[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 64 (Friday, April 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E456-E457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING OLD MONROE--200TH ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2019

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the city 
of Old Monroe, Missouri, on the commemoration of its Bicentennial.
  Old Monroe, located in Lincoln County, Missouri, has a rich history 
dating back to 1673 and the exploration of Frenchmen James Marquette 
and Louis Joliet. Old Monroe is the oldest town in Lincoln County and 
was a city before Missouri obtained statehood.
  In 1799, Christopher Clark settled along the rich freshwater spring 
in Lincoln county. He deemed the land to be the ``finest, richest, and 
most attractive district.'' Among the first settlers, were Joseph 
Cottle, Zadock Wood, and

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his brothers: James and Martin Woods settling near present day Old 
Monroe. In 1802, Ira and Almond Cottle, relatives of Joseph Cottle, 
moved from Vermont to Missouri. Several years later, Ira and Almond 
established the town of Old Monroe--named out of respect for President 
James Monroe.
  In 1819, the town was the site of the first election held in Lincoln 
County. The Territorial General Assembly organized 8 new counties in 
Missouri, dividing them into three judicial circuits: Southern, 
Northern, and Northwestern. Lincoln was placed in the Northwestern 
County. The first court of the new Northwest Circuit was held in the 
home of Zadock Woods.
  In 1859, the United Evangelical church of Old Monroe was organized by 
a group of German Protestants, with approximately 50 families 
participating. The next year, the congregation merged with the 
Evangelical Synod of North America Church eventually becoming the St. 
Paul United Church of Christ that still stands today. The settlers 
sought to honor God when establishing their town and would be proud of 
how far the church has come.
  The city of Old Monroe will commemorate its 200th Bicentennial with 
three separate weekends full of exciting events. The weekend of May 4, 
the town will have a parade and day in the park, along with a flag 
ceremony, ball tournaments, and local historian speakers. The weekend 
of June 8, Old Monroe will celebrate with a car show, motorcycle rally, 
and a kayak river race. Finally, the weekend of September 14, the town 
will host a BBQ cook off, street dancing, and a duck calling contest. A 
celebration fit for this incredible milestone.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in congratulating the city of Old 
Monroe on their 200th Anniversary. May the town's rich history continue 
to be the foundation for an undoubtedly bright future.

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