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

John S. Cotes

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

1. John S. Cotes Marker

Inscription. Son of John P. and Mary C. Cotes
Born 1836
Pvt Comp B, 105th Ill Vol Inf
Civil War
Died at Murphysboro, Tenn.
July 25, 1863
Age 26 yrs

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 25, 1863.

Location. 41° 47.572′ N, 88° 0.628′ W. Memorial is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It can be reached from Main Street north of Grove Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in front of Cotes's gravestone at Main Street Cemetery. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Downers Grove IL 60515, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial 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: Samuel Curtiss (here, next

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to this marker); Where Is Pierce Downer Buried? (a few steps from this marker); Main Street Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); The Underground Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Samuel T. Richards (a few steps from this marker); Downers Grove Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also 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 memorial. The place where John Cotes died is typically spelled Murfreesboro.

Regarding John S. Cotes. John Cotes was born in New York State and moved to Downers Grove, Illinois, with his family sometime between 1850 and 1857. Cotes enlisted in the 105th Illinois after Abraham Lincoln's July 1862 proclamation, which called for 300,000 volunteers to serve in the Union Army for three years; Cotes's company was one of four in the 105th Illinois whose members were primarily from DuPage County.

According to the State of Illinois's official regimental history of the 105th, the unit saw

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

2. John S. Cotes Marker

only minimal action in its first year, being sent first to Kentucky in the fall of 1862 and later to a variety of sites in Tennessee. According to this history, the 105th was only in Murfreesboro during July 1863. According to his military file, it was there that Cotes died of "chronic diarrhea" on July 25, 1863.

Cotes is buried in Downers Grove next to his mother, Mary, who died in Downers Grove in 1857, and his father, who died in Iowa in 1881. Meanwhile, the 105th would go on to have a more active role near the end of the war, including participating in the capture of Atlanta and Sherman's "March to the Sea" in 1864.

Also see . . . Find a Grave: John S. Cotes. (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Main Street Cemetery entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

3. Main Street Cemetery entrance

Cotes's obelisk gravestone is visible behind the fence to the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.