Grace Bliss - One of the Founders of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County
Grace Bliss was the wife of Jedediah Harris Bliss, who was the son of Peleg Young Bliss. Sections of the article are transcribed below. NATURE FOR ALL: How the Women of Kane County Championed a Forest Preserve District Kane County Magazine January 2025 Bertha George and Grace Bliss were alarmed. Land along the Fox River was being snatched up for private development. Farms and forests were being bulldozed for industry and housing. Open spaces were shrinking. Where were kids going to find safe places to play? Would there be clean air left to breathe? How far would a family need to travel for a pleasant Sunday picnic? The year was 1922. Bertha George, of Geneva, and Grace Bliss, of Aurora, were two of many civically minded women in Kane County in the 1920s working to improve education, health care and the environment through dozens of women-led organizations. Among the most influential of these organizations were local women's clubs. Both Bertha George and Grace Bliss served in leadership roles of these organizations. In October 1922, the Geneva Republican reported on a meeting of the Kane County Federation of Women's Club that there was "an urgent plea for a forest preserve along the beautiful Fox River before the land is entirely taken over by campers for summer resorts..." Bertha George, president of the club at the time, appointed a committee of 11 women including herself and Grace Bliss to investigate the establishment of a forest preserve district for Kane County.
Volunteer Park and Baseball Field, July 6, 1990
Click on the first image to open a PDF with a compilation of photos.
Photos courtesy of: Fred Neiser, Insurance Broker PO Box 662, Sugar Grove, Illinois
Sugar Grove Veterans Park: Photo Compilation of Pavers
Veterans Parks & Forest Preserves Community Members
SUGAR GROVE VETERANS PARK Engraved Pavers Earl Dean Kirk, World War II Rick Johnson, US Army 1965-1968, 1 BN 68 Armor, Germany, Specialist 5 Wm. Lemke, World War II, Army Glen Adkins, World War II, Army Capt. David C. Johnson, US Air Force, Pilot A7-10, 1970-1978, Vietnam War Andy Watt, World War II, Navy US Navy: Patrick J. Woulfe, Keith J. Masur, Kyle J. Masur US Marine: Daniel P. Woulfe Lois Choate, Lt., US Navy, 1951-1955 Edwin Choate, HM1, US Navy, 1952-1956 Fred Mason In Memory of Russell W. Jorgensen Justus Bartlelt, USMC, 2nd Batt, KIA 7-16-2010 R.C. Bokhof, US Army, 1960-1963 Ryan E. Young, Captain, US Air Force LeRoy Lemke, World War II, Army Dorneden Brothers: Bernard Dorneden, ARNG, 1961-1967 James Dorneden, USAF, 1960-1980 Patrick Dorneden, USA, 1965-1967 Gregory Dorneden, USNR, 1965-1971 Stephen Dorneden, USA, 1969-1971 Joseph Dorneden, USMC, 1972-1974 Mark Dorneden, USN 1978-1982 We honor all those who have served our nation! Warren’s Backhoe & Bobcat and Family Thanks for you service. The Johnsons Thank you for serving. The Rawers Family Thomas F. Shevlin, US Army, Vietnam, 1965-1967 Hugh J. Shevlin, US Army, Died November 8, 1970 in Vietnam Richard Gene Wormdahl, US Army, 196th Lt., Infantry Brigade. Born March 30, 1945. Died December 21, 1966, Vietnam, Killed in Action Kevin Choate, US Air Force, SSGT, 1983-1988 AMM1C R.W. Adams, Navy, World War II Cdr. Michael Adams, Navy, 