[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 10 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE VILLAGE OF MONEE AND ITS QUASQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2000

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the village of Monee 
and its quasquicentennial celebration. The village of Monee was formed 
in the year 1874 and the residents of Monee have celebrated their 125 
years of history with dozens of different events throughout the year 
1999. It has been my great privilege and honor to serve the residents 
of Monee. I am pleased to recognize their strong and admirable sense of 
community pride.
  The village of Monee, which lies in my 11th congressional district, 
is situated in northern Will County. Although the village is located 
less than 30 miles from the city of Chicago, the village has been able 
to maintain its small-town ambiance and sense of pride in its history 
and progress. Both the village and local organizations contribute time 
and money to hosting family-orientated events and activities.
  The village of Monee was founded by Augustus Herbert in November of 
1853 when he recorded his plat of land at the Will County Courthouse. 
The village is believed to be named for a French-Ottawa Indian woman, 
Marie LeFevre Bailly. The French called Marie ``Mah-ree'' but the 
Ottawa Indians had no sound for the letter ``r'' and called her ``Mah-
nee.'' French treaty clerks later wrote the name as ``Mo-nee.'' The 
Indian princess, Marie was renowned as one of the most beautiful women 
in the northwest area. In 1833, the Treaty of Camp Tippecanoe made with 
the Pottawatomie Tribe made a gift of property to the four daughters of 
Marie and her husband Joseph Bailly. This gift of property is possibly 
the only connection between ``Princess Monee'' and the village named in 
her honor.
  Today, the village of Monee has a growing population of approximately 
1,044. The current village president is the Honorable Larry Kochel.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other towns 
and villages in their own districts which are proudly celebrating 
special occasions.

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