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

Downer Family Well

Circa 1832

— A Downers Grove Historic Site —

Downer Family Well Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

1. Downer Family Well Marker

Inscription. Pierce Downer, who arrived in 1832, was the village's first settler. This well, across from the Downer home, is one of two shallow wells he dug on his property. One well was for people, and one well was for livestock. Because of its proximity to the house this well probably supplied the Downer family with water for cooking, drinking and bathing.

Erected 2004 by Downers Grove Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.

Location. 41° 48.322′ N, 88° 1.307′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Seeley Avenue north of Grant Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in front of the well, near the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4448 Seeley Avenue, 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

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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: Bicentennial Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pierce Downer (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Downer Burial Place (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pierce and Lucy Downer Burial Ground (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Brick Street Area (approx. 0.6 miles away); Downers Grove Historic Brick Streets (approx. 0.6 miles away); Prince Pond (approx. 0.6 miles away); Alexander Bradley Burns Post No. 80 War Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Also see . . . Pierce Downer's Well. From the Downers Grove Historical Society. (Submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Downer Family Well image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

2. Downer Family Well

Downer Family Well site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

3. Downer Family Well site

The Downer home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

4. The Downer home

The Downer family home is across the street and a little bit north of the well.

Pierce Downer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

5. Pierce Downer

This photo of Downer is on a historical marker near Downer's gravesite, about a quarter-mile away.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.