A City Rises from the Prairie

“Naperville was situated at the quintessential spot where villages become metropolitan centers – a crossroad of transportation” (39).

The Book

For most frontier towns, the first settlers sought land, adventure, or a new way of life. A few original settlers rose to lead the community and, in some cases, lay the ground work for a future city. One of those cases is Naperville, Illinois. Naperville: A Brief History by Bryan J. Ogg provides the reader a peak into the people and events that shaped this city. 

Among the first settlers to arrive in the Naperville area was Joseph Naper, a former sailor on the Great Lakes, and by 1832 there were 180 people living in Naper’s Settlement. The DuPage River allowed for the growing settlement to have a sawmill, dam, and gristmill; these supplemented the farming community. In addition to the benefit of the DuPage River, the settlement was also at the crossroads of two major roads. These roads took other settlers south and northwest. As a result, the settlement grow to include breweries, limestone quarries, law offices, and banks, in addition to farms. In 1857, the Illinois General Assembly passed an act to make Naperville a village and it was the first official use of the name. From then, there was a steady growth in population (in 1890 it was 2,216; one hundred years later it was 85,351; in 2019 it is 148,449), land, industry, and community amenities. By the 1950s, Naperville was no long a majority farming community. Subdivisions sprang up to provide housing for the new technology jobs and commuters into Chicago. Today, Naperville is an active city with a vibrant downtown, excellent schools, and spacious parks.

Readers will see the growth of a community that came together for civic needs, celebrations, and tragedies. Schools, a library, and associations were created to serve the public and Naperville’s limestone quarries helped rebuild Chicago after the 1871 fire. The rich heritage of the city was celebrated during the centennial and sesquicentennial when public projects were dedicated and through the creation of Naper Settlement and public art. The residents did their part to support the nation through numerous wars and came together for a deadly train crash in 1946. 

The first comprehensive narrative about Naperville, since 1975, is a quick and interesting read. Street markers help resident readers picture the places mentioned and images and maps provide a look at what Naperville was like in the past. Statements from residents are incorporated throughout; these are either in the moment testimonies or reflections on what happened. Ogg sprinkles state, United States, and world history throughout for context to what was happening in Naperville. It will mostly appeal to past and current residents of Naperville. I found many names familiar, but learned what makes them significant in the history of Naperville. For example, the VFW is named after “Judd” Kendall. During World War I, he was tortured by the Germans for information regarding the First Division and Battle of Cantigny. Kendall refused to reveal anything and was eventually killed.

The Place

Naper Settlement is an outdoor history museum that brings Naperville’s past to life for visitors. Each building either highlights a significant moment in Naperville history or helps us understand what life was like years ago – from a replica of the fort built for the Black Hawk War to a one room school house to the Martin Mitchell Mansion. Caroline Martin Mitchell (granddaughter of a Naperville founder) bequeathed her land and mansion to Naperville and, in 1939, Naper Settlement opened. The historic buildings are open from April through October and closed for the winter. Guided walking tours are available and most buildings are staffed by a docent. Tickets can be purchased online or at Naper Settlement. Due to the coronavirus, face masks and social distancing are required. 

As a former resident of Naperville, I would be remiss not to encourage visitors to spend more time downtown Naperville. The Riverwalk provides a serene walk along the DuPage River, public artwork is sprinkled throughout downtown, and numerous restaurants and shops provide something for everyone. Just beyond the heart of downtown is the Naper Homestead (at the southeast corner of Jefferson Ave. and Mill St.); a park on the site of Joseph Naper’s home. It is a self-guided historic site with a nine-foot statue of Joseph Naper.

Today, residents and visitors to Naperville are greeted with a much different landscape than Joseph Naper and the other early settlers. But, if you look closely, you can still find remnants that hearken back to an early time. These remnants consist of carefully preserved buildings, statues bringing significant people to life, and many community spaces.