Biographies
Many people from Downers Grove have made their mark on the village or society at large since Pierce Downer arrived in the area in 1832. Here are just a few:
- Bodden, Tim (1942-1967) - USMC Master Sargent killed in combat during the Vietnam War
- Bunge, Gustav H (1865-1941) - developer and original owner of the Tivoli Theater and Hotel
- Blodgett, Israel Porter (1797-1961) - early DuPage and Downers Grove Pioneer who died in service of the Union forces in the Civil War
- Blackburn, Isrel (1818-1902) - Former slave and freedman who was a signatory to the village incorporation
- Breasted, James Henry (1865-1935) - famous archeologist, Egyptologist and founder of the Oriental Institute
- Carpenter, Henry (1810-1891) - early pioneer who moved here in owner of the first general store in the area
- Curtiss, Samuel (1789-1867) - early pioneer who provide the land to start the Main Street Cemetery
- Curtiss, Charles (1828-1897) - son of Samuel who served in the Illinois General Assembly and founder of Farmers and Merchant Bank
- Downer, Pierce (1781-1863) - founder and namesake of Downers Grove
- Ducat, Arthur C (1830-1896)- Inspector General of the Union Army and early landowner on the west side of Downers Grove
- Dunham, Montrew (1919-2017) local historian and author of Downers Grove Revisited
- Foster, Alexander (1815-1903) - Civil War veteran and carpenter who helped build The Methodist Church
- O'Neil, Lottie Holman (1878-1867) - first woman elected to the Illinois legislature
- Straube, William (1857-1928)- founder of Straube Piano in Downers Grove and developer of Straube's Addition.
- Wandschneider, Carol (1944-2020)- local historian and former board member of the Downers Grove Historical Society
- Wandschneider, Pauline (1904-1993) - historian, and founder of the Downers Grove Historical Society
- Wells, John "Daddy" (1848-1932) - after death of young daughter organized the building of a cabin to be used by the Girl Scouts in Maple Grove Forest Preserve
- Wheeler, Alan (1841-1921) - Civil War veteran and early landowner
