[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO FOSTER TOWNSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 27, 2007

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Foster Township in 
Madison County, IL, upon her sesquicentennial. Foster Township includes 
all of town 6 range 9 west. A celebration will be held in Fosterburg, 
IL, on August 18 and 19, 2007 to celebrate this special occasion.
  Though impossible to know for certain who the first settlers of the 
township were, legend is that Granny McAfee and her family settled in 
section 28 in 1816. On October 11, 1820 the first known land purchases 
were recorded and the land was purchased directly from the United 
States Government by 5 individuals. Early settlers included the 
Beemans, Decks, Edwards, Reynolds, Waggoners, Hamiltons, Gallops, 
Kyles, Rhodes, Fosters, Woods, Shorts, Doolings, Sherfys, Dillons, 
Crowders, Eatons, Bevills, Wilsons, Chandlers, Jinkinsons, Browns, 
Thompsons, Warners, Lobbings, and Titchenals.
  As the township was located along the road between Alton and 
Springfield, it often served as a stage relay station for travelers. 
President Abraham Lincoln was one such traveler who visited Foster 
Township staying at both the Clayton House and the Foster Inn.
  I am pleased to congratulate the citizens of Foster Township on this 
special occasion. I thank them for their contributions to this great 
nation. May God bless Foster Township!

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