[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
91_HR0536
LRB9111515KBkb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor milestones in the lives
4 of citizens of the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, It has come to the attention of this Body that
6 Elvesta (Knierim) Topp of Effingham is celebrating her 95th
7 birthday this year; and
8 WHEREAS, Elvesta Topp was born on January 23, 1905; her
9 parents were John and Mary Wetherall Knierim; she was the
10 seventh child born and is today the only living child; she
11 still owns the farmhouse built by her parents and her brother
12 in the late 1800's; and
13 WHEREAS, Elvesta Topp has a wonderful family history; her
14 grandfather was born in Germany and came to Illinois in 1853;
15 he served in the Civil War, as did her Grandfather Wetherall;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, Elvesta Topp received her education in a
18 one-room schoolhouse, where one teacher taught eight grade
19 levels; there was a daily walk to school for the children,
20 except when the weather was bad and the smallest children
21 were given a ride in the buggy by an older brother; and
22 WHEREAS, There were no toys, only rag dolls made by Mrs.
23 Topp and her sister; mud roads made life hard, with even the
24 horses having a rough time going through; laundry was done in
25 tubs and with a wash board; kerosene lamps provided the only
26 source of evening light until the 1940's; and
27 WHEREAS, Clothing was made from chicken feed sacks; the
28 chores including milking the cows, feeding the chickens and
29 ducks, helping in the field, and collecting eggs; during
30 harvest time Mrs. Topp helped with the raking, hauling, and
31 stacking of hay; she remembers that the neighbors would unite
-2- LRB9111515KBkb
1 to help one another; and
2 WHEREAS, Mrs. Topp recalls when the family doctor made
3 house calls; she remembers when neighbors were neighborly;
4 and she remembers when life was easier; and
5 WHEREAS, Mrs. Topp worked as a cook at the Central Grade
6 School for many years, as well as the Steak House in
7 Effingham; in the last year she retired from mowing the grass
8 as well; therefore, be it
9 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 we congratulate Mrs. Elvesta Topp on living a wonderful life;
12 on the occasion of her 95th birthday we wish her many more
13 years of joy and happiness; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to Mrs. Elvesta Topp.