1970-1995 Maj. Gerald Adams, Army, 1969-1990 Dave Frantz, US Army, E.O.D. Specialist-E4, 1966-1968 George Waterloo, US Navy, USS Enterprise CV-6 Boyd Brown, US Army Kim Ekker, US Air Force, 437 SPS, 1984-1988 Jerry F. Johnson, US Army, Germany Willis B. McCannon, Maj., US Army, 1941-1952 Robert C. Saintey, US Army, World War II Veteran Matthew M. McCannon, US Marine Corps, LCPl USMC, 1985-1989 Chris Reimer, US Army, Countryside, Illinois John F. Hess, US Navy, RM1, 1942-1946 Installed by RLS Landscape and Nursery to honor all those who have served our Nation! In Honor of All Veterans, We salute you. Ekker Family For all those that served and don’t have Family, Thank you and God bless you. To our brave men and women of the U.S. Military who have served to defend our freedom, Thank You. The Barker Family Joseph Didier, PFC, US Army, ETO Infantry, World War II Theodore J. Lauzen, Captain, US Marine Corps Hans Lauzen, Ensign, US Navy Roy D. Lamb, US Army Robert J. Beetham, Sargent, 1968-1971 Tony Furman, US Navy, CV62 Tim James, US Air Force, 1968-2007 Nathan Hoard, Civil War Dennis Shanahan, 1st Lt., US Navy, World War II Sammy & Sissy Fisher Brian J. Renk, Corporal Medic, National Guard Clifford E. Shannon, US Army Milton F. Cooke, US Air Force Michael E. Geary, US Marine Corps Rovert Latala, US Marine Corps Debra Edwards, ET1, US Navy Ian Lagasa, EMI (SS) ,US Navy Steven J. Renk, 2nd Lieutenant, US Army Fred Smith, US Army Leigh A. Sauer, III Donald J. Baum, US Navy, USS Cotten Frank J. Rucci, US Navy, World War II Almer Gliddon Richard Nelson A.J. Wulff, Maj., US Army, 1942-1945 Wm. A. Wulff, YN3, US Navy, 1965-1969 VN (Vietnam) Robert Cerny, World War II Harry Furman, US Nave, Seabees Ralph W. Renk, 1st Lt., US Navy, World War II , Korea Sugar Grove American Legion (SGAL) Auxiliary Post #1271 We honor our Vets. May God protect our POWs. Click on image to open a PDF with a compilation of photos. Individual photos can be found by searching for "Sugar Grove Veterans Park".
Bliss Park in Kaneville, Illinois: Dancing Pavillion
Historic Postcards of Bliss Park in Kaneville, Illinois
Sugar Grove Veterans Park - Part 5: Planter Boxes Built by Philip Rawers, Eagle Scout
SUGAR GROVE VETERANS PARK Engraved Pavers Joseph Didier, PFC, US Army, ETO Infantry, World War II Theodore J. Lauzen, Captain, US Marine Corps Hans Lauzen, Ensign, US Navy Roy D. Lamb, US Army Robert J. Beetham, Sargent, 1968-1971 Tony Furman, US Navy, CV62 Tim James, US Air Force, 1968-2007 Nathan Hoard, Civil War Dennis Shanahan, 1st Lt., US Navy, World War II Sammy & Sissy Fisher Brian J. Renk, Corporal Medic, National Guard Clifford E. Shannon, US Army Milton F. Cooke, US Air Force Michael E. Geary, US Marine Corps Rovert Latala, US Marine Corps Debra Edwards, ET1, US Navy Ian Lagasa, EMI (SS) ,US Navy Steven J. Renk, 2nd Lieutenant, US Army Fred Smith, US Army Leigh A. Sauer, III Donald J. Baum, US Navy, USS Cotten Frank J. Rucci, US Navy, World War II Almer Gliddon Richard Nelson A.J. Wulff, Maj., US Army, 1942-1945 Wm. A. Wulff, YN3, US Navy, 1965-1969 VN (Vietnam) Robert Cerny, World War II Harry Furman, US Nave, Seabees Ralph W. Renk, 1st Lt., US Navy, World War II , Korea Sugar Grove American Legion (SGAL) Auxiliary Post #1271 We honor our Vets. May God protect our POWs.
