This Uncle Sam was originally installed at an Uncle Sam's restaurant in Toledo, OH. The outstretched hand was meant to hold a giant hamburger. However, the burger was too heavy and that part of the design was scrapped. When the restaurant closed and changed names, the statue was painted to look like Abraham Lincoln. Later, it was briefly painted black when it was owned by a septic tank dealer. In 1992, the statue was moved to 23 Fuel Stop, a gas station and fireworks place, where it stands today. In 2001, the statue was repainted as part of Hampton Inns' Save-a-Landmark program.

According to this artcile, this was one of three statues created in Wisconsin in the mid-1960s for Uncle Sam's restaurants. Another source says the statue came from California. The other Uncle Sams mentioned in the article are different styles and much smaller which make me suspicious of the story. There is an apparent twin in Uncle Sam in Lake George, NY. However, that statue is believed to be only about 38 feet tall while the one here in Ottawa Lake is supposedly 42 feet tall. This may just be a mistake in measuring. Perhaps there was another statue like this which is gone now. For more, see this website.