Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Bailey Hobson’s House
Circa 1835
Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 21, 2023
1. Bailey Hobson’s House Marker
Home of the first settler of DuPage County. A flowing spring attracted Bailey Hobson to come from Indiana to build a cabin in 1830 and a home in 1835. Hobson was a farmer, miller and soldier in the Black Hawk War.
The mill site, now commemorated in Pioneer Park, was powered by water from the nearby DuPage River.
Erected 1929 by Naperville Heritage Society; DuPage County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Black Hawk War series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 41° 45.078′ N, 88° 7.668′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Hobson Road (County Route 2) 0.2 miles east of South Washington Street, on the right when traveling west. The stone is next to a small wayside that leads to the driveway to a private home. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25W780 Hobson Road, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shanower Family Field (approx. 1.4 miles away); Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 1½ miles away); Bill Shatzer
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Payne (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Regarding Bailey Hobson’s House. Bailey Hobson was born in Tennessee and came to Illinois in 1830. After serving in the 1832 Black Hawk War, he eventually acquired land on either side of the DuPage River. His grist mill, the first in Northern Illinois, was established in 1834, across the river from this historical marker. The marker is located where he built his two-story home for his family, including his wife, Clarissa, and 12 children. He died in 1850. Pioneer Park, referenced on the plaque, is across the river, about a quarter-mile west. It was acquired by the Naperville Park District in 1929; it has been managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 21, 2023
2. Bailey Hobson’s House Marker
Also see . . . An interview with Mrs. Bailey Hobson. A reprint of an 1883 interview by the Inter-Ocean with Bailey Hobson's wife, Clarissa Hobson, who describes life in Naperville's early days, including a story about her family's visit to Chicago and Fort Dearborn in 1832. Mrs. Hobson died in 1884 and is buried next to her husband at Naperville Cemetery.
Excerpt: "Mrs. Hobson still lives to tell the story of her early trials, which were such as few would now believe possible for a woman to pass through and a better historian for what came within her experience could not be found. Her little white cottage near the river bank in Naperville surrounded by flowers, is not more cheerful than the little white haired lady whose home it is."(Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Library of Congress, circa 1936
3. Historic photo of Hobson’s house
via David McCarthy, unknown
4. Bailey Hobson
The Hobson Collection
Naperville Heritage Society
Library/Archives Collections
Click for more information.
Naperville Heritage Society
Library/Archives Collections
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2,937 times since then and 268 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on November 7, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
