River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
River Forest Village Presidents
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 8, 2024
1. River Forest Village Presidents Marker
Timothy Kirk, 1880-1881 Herman H. Scharenberg, 1882-1887 Felix J. Griffen, 1888 George L. Thatcher, 1889 Jacob A. Cost, 1890-1893 Robert S. Odell, 1894 Thomas M. Jackson, 1895-1899 Henry Struble, 1900-1906, 1923-1924 Frank B. Klock, 1907-1908 Paul Armstrong, 1909-1910 John E. Adams, 1911-1914 John T. Muir, 1915-1916 Charles F. Durland, 1917-1918 Robin L. White 1919-1922 Charles F. Molthrop, 1925-1926 Frank H. Shaw, 1927-1930 Charles F. Baumrucker, 1931-1934 John L. Brink, 1934-1944 John T. Barlow, 1945-1948 Walter H. Gabel, 1949-1952 Irwin P. Rieger, 1953-1960 E. Byron Davis, 1961-1965 Andrew J. Kennedy, 1966-1969 E. Edward Schmidtke, 1970-1973 Daniel J. O'Leary, 1973-1977 Bruce D. Clausonthue, 1977-1981 Thomas Cusack, Jr., 1981-1989 Robert B. Jones, 1989-1993 Frank Paris 1993-
Erected 2001 by M.E. Harkins, Boy Scout Troop 65.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 41° 53.255′ N, 87° 49.186′ W.
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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 Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: River Forest Police Chiefs (a few steps from this marker); River Forest Fire Chiefs (a few steps from this marker); Frances E. Willard (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); William H. Hatch House (approx. Ό mile away); River Forest 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); River Forest Memorial to the Great Wars (approx. 0.3 miles away); The River Forest Tennis Club
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 8, 2024
2. River Forest Village Presidents Marker
Near the doors to the village hall (and obscured in this photo by the prairie grass) are two additional plaques listing all of the police chiefs and fire chiefs, respectively, in River Forest's history.
More about this marker. Two other markers next to the building itself and a short walk from this one list all of River Forest's police chiefs and fire chiefs, respectively, and were also erected by Troop 65 Eagle Scouts.
Regarding River Forest Village Presidents. The first white settlers into the area that would become River Forest arrived in the 1830s, and it later became a part of the village of Harlem, which included what is today the neighboring village of Forest Park. River Forest was incorporated in 1880 when residents, inspired by the temperance movement and concerned about Harlem's numerous saloons, voted to split off from Harlem form their own village. The vote's legality was challenged but ultimately upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Timothy Kirk, the first village president, died in office. The last name on the list, Frank M. Paris (known as Marty), ended up serving as village president until 2009, the longest tenure of any River Forest leader. His successor, John Rigas, served from 2009 until 2013. That year, he was succeeded by Cathy Adducci, the village's first woman president, who as of 2024 is in the middle of her third term.
Also see . . .
1. A Brief History of River Forest. From the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. River Forest: A Suburb of Chicago (1937). Preserved on the Village of River Forest website, a history of the village published in 1937, roughly 100 years after its first permanent white settlers arrived. (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 8, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
