Abraham Lincoln

Missouri History Today August 30, 1861: Military Leader Declares Martial Law, Loses Face With Lincoln

James Shields and Abraham Lincoln came to Missouri for a duel. Shields, an Illinois attorney and State Auditor accused Lincoln of writing a newspaper article critical of him. For weapons they chose cavalry sabers but Lincoln convinced Shields that he did not write the article so the duel was called off. Shields probably also noticed that Lincoln’s long arms gave him a much longer reach.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President on this day. He won only two counties in Missouri. Some counties gave him no votes at all. Nationwide, he failed to get a majority of the popular vote but he did get enough electoral votes.

The very talented sculptress from Christian College in Columbia, Vinnie Ream, at age 18 was given the commission by Congress to sculpt the statue of Abraham Lincoln to stand in the National Capital Rotunda.