HR1165 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1165 LRB097 21955 GRL 70674 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the residents of Farmer City as they celebrate the 175th anniversary of the city's founding; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1800s, central Illinois was an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie Indians; occasionally, traders and adventurers traveled through the area; in the 1830s, pioneer families from the east and south began to arrive in the area, building cabins in the shelter of the timber groves along Salt Creek in Santa Anna Township; and

WHEREAS, More settlers came and pioneers began to venture out onto the prairie north of the timber; on January 28, 1837, this prairie was platted and named Mt. Pleasant and a mail route was soon established; there was already a town in Illinois named Mt. Pleasant, so, in 1869, Jacob Swigart, a local member of the Illinois legislature, traveled to Springfield and introduced a bill into the Assembly proposing that Mt. Pleasant's name be changed to Farmer City; and

WHEREAS, Farmer City was a community of farmers, therefore the name was deemed very appropriate; Farmer City prospered as 2 railroads traveled through the community; when the Civil War started, 250 brave men within a 6-mile radius of Farmer City enlisted and served their country; 37 did not return, taking a heavy toll on local families and leaving a huge impact; and

WHEREAS, Two devastating fires in 1879 and 1894 burned down much of the business district, but the community rebuilt and the town continued to grow and prosper; in the early 1900s, the first power plant was built, streets were brick-paved, a water tower was built, and modern utilities became available; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Route 39 (now, Route 150) and Route 48 (now, Route 54) were built through Farmer City, enabling citizens to travel with ease; Interstate 74 was opened in 1974, making travel even easier, with the Farm Land Rest Area opening just west of Farmer City in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Farmer City still has an electric plant, and now has an Ambulance District; a new high school was built in the year 2000; and

WHEREAS, Farmer City will have a Quartoseptcentennial 175th Birthday Celebration from June 30 to July 8, 2012; school reunions, parades, farm and antique displays, music, food, and other entertainment are planned; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the residents of Farmer City on this momentous occasion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the residents of Farmer City as a symbol of our respect and esteem.