Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the 16th president of the United States, is honored for his role in saving the Union and abolishing slavery in the United States during the Civil War.

Born in 1809 in Kentucky, Lincoln was raised on a farm and spent most of his time working and helping his family rather than receiving a formal education. Despite this, Lincoln still learned how to read and write. His experience and ambition contributed to him serving as a lawyer in Illinois for nearly 25 years. In addition to being a successful lawyer, Abraham Lincoln was also member of the Illinois House of Representatives and later, the U.S. House of Representatives. Lincoln was known among his colleagues and fellow politicians as “Honest Abe” because of his honest and moral character.

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States with a majority vote despite having little support from the states in the South because of his opposing stance on slavery. One of the most historic moments of Lincoln’s presidency was the Gettysburg Address, a speech he gave during the Civil War that promoted nationalism, equal rights, liberty, and freedom for all. On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared all slaves within the Confederacy would henceforth be free.

In April 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth during a play at Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C.

The Sculptor
Gilbert Riswold (1882-1938) was a well-known American sculptor. His talent was apparent at a very young age, and as a young adult, studied at the prestigious Chicago Art Institute. After his studies, Riswold became a self-employed sculptor and had a very distinguished career with his works in collections throughout the country. He is also the artist of the Mormon Battalion Monument located on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol.

This is located in the Utah State Capitol Building.