Lincoln writes to J. C. Louderman & Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, in regard to an order for some carpeting. Lincoln sent a "sample of our carpet to you" via Springfield, Illinois, merchant Jacob Bunn. Lincoln explains that Bunn returned to Springfield without the remnant. Lincoln requests, "I must now ask the favor of you to send us back the sample, (as, to lose it will spoil the carpet we have)." Lincoln places an order with the company for thirty-five yards of carpeting provided that that it "matches" the Lincoln sample. Abraham Lincoln to J. C. Louderman and Company, 14 March 1852, CW, 2:120.