Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Samuel T. Richards
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025
1. Samuel T. Richards Marker
Born in New York 1842
Pvt Comp D, 105th Ill Vol Inf
Civil War
Died at South Tunnel, Tenn.
January 28, 1862
Age 20 years
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is January 28, 1863.
Location. 41° 47.573′ N, 88° 0.645′ W. Memorial 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 in front of Richards'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: The Underground Railroad
this page online
More about this memorial. The plaque, which is believed to have been erected in the early 2010s, lists the incorrect year of his death. Pvt. Richards died on January 28, 1863.
Regarding Samuel T. Richards. Samuel Richards, the oldest son of Austin and Evangeline Richards, enlisted in the 105th in 1862, not long after Abraham Lincoln's July 1862 proclamation asking for 300,000 volunteers to join the military effort. According to the State of Illinois's official regimental history of the 105th, the unit saw only minimal action in its first year, being sent first to Kentucky in the fall of 1862 and later
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025
2. Samuel T. Richards gravesite
The 105th would go on to have a more active role in the final two years of the war, including participating in the capture of Atlanta and Sherman's "March to the Sea" in 1864.
Also see . . . Downers Grove Historical Society: Samuel T. Richards.
Excerpt: "The Austin Richards family is remembered with the graves of 3 other family members on Main Street Cemetery. Coming to Downers Grove in 1855, Austin and Angeline were from New York. Of their 5 children only 3 were living when they arrived. The Richards bought a farm on the north side of the village. Austin being a trustee of the Main Street Cemetery had his son brought back to be buried here. The loss of their son in the Civil War may have been too much for Angeline as she died 1864. After her death Austin sold the farm and moved to a home on Maple and remarried. He was interested in village affairs and signed the Incorporation Papers of 1873. Austin and his second wife Elizabeth Cole had 3 children. In 1885 their daughter Irene died of typhoid fever. She was only 16 and her death was very sudden. She was buried next to her brother Samuel who died in the Civil War, a brother she never knew. Austin died in 1903 and is buried with his family."(Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