Veterans - Sugar Grove Veterans Park - Part 3
SUGAR GROVE VETERANS PARK Engraved Pavers Thomas F. Shevlin, US Army, Vietnam, 1965-1967 Hugh J. Shevlin, US Army, Died November 8, 1970 in Vietnam Richard Gene Wormdahl, US Army, 196th Lt., Infantry Brigade. Born March 30, 1945. Died December 21, 1966, Vietnam, Killed in Action Kevin Choate, US Air Force, SSGT, 1983-1988 AMM1C R.W. Adams, Navy, World War II Cdr. Michael Adams, Navy, 1970-1995 Maj. Gerald Adams, Army, 1969-1990 Dave Frantz, US Army, E.O.D. Specialist-E4, 1966-1968 George Waterloo, US Navy, USS Enterprise CV-6 Boyd Brown, US Army Kim Ekker, US Air Force, 437 SPS, 1984-1988 Jerry F. Johnson, US Army, Germany Willis B. McCannon, Maj., US Army, 1941-1952 Robert C. Saintey, US Army, World War II Veteran Matthew M. McCannon, US Marine Corps, LCPl USMC, 1985-1989 Chris Reimer, US Army, Countryside, Illinois John F. Hess, US Navy, RM1, 1942-1946 Installed by RLS Landscape and Nursery to honor all those who have served our Nation! In Honor of All Veterans, We salute you. Ekker Family For all those that served and don’t have Family, Thank you and God bless you. To our brave men and women of the U.S. Military who have served to defend our freedom, Thank You. The Barker Family
SUGAR GROVE VETERANS PARK Engraved Pavers Earl Dean Kirk, World War II Rick Johnson, US Army 1965-1968, 1 BN 68 Armor, Germany, Specialist 5 Wm. Lemke, World War II, Army Glen Adkins, World War II, Army Capt. David C. Johnson, US Air Force, Pilot A7-10, 1970-1978, Vietnam War Andy Watt, World War II, Navy US Navy: Patrick J. Woulfe, Keith J. Masur, Kyle J. Masur US Marine: Daniel P. Woulfe Lois Choate, Lt., US Navy, 1951-1955 Edwin Choate, HM1, US Navy, 1952-1956 Fred Mason In Memory of Russell W. Jorgensen Justus Bartlelt, USMC, 2nd Batt, KIA 7-16-2010 R.C. Bokhof, US Army, 1960-1963 Ryan E. Young, Captain, US Air Force LeRoy Lemke, World War II, Army Dorneden Brothers: Bernard Dorneden, ARNG, 1961-1967 James Dorneden, USAF, 1960-1980 Patrick Dorneden, USA, 1965-1967 Gregory Dorneden, USNR, 1965-1971 Stephen Dorneden, USA, 1969-1971 Joseph Dorneden, USMC, 1972-1974 Mark Dorneden, USN 1978-1982 We honor all those who have served our nation! Warren’s Backhoe & Bobcat and Family Thanks for you service. The Johnsons Thank you for serving. The Rawers Family
Sugar Grove Historical Society, Veterans, Parks & Forest Preserves
Planter Boxes Built by Philip Rawers, Eagle Scout 2015
Wigwam Mound, Bliss Woods: Site of First Settlers of Sugar Grove
From "Sugar Grove, Illinois 1834 - 1984" by Ruth Frantz and Frank Damon: "Spring of 1834 - Black Swamp, Ohio, six men happened to make camp together: Asa McDole from Chemung County, New York; brothers James and Isaac Isbell; nephew Parmeno Isbell; James Carmen; and Mr. Bishop, all from Medina, Ohio. Friendships were formed around the campfire when they discovered they all had the same destination. May 10, 1834 they left Oswego on the Fox River - then just two cabins. With two carts, tow yoke of cattle, four cows, a couple of axes and each man his 'flint lock, they followed Blackberry Creek north. An abandoned Indian sugar camp by the Mounds and creek enticed them to stay in what is now the Bliss Woods area of Sugar Grove. Taking shelter in a brush wigwam, they set about building the first log cabin. "
July 4, 1834 Historic Marker, Bliss Woods
Standing west of the entrance to Bliss Woods Forest Preserve.
JULY 4, 1834 First celebration in Kane County was by residents of Sugar Grove township under an elm tree located on this site. Attending were brothers James, Isaacc, and Lyman Isbell, nephew Parmeno Isbell and James Carman brother-in-law of Lyman. This marker provided by Sugar Grove Historical Society and Kane County Forest Preserve Commission. From "Sugar Grove, Illinois 1834 - 1984" by Ruth Frantz and Frank Damon: "Spring of 1834 - Black Swamp, Ohio, six men happened to make camp together: Asa McDole from Chemung County, New York; brothers James and Isaac Isbell; nephew Parmeno Isbell; James Carmen; and Mr. Bishop, all from Medina, Ohio. Friendships were formed around the campfire when they discovered they all had the same destination. ... The Fourth of July 1834 was a time of real patriotism. James Isbell had gone to Oswego and gotten a bottle of whisky. All drank to 'Hail Columbia' and had a merry time. This was the first Honored National Birthday ever observed in Kane County."
Sauer Mound Forest Park, Harter Rd. South of Lasher Rd., from Lasher Rd.
Kenneth, Veryle, & Pat McGill, Sugar Grove old Swimming Hole, 1950
Kenneth McGill, Swimming Hole, Sugar Grove, 1950
Me & Bro. Bud, Old Swimming Hole, Sugar Grove Forest Preserve, 1950
Kenneth McGill, Sugar Grove Swimming Hole
From Hollmier's back yard, looking North into Bliss Woods Forest Preserve. The garden area is Jack & Kay Morleys. Also the old railroad track goes through there, which now is the Sugar Grove Bible Church driveway onto Bliss Rd.