George Ela
1805 – 1882
5th Co., 9th Regt. NH Militia
Civil War
George Ela was born on January 17, 1805 in Lebanon, New Hampshire to Benjamin and Abigail (Emerson) Ela.
He married Mary Noyes Hazeltine in Goffstown, New Hampshire on October 18, 1832. There are no children recorded of this marriage, but in 1857, he adopted a 20-year-old Canadian girl named Delia Murray, who lived with he and his wife many years. After Mary Ela’s death in 1868, Mr. Ela married Caroline E. Hazeltine, on October 28, 1870; there were no children of this marriage.
In 1834, George was listed as an Ensign in the 5th Company, 9th Regiment, N.H. State Militia.
George Ela came to Illinois in 1835, settling on a piece of land at Deer Grove where he opened a store. This was the first of over one hundred Lake County property transactions – mostly in Ela and Cuba townships - on record for him at the Lake County Recorder of Deeds office.
George Ela was a strong civic leader as well as a merchant and landowner. The first post office in Ela Township was established in 1844 at his home, and he was appointed the first Postmaster. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives beginning December 7, 1846. The Lake County Commissioners chose the name Ela for the Township in his honor as a founding settler and legislator. He was elected Ela Township Supervisor 1852-1855; he was also elected Justice of the Peace 1854-1855. Mr. Ela was appointed postmaster of Barrington in 1858, he helped organize Evergreen Cemetery in 1867, and was appointed Police Magistrate in Barrington in 1869.
After the extension of the Chicago & Northwestern rail line and establishment of a station in Barrington in the mid-1850’s, Mr. Ela moved his store to Main Street just east of the tracks. The store became known as the North Side Grocery; it was later moved to 126 South Northwest Highway.
Ensign George Ela died in Barrington on December 12, 1882, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery with his wives.
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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Courtesy of Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution