[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 18 (Thursday, February 2, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E132-E133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BOND COUNTY BICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RODNEY DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2017

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this year, beautiful Bond 
County, located in the southeastern part of Illinois, celebrates its 
becentennial--200 years as a county is a great honor.
  Bond County was one of the state's original 11 counties when Illinois 
applied for statehood

[[Page E133]]

in 1818. It was named after the first governor of Illinois, Shadrach 
Bond who helped develop the first big transportation and infrastructure 
project for Illinois.
  Bond County has witnessed many moments in our nation's history. Both 
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas gave speeches there in 1858 for 
their Senatorial election and the Liberty Bell made its way through the 
county in 1915. Additionally, President Ronald Reagan appeared there in 
1980 for a campaign speech.
  Bond County is also home to Greenville College, a 4-year Christian 
university founded on prayer that focuses on the pillars of faith and 
community to advance students' learning. Greenville facilitated 
multiple mission trips, study abroad programs, and home-service 
projects in 2016.
  There is much for the citizens of this county to be proud of. A 
county with such a rich history of beauty, politics, and pride deserves 
to be recognized after 200 fantastic years.

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