Mount Prospect in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William Busse
January 27, 1864 — July 16, 1955
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 27, 2026
1. William Busse Marker
Busse's natural leadership qualities quickly surfaced. He and his new neighbors — John Moehling, William Wille and John Meyn — worked together tirelessly to put their little community on the map. For instance, they joined forces to have a public school, Central School, built for the local children.
In the 1900s Busse was elected a Cook County Commissioner. He used his political connections and business sense to bring development to the community. He was responsible for the laying of Northwest Highway and he convinced businesses like Schillo Bros. Pickle Factory, Crowfoot Manufacturing and the Utility Battery Company to move to town. He encouraged
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Busse and his neighbors established the Mount Prospect Improvement Association in 1911, determined to improve their community and attract new residents so they could eventually incorporate. They brought side walks, kerosene street lamps and scraped and oiled streets, and laid the groundwork for incorporation once the population reached the required 300 residents. Six years later, when Mount Prospect became large enough, Busse led the charge for an incorporation vote and was elected Mount Prospect's first mayor, a position he held until 1929. He concurrently served as Cook County Commissioner for over 50 years.
Busse was the father of seven children: William Jr., Martha, Mathilde, Albert and Sophie with his first wife Sophia and Helen and Fredrick with his second wife Dina. Busse died on July 16, 1955 at the age of 91. He will be remembered for his 65 years of public service
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 27, 2026
2. William Busse Marker at Mount Prospect Village Hall
[Caption in the bottom left corner:]
William Busse largely influenced the commercial development of the downtown by establishing Busse-Biermann Hardware and Busse Buick. He established Mount Prospect State Bank in 1911, one of the few banks that survived the Great Depression without major setbacks. Following W.W.II, Mount Prospect went into its largest building boom ever and the State bank was here to finance it. The Busse buildings established the Tudor architecture that came to symbolize downtown Mount Prospect for many years.
Erected 2017 by Village of Mount Prospect.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 42° 3.893′ N, 87° 56.132′ W. Marker is in Mount Prospect, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Emerson Street and Busse Street, on the right when traveling south on Emerson Street. The marker is in front of the Mount Prospect Village Hall.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 27, 2026
3. Five markers in front of Mount Prospect Village Hall
The markers were erected in 2017 in honor of Mount Prospect's 100th anniversary as a village.
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 Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John Meyn (here, next to this marker); Centennial Green (a few steps from this marker); William Wille (a few steps from this marker); John Conrad Moehling (a few steps from this marker); Central School (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bicentennial (about 500 feet away); Klehm's Island (approx. 0.4 miles away); Saint Pius X (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Prospect.
More about this marker. The marker is one of five erected in front of the Mount
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 27, 2026
4. Close-up of the photo of William Busse (1864-1955)
Regarding William Busse. William Busse is the namesake of Busse Woods, a large Cook County Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village, about five miles by car southwest of this spot. An east-west Busse Avenue also is just yards away from this marker.
Also see . . . William Busse. An article by the Mount Prospect Historical Society about William Busse, the first mayor this village about 20 miles northwest of Chicago.
Excerpt: "William Busse was probably the most influential person in Mount Prospect’s development. He was responsible for the construction of the Central School, Mount Prospect’s first public school; the founding of the Mount Prospect State Bank, Busse Buick, Busse Biermann Hardware, and the laying of Northwest Highway, the road that put Mount Prospect on the map. William Busse was the first Mayor of Mount Prospect; he was also a Cook County Commissioner and he used his political connections and his business(Submitted on October 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)sense to bring a lot of development into Mount Prospect. He was the founder and president of the Mount Prospect State Bank, which was the bank that made most of the loans to the home buyers who built Mount Prospect."Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum (DN-0005157), circa 19075. William BusseThis photo of Busse was taken early in his career as a Cook County commissioner.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
