HR1114 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1114 LRB094 20050 RLC 57604 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Throughout the month of July 2007, the City of Tuscola will celebrate its 150th birthday; and

WHEREAS, The origin of the name Tuscola is a mystery but it is widely accepted that the name is of Native American origin and may be from the Muscogee Indian word for warrior; and

WHEREAS, In 1835, the first settlers came to the Tuscola area; and

WHEREAS, Tuscola was established because the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed through the area in 1851 and needed towns along its route to help finance the railroad; and

WHEREAS, A railroad charter was issued to the Decatur and Indianapolis Railroad in 1855 and a company was soon formed to promote the growth of Tuscola; and

WHEREAS, The east and west railroad did not materialize until July 9, 1873, and another east and west railroad, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, was completed in September, 1887; and

WHEREAS, Tuscola is unique because it covers the original square mile of land granted by Congress to the Illinois Central Railroad; and

WHEREAS, Tuscola was originally laid out July 19, 1857, as a part of Coles County but residents of the area petitioned the legislature for the creation of a new county from the northern portion of Coles County; and

WHEREAS, The bill creating the new county passed the legislature on February 16, 1859, and was named Douglas County after Stephen A. Douglas; and

WHEREAS, Tuscola was incorporated on March 11, 1859; and

WHEREAS, Tuscola was the home of Joseph G. Cannon, Tuscola's most famous citizen, who served as Douglas County's first State's Attorney and also served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1891, and from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1913, and served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1911; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor and recognize the City of Tuscola and its residents on the 150th birthday of the city and extend our best wishes for the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Mayor of the City of Tuscola.