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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 194TH ANNIVERSARY OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Cook County was founded by an act of the Illinois legislature on January 15, 1831; and
WHEREAS, originally part of the commonwealth of Virginia, the area which comprises modern day Cook County was also part of the Northwest Territory and then a part of 10 separate counties as the territory was formed into states, including Illinois. The 10 counties are Knox (1790), St. Clair (1801), Madison (1812), Edwards (1814), Crawford (1816), Clark (1819), Pike (1819), Fulton (1823), Peoria (1825), Putnam (1826); and
WHEREAS, when formed in 1831, Cook County's original boundaries included all of McHenry, Lake, DuPage and parts of Kane and Will. The other counties were separately created between 1836 and 1839, leading to Cook County's current boundaries; and
WHEREAS, Cook County was named for Daniel Pope Cook (1794 - October 16, 1827). Originally from Kentucky, Cook moved to Illinois and became a lawyer, newspaper publisher, politician and one of the early advocates of statehood for Illinois. An anti-slavery advocate, he was the state's first Attorney General, and then congressman. It is believed Cook never visited the area which would be named in his honor; and
WHEREAS, the first Cook County Board of Commissioners was elected on March 7, 1831, taking office and holding their first meeting the following day. Three (3) commissioners-Gholson Kercheval, Samuel Miller and James Walker-convened a meeting at Fort Dearborn on the Chicago Settlement lakeshore, in the magazine (powder room). The first County Board meeting would last for two (2) days; and
WHEREAS, also elected on March 7 were Sheriff James Kinsey and Coroner John K. Clark. County Clerk William See, County Treasurer Archibald Clybourn, were appointed March 8 and Jedediah Wooley, Jr was recommended as County Surveyor to the Governor and Legislature; and
WHEREAS, one of the first acts of the new board was approval of a Resolution a...
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