Abraham Lincoln attended court in Cumberland County on several occasions. On one occasion in 1847, in the case of the People of the State of Illinois vs. Sigler H. Lester, who was accused of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to murder, Lester was prosecuted by State's Attorney Kitchell and defended by Lincoln. Lester was found guilty of the charge in circuit court, with Judge William Wilson presiding, and later received a Governor's Pardon.