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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, It is fitting to honor those who have served their 
3communities and country; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, John Nicolay, who was born in Bavaria and later 
5immigrated to the United States, settled in Pittsfield and 
6edited the Pike County Free Press; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Nicolay later met Abraham Lincoln and became a 
8loyal adherent of the future President of the United States; 
9and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Upon becoming President, Abraham Lincoln 
11appointed John Nicolay as his personal secretary, a role he 
12served until President Lincoln's assassination; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, John Hay, who was sent to live in Pittsfield to 
14attend school, later met John Nicolay; and
  
       
15    WHEREAS, After John Hay graduated from Brown University, 
16John Nicolay recommended that Hay assist him in his duties as 
17President Lincoln's secretary; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, John Hay served as a secretary to President 
19Lincoln until his assassination; he continued to live a life of 
 
 
SJ0058- 2 -LRB100 21220 ALS 37425 r

1public service, as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom and 
2then the Secretary of State; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, John Nicolay and John Hay collaborated on the 
4official biography of President Lincoln; therefore, be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
7CONCURRING HEREIN, that Illinois Highway 107 from Pittsfield to 
8Interstate 72 is designated as the "Lincoln Secretaries' 
9Trail"; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation 
11is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with 
12State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs 
13giving notice of the name "Lincoln Secretaries' Trail".