as counsel for major corporations as well as the New York City Board of Aldermen. He was also closely involved in politics and is remembered for his connection to Abraham Lincoln and the Republican campaigns of the era.
Late in life, he turned those experiences into memoir. His best-known book, How We Elected Lincoln, offers personal recollections of Lincoln and the political world around him, making it valuable not just as history but as a vivid witness account from someone who worked inside that moment.