In the Christian County Circuit Court, Lincoln serves as the guardian ad litem for defendant James M. Turpin, a minor, in the chancery case of Nichols and Nichols v. Turpin. Plaintiffs Mary E. Nichols and Walter E. Nichols are asking the court to divide a tract of land co-owned by Mary Nichols and Turpin. The plaintiffs request "that said Land be divided between said Mary E. Nicholas and said James M. Turpin according to their respective interests." Lincoln, as Turpin's guardian ad litem, agrees to the partition upon proof of Mary E. Nichols's "evidence of title." The court, after being "sufficiently advised declares that said Mary E. Nicholas" is indeed part-owner of the property in question. The court also accepts the report of a commission appointed to partition the land between the parties.Decree, 8 June 1852, Nichols and Nichols v. Turpin, General Record 1, 413-14; Decree, 8 June 1852, Nichols and Nichols v. Turpin, General Record 1, 418-19, both in Christian County Circuit Court, Christian County Courthouse, Taylorville, IL.