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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
 
 
 
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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 
 
 
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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.