Belden Avenue is a short, one-block street, starting just south of the tracks, running from Curtiss Street to Maple Avenue—but its name connects to one of Downers Grove’s earliest and most important settlers: Nathan Alonzo Belden, who has been named the Historical Society’s 2026 Founder of the Year.
Born in New York in 1819, Belden learned the blacksmith trade from his father. In 1844, he and his wife, Fannie, set out for Illinois. On their way to Cherry Valley, they stopped in Downers Grove, where Nathan happened to meet founder Pierce Downer and was asked to repair a horseshoe. Realizing the growing settlement needed a blacksmith, Belden decided to stay.
Belden built a home on Maple Avenue and quickly became an active member of the young community. In the 1850s, he helped neighbors construct a Methodist church building, donating time and materials. Each Sunday he helped heat the church’s wood stoves and even brought his melodeon to provide music for services.
Nathan Belden died in 1864 at just 44 years old and is buried in Main Street Cemetery. Yet his influence on Downers Grove did not end there. His descendants continued to shape the community for generations—from local leadership to state government, education, and national service.
All of it began with a chance stop to shoe Pierce Downer’s horse.
Belden Avenue may be short, but the story behind its name is anything but.
Nathan Alonzo Belden will be honored as the Historical Society’s 2026 Founder of the Year at a ceremony at Main Street Cemetery on Saturday, May 2, at 11:30 a.m.