[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


           175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF RUSSELLVILLE, MO

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                        HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 2013

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 175th 
Anniversary of the town of Russellville, MO. The town of Russellville, 
MO traces its roots back to May 3, 1838 when Richard Morris, Buckner W. 
Russell, and Benjamin P. Griffen had the land surveyed. The town was 
later named in honor of Buckner W. Russell.
   The first settlers arrived in the area around 1830 and found a 
plentiful supply of large oak trees, wild game, and fertile farm land. 
The town grew steadily thanks to the hard work of its founding 
families. Businesses were added and additional settlers made it their 
home. It later became a stop on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
   The town has several churches that were established early in its 
history. The first were Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian. It now 
includes churches representing the Assembly of God, Baptist, and 
Lutheran denominations. The first Sunday School was organized in 1858 
by James Banister.
   As early as 1895, Russellville had the only weekly newspaper in Cole 
County, the Russellville Rustler, edited by Gutman Wilson. The 
community found music to be an important part of entertainment. A music 
club was organized in 1906 at the home of Mrs. L.L. Sullins. The club 
studied the history of music, prepared programs for their meetings, and 
gave several public performances.
   Today Russellville continues to be a small, but strong rural 
community, home to new residents as well as descendants of some of the 
original settlers. The town is home to a great school system, local 
businesses, and an important agriculture industry.

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