When Nathan Belden, a blacksmith and farrier from New York, and his wife Fannie headed west in 1844 to reunite with friends and settle in Cherry Valley, Illinois, he never anticipated running into Pierce Downer during a brief stop along the way. Nathan’s future was in Cherry Valley, or so he thought. But Pierce’s horse needed a new shoe, and suddenly Nathan’s future was recast. Nathan Alonzo Belden stayed in Downers Grove, bringing his much-needed blacksmith skills with him, and building a life and legacy that changed the course of Downers Grove’s history.
Having a blacksmith in town made it far easier for farmers to keep their equipment and horses working… for farming, transporting goods, and building cabins. By the 1850’s, Belden, along with neighbors, was donating time and supplies to construct a building for the Methodist Church Congregation that had been growing since the 1830s in Downers Grove. Belden brought his melodeon each Sunday to provide music.
Nathan Alonzo Belden will be honored during FoundersFest2026 on May 2nd at 11:30am at a graveside service in the Main Street Cemetery. For more details about life, his contributions to our community, and the legacy he left through the contributions of his children and grandchildren, visit www.dghistory.org