Elgin in Kane County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Welcome to Newsome Park
Corner of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue in Elgin, Illinois
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026
1. Welcome to Newsome Park Marker
The park was dedicated in 1992 to African American leaders Arthur Newsome and Peter Newsome. Although unrelated, both men drew their names from the Ed Newsome Plantation, where they were former slaves. Newsome Park was home for nearly 100 years to the Second Baptist Church. Arthur Newsome, Peter Newsome and John Ford served as the original trustees and signed its charter in 1866.
Fleeing slavery in the South, over 100 "contrabands," mostly women and children, arrived in Elgin by boxcar in 1862. With the help of the Rev. Benjamin Thomas of the First Baptist Church, these refugees found homes and jobs. The community grew to an estimated 245 families by 1880. Others also moved into the area, creating a tight-knit neighborhood comprised of hardworking people. By 1960, there were nearly 1,600 African Americans in Elgin.
"Uncle Arthur" Newsome 1826-1913
Considered by many as the leader of Elgin's
this page online
In 1862, Newsome, along with hundreds of refugees, fled to the Union lines. He stayed with the army and was a teamster for the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment until after the Civil War. While in Elgin, he was reunited with his wife Minerva Rutland Newsome (1830-1919). Minerva was a member of the original "contraband" and of the Second Baptist Church.
Short with strong hands, Uncle Arthur helped build many small homes in the neighborhood, including his own. He once told a group of children, "If there's a dollar floating around this country. I get a cent of it, and so may everybody here, but they've got to 'wrestle' for it."
[Caption beneath the map:]
The Newsome plantation was located in Cherokee.
Peter Newsome 1826-1907
A Civil War veteran serving with the 42nd regiment United States Colored Infantry, Peter was an express wagon driver in Elgin and member of the Second Baptist Church. Peter and his wife, Sarah Tilden, had 13 children. He died at his
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026
2. Markers in Newsome Park
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 42° 2.518′ N, 88° 16.782′ W. Marker is in Elgin, Illinois, in Kane County. It is at the intersection of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Kimball Street. The marker is one of several in Newsome Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 Kimball Street, Elgin IL 60120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in 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: Fremont Recreation Center / Second Baptist Church (here, next to this marker); La Verne Newsome (here, next to this marker); Sherman Hunter (here, next to this marker); Phyllis Jones Tilley (here, next to this marker); Mary Newsome Wheeler (here, next to this marker); Masjid Al-Wājidi (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); Pioneer Log Cabin of the 1830s (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elgin.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 33 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
