[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 74 (Monday, June 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO TUSCOLA ON ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY

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                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2006

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 
150th birthday of Tuscola, Illinois. This sesquicentennial celebration 
marks a significant moment in the rich history of this prairie town in 
rural Douglas County, Illinois.
  The city of Tuscola was established to help develop and support the 
Illinois Central Railroad. Congress granted alternate one mile square 
sections of land to the Illinois Central Railroad and the city of 
Tuscola occupies that original square mile given to the company.
  The town was laid out on July 9, 1857 as a part of Coles County and 
shortly there after the State of Illinois re-designated the northern 
section of Coles County where Tuscola is located into a newly formed 
county that was named after Illinois Senator, Stephen A. Douglas. The 
city of Tuscola has since thrived as the Douglas County seat and is a 
hidden gem in America's heartland.
  One of Tuscola's native sons was former Speaker of the House, 1903-
1911, Joseph G. Cannon. Mr. Cannon is acclaimed by most historians as 
one of the most powerful Speakers of the House of Representatives and 
until current Speaker J. Dennis Hastert passed him on June 1, 2006, he 
was the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history.
  This political icon of his era got his start as one of the original 
members of a group of fourteen men voting to ratify the city's charter 
on March 11, 1859. He went on to become the first State's Attorney of 
Douglas County and then a member of the United States House of 
Representatives from 1873 through 1922. On his last day in office he 
appeared on the first cover of Time Magazine.
  Joe Cannon said of Tuscola, ``my heart is buried in your cemetery; my 
little son for whom I had such high hopes; my Quaker mother; my 
brothers and their families; and memories of my struggle to a foothold 
in my professional life; the faithful friends. Yes, Tuscola is home to 
me and always will be.'' (June 12, 1913)
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 
150th birthday of Tuscola, Illinois.

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