William Straube
Founder of Straube Piano in Downers Grove and developer of Straube’s Addition.
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Biography
These pages show biographical information about notable people from Downers Grove’s past.
Montrew Dunham
Montrew Dunham was a local historian and co-author of Downers Grove (1832-1982) and the author of Downers Grove Revisited. She was the first Historian of the Year in 2013. Montrew Dunham
Arthur Charles Ducat
Inspector General of the Union Army and early landowner on the west side of Downers Grove. Early Life Arthur Charles Ducat was born on February 24, 1830, into a well-off
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Pierce Downer
Pierce Downer was the founder and namesake of the Village of Downers Grove and Downers Grove Township. He was the first person chosen as Founder of the Year when the program
Charles Curtiss
Charles Curtiss served in the Illinois General Assembly and founded the Farmers and Merchant Bank. Charles was born in Royalton, Vermont on 3 November 1828. He came to Downers Grove
Samuel Curtiss
Samuel Curtiss donated the land for Main Street Cemetery, improved Maple Avenue, was active in the Underground Railroad, and was the first to subdivide his land. Samuel was born 1789,
James Henry Breasted
(1865-1935) Famous archeologist, Egyptologist, historian and founder of the Oriental Institute James Henry Breasted. He was born in Rockford in August of 1865. Breasted lived in Rockford until 1873 when
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Israel L Blackburn
Sergeant Israel L. Blackburn was born into slavery. After serving in the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry in the Civil War, he moved to Downers Grove. In Downers Grove, he owned
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Gustav H. Bunge
Gustav Bunge was the developer and original owner of the Tivoli Theatre and Hotel building.
Tim Bodden
On December 3, 1971, the Village of Downers Grove held Tim Bodden Day in honor of his service to his country in which he gave the ultimate sacrifice during the