[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26051]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNITION OF THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF NOKOMIS, IL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2005

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the people 
of Nokomis, IL, on the occasion of their town's sesquicentennial.
  The earliest settlers began arriving in Nokomis Township in 1840. The 
first permanent dwelling was built by Hugh Hightower around 1843. The 
first sermon was preached by Rev. J.I. Crane, a Methodist Episcopal 
minister. The Baptist congregation was organized in 1856 and Lutherans 
became active in the community in 1852.
  The first school was taught in the home of Henry Lower in 1848, while 
the first school was later built in 1853. Since then, the Nokomis 
community has continued to grow and to prosper--offering its residents 
a loving place in which to raise their families, establish life-long 
friendships, conduct their business, to work, to learn, to worship, and 
to give thanks for God's blessings.
  Today, Nokomis is known as a vital link within downstate central 
Illinois. For more information on all that the people of Nokomis have 
to offer, I encourage you to visit http://www.nokomisonline.com/.
  I wish the people of Nokomis my heartfelt best as they celebrate 
their sesquicentennial.

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