HR0050

LRB094 06090 HSS 36812 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The  members   of   the   House   of
 Representatives  of the 
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State of Illinois wish to congratulate Elvesta Topp, an 
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esteemed resident of Shumway, on the occasion of the 
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celebration of her 100th birthday on January 23, 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She  was born on January 23, 1905, the daughter of 
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John  and  Mary Wetherall Knierim; she was the
seventh child born 
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and is today the only  living  child;  she
still owns the 
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farmhouse built by her parents and her brother
in the late 
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1800s; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Elvesta Topp has a wonderful family history; her

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grandfather was born in Germany and came to Illinois in 1853;

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he served in the Civil War, as did her Grandfather Wetherall; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Elvesta  Topp  received  her  education  in  a
one-room 
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schoolhouse, where one teacher  taught  eight  grade
levels;  there  
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was  a daily walk to school for the children,
except when the 
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weather was bad  and  the  smallest  children
were given a ride in 
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the buggy by an older brother; and

 
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    WHEREAS, There were no toys, only rag dolls made by Elvesta 
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and her sister; mud roads made life hard, with even  the
horses 
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having a rough time going through; laundry was done in
tubs  and 
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with a wash board; kerosene lamps provided the only
source of 
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evening light until the 1940s; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Clothing was made from chicken feed  sacks;  the

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chores  included  milking the cows, feeding the chickens and

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ducks, helping in the  field,  and  collecting  eggs;  during

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harvest  time,  she would help with the raking, hauling, and

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stacking of hay; she remembers that the neighbors would unite

                            
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to help one another; and

 
 


 






HR0050
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LRB094 06090 HSS 36812 r




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    WHEREAS, She remembers when the  family  doctor  made
 house  
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calls, neighbors were neighborly, and life was easier; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Elvesta worked as a cook at the Central  Grade
 
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School  for  many  years,  as  well  as  at the  Steak  House in    
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Effingham;  and
 
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    WHEREAS, Elvesta is most proud of her large collection of 
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several hundred elephants that represent her passion and 
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lifelong loyalty to the Grand Old Party; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we extend our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to 
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Elvesta Topp on the occasion of her 100th birthday; that we 
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commend her for achieving a long and fulfilling life, and we 
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wish her continued happiness and good health in the future; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Elvesta Topp as an expression of our respect and 
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esteem.