History of Dupage County, Illinois

DuPage County is situated in the north-eastern part of the State of Illinois, and derives its name from that of the DuPage River, a small but beautiful stream, which, ultimately, flows into the Illinois River. Several towns and places in the neighborhood, as well as the DuPage River, retain names seeming to mark their connection with the explorations of early Jesuit missionaries in the State, and in this portion of the country. The territory of DuPage County has been known by different names: Illinois County, Virginia; St. Clair County, Indiana Territory; St. Clair County, Illinois Territory; Madison County, Crawford County, Clark County, State of Illinois; Pike County, State of Illinois; Fulton County, State of Illinois; Peoria County, State of Illinois; Cook County, State of Illinois; and DuPage County, State of Illinois. It consists of a fraction over nine townships, and is bounded on the north and east by Cook County, on the south by Will and Cook Counties, and on the west by Kane County. The distinction of being the first permanent settler in this vicinity belongs to Mr. Stephen J. Scott, who arrived from Maryland with his family in 1825, and made a claim near the present site of Evanston, then called Gros' Point. While on a hunting tour, in the month of August, 1830, in company with his son, Willard, he discovered the DuPage River, near Plainfield. Impressed with the beauty and apparent fertility of the surrounding country, here continuously rolling prairie, he resolved to explore the river, and ascended it as far as the confluence of its east and west branches, now called " The Forks." The promising appearance of the scene around him soon led him to decide on making it his future home. This book covers the period from the first settlement in 1825 to 1877. There are histories of the towns in DuPage County, such as, Addison, Bloomingdale, Wayne, Winfield, Turner Junction, Naperville, Downer's Grove, Hinsdale, Milton, York and Lisle. Biographical sketches are also included on H.W. Knickerbacker, William Pratt, Thomas Muir, Alexander E. Carpenter, Elon E. Downer, Isaac B. Churchill, Frederick E. Lester, Philando Torode, T. S. Rogers, Warren Lyon Wheaton, James G. Wright, Captain J.J. Cole, Charles B. Blodgett, Hiram H. Cody, Edmond E. Page, Sherman P. Sedgewick, Hon. Lewis Ellsworth and Willard Scott, as well as many others. Also provided are information on town and county officers, supervisors, newspapers, schools and colleges. DuPage's military history is given with a list of those who served in various regiments. Includes a business directory, and a list of patrons. Softcover, (1877), repr. 2010, 251 pp.