Elizabeth’s post office opened in 1842, and 40% of its homes were built before 1940
Its Register listings are the Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot and the Bishop’s Busy Big Store-Lyric Opera House. Below: maps from 1911 on and the census since 1880.
Prior to European contact, the area where the village stands today was inhabited by the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples. It is believed that white settlers had moved into the area starting in the early 1800s due to the prominence of lead in the earth. These mines that were built in Jo Daviess County are considered to be what triggered the 1832 Black Hawk War and the devastating Bad Axe Massacre. The Apple River Fort was built in response to this conflict and on June 24 a battle ensued. This is considered the last Native American offensive battle east of the Mississippi River.
On the morning following New Year's Day, Herr von Kadden went to pay a few farewell visits, and Elizabeth went with him. After they had been to Frau von Warmholz, they went to the old aunt's, the dogs' great friend. Elizabeth had made this aequantance since her betrothal, and had most dutiftdly paid her regular visits as niece, much to the delight of the old lady who had once seriously asserted that she was not
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Hildebrand, or, The days of Queen Elizabeth1844 · page 86Read the page →
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When Elizabeth had seated herself in the summer-house, she beckoned Sir Walter, who had taken his station at the entrance, to come forward, and seat himself by her side. The knight, without further ceremony, obeyed the command, well knowing that she liked such manifestations of confidence to be as slightly dwelt upon as possible.
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Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Elizabeth, 1842 to 1911
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (4), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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