While doing research for Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial a couple weeks ago, I found out that he had many influences upon my home state of Idaho that I was not aware of. When we think about Lincoln, the states most associated with him are Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. These are the places where he was born, grew up, and practiced law. Most people never think that Lincoln had a significant influence on any other states. Yet my research proved Lincoln had a large impact on several Western states, including Idaho.
According to the Idaho Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Lincoln has several connections to Idaho:
- In 1849, Lincoln was offered the Governorship of the Oregon Territory which included the land of what later became Idaho.
- Lincoln signed the bill in 1863 that created the Idaho Territory and attended the meeting in which the name "Idaho" was selected.
- The first territorial officers for the Idaho Territory were appointed by Lincoln.
- Lincoln mentioned the Idaho Territory in messages to Congress in 1863 and 1864.
- On April 14, 1865, Lincoln met with the delegate from the Idaho Territory, William H. Wallace, about filling a position on the Idaho Supreme Court. Wallace turned down an invitation from Lincoln to join him at Ford's Theater that night.
Lincoln had a significant influence on several states, not just on Idaho or on those we normally associate with him. It just goes to show that Lincoln had a large impact on the country as a whole and that his life is an important part of our national story!
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Hi Rebecca! Thanks for the interesting lesson about Abe and your state. I didn't know he held a meeting about Idaho on his last day.
ReplyDeleteIdaho is one of about 5 states I've yet to visit. I need to see it some day as it looks so beautiful.
Geoff,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments! I'm glad I could add to your knowledge about Lincoln. There was a lot I wasn't aware of either concerning his influence on my state.
I agree! You do need to visit it one day!
My husband and I drove through Idaho and we passed through the wooded areas of the state. We stopped at a restaurant that was over a fast-running creek and after a breakfast of lumberjack proportions we rented a paddle boat and went out on the creek to work off the breakfast. Idaho is really beautiful in those parts. So it was a shock when we drove into Boise and found it very different.
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding to my knowledge of Lincoln. Come visit my blog:
http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/
Barbara
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteYes, Boise is a lot different from the rest of Idaho. But I think it's still very beautiful. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Really interesting post. Thanks for sharing your research. - Doug
ReplyDeleteDoug,
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I hope it was informative! Thanks for visiting!