Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Where Is Pierce Downer Buried?

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

1. Where Is Pierce Downer Buried? Marker

Inscription. Pierce Downer, the founder of Downers Grove, is not buried in the Main Street Cemetery. He and his wife Lucy Ann (Wilson) are buried in the family plot located on the original Downer homestead. The Downers did own a plot in the Main Street Cemetery. However, when they died, one day apart in March of 1863, St. Joseph Creek, which runs through downtown Downers Grove, was flooded thus preventing their burial here. The site where Pierce Downer camped the first night he spent on his claim in 1832 was selected for his final resting place. In 1974 Earl Downer, the great-grandson and last Downer family member to be buried in the family plot, gave the land to the Downers Grove Park District, which maintains the site. A sign can be seen from the street in front of 4524 Linscott, marking the entrance to the site. Access by the public is permitted.

Erected 2013 by Downers Grove Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1863.

Location. 41° 47.574′ N, 88° 0.621′ W.

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Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Main Street north of Grove Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is near the east stairway into Main Street Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5158 Main Street, Downers Grove IL 60515, 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 walking distance of this marker: Main Street Cemetery (here, next to this marker); John S. Cotes (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Curtiss (a few steps from this marker); The Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Samuel T. Richards (within shouting distance of this marker); Downers Grove Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

2. Where Is Pierce Downer Buried? Marker

The marker is on the left.

named Main Street Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Penner Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

More about this marker. This marker is left of the stairway into Main Street Cemetery; another marker about the history of Main Street Cemetery is on the right.

Regarding Where Is Pierce Downer Buried?. The Downer family gravesite is about a mile north of this cemetery.

Also see . . . Downers Grove Historical Society: Pierce Downer. (Submitted on April 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Pierce Downer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

3. Pierce Downer

A photo of Downer shown on a historical marker located at his burial site

Pierce Downer's Burial Place image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

4. Pierce Downer's Burial Place

The Downer family burial ground is about a mile north of the Main Street Cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on May 2, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.