Town Square Wheaton, Photo Courtesy of DuPage CVB.
Wheaton arrived and between the two of them, they laid claim to 940 acres of prime land. They were followed by other settlers from New England who joined them in the community. One of the smartest things the trio did was to give the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad three miles of right of way. Railroad officials named the depot Wheaton. I’m sure that thrilled the brothers. The railroad and beautiful depot in downtown Wheaton is still an important facility because the city is a bedroom community for many who work in the Chicago area. The community was incorporated as a village in 1859with Warren serving as its first president. It was incorporated as a city in 1890, when the first mayor of the city was selected—Judge Elbert Gary, who was a key founder of U.S. Steel in 1901. But enough about history. As much fun as it is to delve into that aspect, you’ll want to know why you should come to Wheaton today. Of course, you can’t ignore the fact that Wheaton is only 29 miles from Chicago. Use Wheaton as a home base and discover all there is to do in Chicago, including the Skydeck at Willis Tower, the Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum. But you don’t have to even leave the area. The Wheatons and the Garys weren’t the only folks
The Morton Arboretum, Photo Courtesy of DuPage CVB and The Morton Arboretum.
WONDERFUL WHEATON By Dee Litten Whited
I’ve always been fascinated by how different regions were explored and then settled. I’ve lived in places where I wondered, “What were they thinking?” But when I visited Wheaton, Illinois, I could clearly imagine what “they” were thinking. It was in 1831 when Charles Wesley Gary came from Connecticut to the area now known as Wheaton. He must have liked what he saw because he made several trips to and from Pomfret, Connecticut, before moving his family, including his mother, to Wheaton. I think I know what his wife was thinking when he announced they were moving. “We’re doing what? We’re moving five states away where there’s no town?” She must have finally agreed or went begrudgingly, because Gary laid claim to 790 acres (or 320 half hectares, if you prefer). Gary must have been very persuasive because it wasn’t long before his friends Warren L. Wheaton and Jesse
WONDERFUL WHEATON
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2021
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