SJ0061LRB098 20649 MST 57254 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District owns and
3manages the North Branch Conservation Area, formerly owned by
4the Eldredge family, where 2 separate tragedies befell a pair
5of brothers while serving as State conservation officers years
6apart; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Brothers G. Earle Eldredge and Charles Marcus
8Eldredge were employed by the Illinois Department of Resources
9and Conservation; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Game Warden G. Earle Eldredge served with
11distinction for 7 years until February 24, 1907 when he was
12shot while investigating a report of poachers on the family's
13game reserve near today's Village of Richmond; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Charles Marcus Eldredge was a successful
15attorney, elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1896, and
16later became an inspector for the Illinois Department of
17Natural Resources and Conservation, serving for 24 years; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Charles Marcus Eldredge devoted his time to
19finding and prosecuting his brother's murderer and carried with
20him the gun of his brother to remind him at all times of his
21personal mission; and
 

 

 

SJ0061- 2 -LRB098 20649 MST 57254 r

1    WHEREAS, Charles Marcus Eldredge was found dead in 1931 at
2an entrance leading to a nature preserve near the site of his
3brother's murder in 1907, with the same gun having been used in
4the murder of both brothers; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Both men are the only Illinois Department of
6Natural Resource and Conservation Officers to have been
7murdered in the line of duty; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Both men have been recognized at the Illinois
9Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Police Officers
10Memorial, and the National Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Both men had their family roots tied to the
12McHenry County community and both died on McHenry County soil
13while in the line of duty; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
16CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize G. Earle Eldredge and
17Charles Marcus Eldredge for their service and sacrifice; and be
18it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That the Department of Natural Resources is
20requested to erect at suitable locations within the nature

 

 

SJ0061- 3 -LRB098 20649 MST 57254 r

1preserve at Nippersink Creek, consistent with State and federal
2regulations, signage in remembrance of both G. Earle Eldredge
3and Charles Marcus Eldredge; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5delivered to both the Department of Natural Resources and the
6McHenry County Board.