HR1225 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1225 LRB094 20305 HSS 58345 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The village of Colfax will celebrate its 125th anniversary this year; and

WHEREAS, Colfax is located in the northeast corner of Martin Township, in sections two and three; the northern limit of the village stretches to the southern boundary of the neighboring township of Lawndale; and

WHEREAS, Settlement in that part of McLean County was somewhat slower than it was in other areas; William G. Anderson, who came to be known as "Uncle Billy" to his many friends, soon became one of the leading citizens of Martin Township and McLean County; he spent considerable time and effort in promoting the development of the village of Colfax; he helped sell the idea of constructing a road through Martin Township to the Clinton, Bloomington, Northeastern Railroad Company, a branch of the Illinois Central; and

WHEREAS, The first train arrived in Colfax on July 4, 1880; after the railroad reached Colfax, the success of the village was almost assured; businessmen began to locate there at about the same time that the railroad was completed; and

WHEREAS, The first business firm to open in Colfax was the William Rinke Grocery Store; it opened in 1879, and the second business to begin operation was the Wilson and Santte Grocery Store; the third business in Colfax was founded by Dr. M.A. Green; he was the first person to construct a combination store and office building in the town; he intended to set up practice and also open a grocery, dry goods, and drug store to be managed by his brother, William Green; and

WHEREAS, The survey to lay out lots for the village of Colfax was completed on March 22, 1880, on land owned by William G. Anderson; the location was an elegant place for a town, especially during the few years when the railroad terminated there; the town grew rapidly; the greatest single influence on this growth was the discovery of deposits of coal under the town and the opening up of mines to extract the "black diamonds"; and

WHEREAS, In 1880, the year in which the village of Colfax was laid out, the entire population of Martin Township was 1,026; in 1890, the census report did not yet record the village population separately, but the township population was given as 1,428; and

WHEREAS, By a vote of 47 to 31, cast on December 15, 1881, the citizens decided to incorporate the village; around the turn of the century, Colfax was growing so rapidly that houses could not be built fast enough; many new citizens were forced to live in tents until better facilities could be secured; in 1900, the village had a population of 1,153; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the village of Colfax on the occasion of its 125th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the village of Colfax as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for future prosperity.