Haitian William Florville, One of Lincoln's Best Friends

Florville's barbershop became an informal men's club, and it was remarked that ". . . only two men in Springfield understood Lincoln, his law partner William H. Herndon and his barber, William Florville." Florville, in one instance, took care of Lincoln when he had fallen ill, and in another, asked Lincoln for help with a property title problem. Lincoln had difficulty in getting the matter settled, and Florville was not afraid to prevail upon Lincoln to get the issue resolved sooner than later. As a result of Lincoln's friendship, Florville prospered with considerable land holdings.

Florville, in return, looked after Lincoln's property when Lincoln became president. Florville's gratitude for Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation made itself known when Florville penned an appreciative letter to the President, to seek re-election: ". . . I hope you will not decline it: but accept it, and put things and matters through, to their termination . . ." He signed off with ". . . the Sincere feelings of your obt. (obedient) Servant."

Florville was one of many black people Lincoln befriended, and which friendships influenced his creation of the Emancipation Proclamation.

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