John Dean Caton; says: "In 1840 or 1841, I met Mr.Lincoln, and was for the first time associated with him in a professional way.

We attended the Circuit Court at Pontiac, Judge Treat presiding, where we were both engaged in the defense of a man by the name of Lavinia.

That was the first and only time I was associated with him at the bar.

He practiced in a circuit that was beyond the one in which I practiced, and consequently we were not brought together much in the practice of the law.

He stood well at the bar from the beginning.