November 8, 1862 – The State Democratic Press publishes Iowa’s Civil War Governor – Samuel Kirkwood’s Thanksgiving Proclamation.

In October 1863 – in the midst of a great Civil War – President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Thanksgiving. Did you know that Lincoln’s idea for a national day given over to thanksgiving & prayer just might have been stirred by Iowa’s Civil War Governor – Samuel J. Kirkwood?

It all started on November 1, 1862, when Lincoln’s close friend – Iowa Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving across Iowa for Thursday, November 27, 1862. Above is Kirkwood’s Proclamation as published in November 8, 1862 edition of The State Democratic Press.

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