“Portrait and Biographical Album of Lake County, Illinois”

“Portrait and Biographical Album of Dupage and Cook Counties, Illinois”

• The State established Townships in 1848 as units of state government under the 2nd Illinois Constitution of 1848.
• In 1849, the voters were given the right to adopt the township form of local government, choosing to elect local leaders to govern and maintain their communities rather than having County Commissioners.
• First Annual Meeting: Tuesday, April 2, 1850. 118 People attended. At the first annual meeting the third proclamation on the agenda was “that all hogs, pigs and sheep be put into an enclosure on or by the first of May of next year.”
• During the first 70 years, the majority of the responsibilities the township undertook were road development and improvement.
• On September 8, 1877, John Robertson, Highway Commissioner, was fatally shot in the neck over a dispute of a road easement on Peter Davison’s property. The well respected Mr. Robertson died at home 5 hours later because the doctor could not stop the bleeding. Mr. Davison was charged with the murder and served 14 years in the State Prison.
• March 10, 1901, the first case of small pox was reported by Dr. Max Carol Weiertzer.
• February 10, 1906, the first case of Scarlet Fever
• March 18, 1911, the first Primary was held in the township. Up to that time, all township positions were elected at the annual township meeting in April.
• In 1911, many cases of Scarlet Fever were reported. All homes with contagious diseases were quarantined until a doctor visited again and declared the home to be free of disease.
• 1914 Annual Meeting, a proposal was put to vote: “Shall this Township become an Anti-Saloon Territory”. The records show, “No Carried.”
• At the 1916 Annual meeting, the people voted to have only one highway commissioner. Previously there were three.
• In 1917, spinal meningitis and diphtheria were reported.
• In 1919, influenza Pandemic struck the township.
• In 1916, the position of Collector was eliminated in the township.
• Scarlet Fever struck numerous people in Ela Township in December of 1920.
• On January, 20, 1926, there was a lengthy discussion whether the township should vaccinate against small pox. No action was reported.
• During the Great Depression (1929- 1939), Ela Township organized the citizens and merchants to give what they could to those in our township that did not have enough to eat. A food pantry, of sorts, was developed and records show what was brought and by whom.
• The first typewritten report was on September 2, 1947, for the Auditors Meeting.
• In 1948, the Lions Club first used the upstairs rooms for their meetings and installed two rooms with toilets (currently the Ela Historical building)
• Ada S. Nasho was the first female elected in April of 1949.
• In the late 1980’s, Ela Township started a bus service for seniors and handicaped individuals.
• In 2000, the Township building moved from the current White building, now the Ela Historical Society, to next door at the Knigge Center.
• In the summer of 2000, the township began using the YMCA facility to provide space for the Senior Services and Omni Youth Services.
• In 2007, the township purchased property for future expansion next to Knox Park.
• In 2007, the township assumed responsibility for the Fairfield Cemetery and the following year (2008), Lake Zurich Cemetery.
• February 12, 2009, Ela Township opened its doors to hold the first meeting in the new facility at 1155 E. Route 22.
• In June of 2011, Ela Township purchased the post office on Surryse Road for the new Community Center to better serve the people.

Ela Township High School – 1934 8th Grade Promotion

Ela-Vernon High School – 1936, vol. III

Ela-Vernon High School – 1941, vol. VIII

Ela-Vernon High School – 1946, vol. X (c/o 43-45)

Ela-Vernon High School – 1956, vol. XX

Lake Zurich High School – 1966, vol. XXX

Lake Zurich High School – 1976, vol. XXXX