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

DuPage County Pioneer Park

1829 — 1929

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 5, 2026

1. DuPage County Pioneer Park Marker

Inscription. Dedicated with grateful reverence to the men and women of Du Page County
This tract is part of the original grant to the first white settler, Bailey Hobson.

These millstones are from the Hobson Mill built on this site in 1834, one of the first in this part of the state.

The Forest Preserve Commission of Du Page County made possible this park.

Dedicated July 4th, 1929

Erected 1929 by local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 41° 45.111′ N, 88° 7.932′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Washington Street 0.3 miles north of Hobson Road (County Route 2), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

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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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bailey Hobson’s House (approx. ¼ mile away); Pioneer Park: Wetland Restoration (approx. ¼ mile away); Pioneer Park: Prairie Restoration (approx. ¼ mile away); Pioneer Park: Oak Woodland Restoration (approx. 0.3 miles away); Restoring the Riverbank at Lincoln Greenway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Snibley Stenger Oleson Farm (approx. 1.1 miles away); Shanower Family Field (approx. 1.2 miles away); Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

More about this marker. The top of the plaque has a logo for the DAR; the bottom includes an image a 19th century pioneer wagon. Below the inscription is a list of the dozen DuPage County chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 5, 2026

2. DuPage County Pioneer Park Marker

that contributed to this plaque: two called Downers Grove, Anan Harmon, Glen Ellyn, Perrin-Wheaton, Wheaton, Fort Payne, Naperville, Martha Ebbetson, Elmhurst, Capt. Hubbard Burrows and Hinsdale. (According to the Illinois DAR official website, five of these chapters still operate today: Downers Grove, Martha Ibbetson, Anan Harmon, Fort Payne and Perrin-Wheaton.)

When visited during the summer amid peak foliage, this nearly 100-year-old memorial was easily spotted on the east side of Washington Street north of DuPage County Route 2 (Hobson Road), thanks in part to two columns not far from curb that serve as something of a gate.

However, the memorial is not exactly easy to reach in person. Hikers and bikers along the West Branch DuPage River Trail can see it from the rear and reach it via an unpaved path through some brush; it’s about a quarter-mile south of the nearest parking lot. The memorial is also accessible from the front on Washington Street, but only by parking in the neighborhood across the street (Clyde Drive is the nearby cross street) and contending with traffic without a crosswalk to reach the memorial's gate.

Regarding DuPage County Pioneer Park. Bailey

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 5, 2026

3. DuPage County Pioneer Park Marker

Hobson was born in Tennessee and came to Illinois around 1830. After serving in the 1832 Black Hawk War, he eventually acquired land on either side of the DuPage River. Most sources credit Hobson with being the first white settler in DuPage County. The site of Hobson's home, just across the river a quarter-mile from here, is memorialized by a historical marker; there he built a two-story house for his family, including his wife, Clarissa, and 12 children. He died in 1850 and is buried at Naperville Cemetery, which is about 1½ miles north of this mill.

Pioneer Park was acquired by the Naperville Park District in 1929; it has been managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County since 2016.

Also see . . . Naperville Parks - The Pioneers. From the Kate's Brief History blog. (Submitted on July 8, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Hobson Mill Stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 5, 2026

4. Hobson Mill Stone

A view of the gate to the site of Hobson's Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 5, 2026

5. A view of the gate to the site of Hobson's Mill

Bailey Hobson image. Click for full size.

The Hobson Collection, Naperville Heritage Society, via David McCarthy, unknown

6. Bailey Hobson

The Hobson Collection
Naperville Heritage Society
Library/Archives Collections

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 6. submitted on November 7, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.