Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

History Fact:  Future President Lincoln lived in Perry County (later Spencer Co.), Indiana from 1816 to 1830.  The earliest known observance of Lincoln's birthday occurred in Buffalo, New York, in either 1873 or 1874. Julius Francis, a Buffalo druggist, made it his life's mission to honor the president. Francis repeatedly petitioned Congress to establish Lincoln's birthday as a legal holiday.  Abraham Lincoln's birthday is now celebrated as a State observed and stand-alone holiday in Indiana, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, California, Missouri and New York.  In other states, Lincoln's birthday is either combined with George Washington's (also in February), or celebrated as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February.