Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Marcellus E. Jones Gravesite
Photographed By Sean Flynn
1. Marcellus E. Jones Gravesite Marker
June 5, 1830 -- Oct. 9, 1900
Capt. 8th Illinois Cavalry, 1861-1865
Fired first shot
Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863
Erected by
The Civil War Roundtable of Chicago, Apr. 11, 1976
Erected 1976 by The Civil War Roundtable of Chicago.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 11, 1976.
Location. 41° 51.074′ N, 88° 6.762′ W. Marker is in Wheaton, Illinois, in DuPage County. Memorial can be reached from Warrenville Road north of Merrill Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1209 Warrenville Road, Wheaton IL 60189, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Warren L. Wheaton Home Site (approx. 0.8 miles away); Site of the World's First Radio Telescope (approx. 1.1 miles away); Cantigny First Division Museum (approx. 2.2 miles away); Glen Ellyn Main Street Historic District (approx. 3.1 miles away); Stacy’s Tavern (approx. 3.6 miles away); Votes For Women (approx. 5.3 miles away); Fort Payne (approx. 5.8 miles away); Site of the First Frame House in DuPage County (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheaton.
this page online
More about this marker. The marker is near the first north-south roadway in Wheaton Cemetery.
Regarding Marcellus E. Jones Gravesite. Marcellus E. Jones was a member of the 8th Illinois Cavalry regiment during the Civil War and is credited with firing the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863.
Born in Vermont in 1830, Jones moved to Danby (now Glen Ellyn, immediately east of Wheaton) in DuPage County, Illinois, in 1858. In August 1861, Jones enlisted in E Company of the 8th Illinois Cavalry regiment, for whom he would fight until the close of the war.
Jones settled in Wheaton after the war and was active in local politics, including stints as DuPage County sheriff and Wheaton postmaster. His home, which originally stood at 504 Naperville Road, was moved a few blocks away in 1977 and still stands as law firm offices at 221 East Illinois.
Photographed By Sean Flynn
2. Marcellus E. Jones Gravesite
3. Marcellus E. Jones
A photo from later in Jones' life. He was an active political figure in Wheaton, including serving as the city's postmaster.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, May 6, 2021
4. First Shot Marker at Gettysburg
Marcellus Jones is credited with firing the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg on Chambersburg Pike outside of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863. After a column of Confederate troops was spotted around 6:45 a.m. that morning, Lt. Jones borrowed a carbine from Sgt. Levi Shafer and fired at an officer on a white horse, missing the officer but opening what would become the largest battle ever fought on the Western Hemisphere. In 1886, Jones, Shafer and Alex Riddler, also a veteran of the 8th, erected the First Shot Marker, made of DuPage County limestone (from Naperville), near the location of Jones' first shot.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 20, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
