ERNEST VON OVEN FAMILY

Upon his arrival in the Naperville area in 1857, Ernst von Oven was for a time engaged in the tile and brick business with George Martin. Later his business enterprise led to the operation of stone quarrying in association with B.B. Boecker. In 1866 he established “The Naperville Nurseries” which over the years became nationally renowned.

He was married to Emma Reiffenrath in 1886. The couple had five children: Helene (1867-1931); Johanna (1868-1909); Emma (1870-1960); Hedwig (1872-1874); and Friedrich (1876-1929).

After Ernest’s death in January, 1906, the business continued under the operation of son Fred, a University of Illinois graduate in civil engineering and one-time captain of the University football team, assisted by Helene and Emma, his sisters.

The von Oven property continued in the family name until Emma’s death in 1960. At present (1983), the family home has become the rectory of St. John Episcopal Church which was built on the so-called “point” or juncture of Aurora and Oswego Roads, remembered by some long-time Naperville residents as having been a a beautiful peony garden.

At the time of Naperville’s Centennial in 1931, the permanent Memorial Committee negotiated with the von Oven estate in acquiring title to the large and small quarries for a memorial park area. Another section (along West Street) was designated as “von Oven Scout Reservation.”

A brief note on Adelbert von Oven (1842-1929) who served in the 105th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry in the Civil War. After his discharge, he returned to the Naperville area and married Ann Heynen (related to E.W. Heynen, a Lisle township farmer). The couple moved to Miles, Iowa where he was a U.S. Postmaster.

Six sons were born to the couple: Oscar, Walter, Robert, Hugo, Edmund, and Adelbert. Four survived to adulthood, married and resided in the following cities: Oscar—a merchant in Los Angeles; Hugo—a banker in Beloit, Wisconsin; Edmund—an engineer in Savanna, Illinois; and Adelbert—a dentist in Spokane, Washington. A grandson, Bruce (Edmund’s son) and granddaughters live in various parts of the country.

In his final years, Adelbert von Oven spent a considerable amount of time in Naperville being identified with other G.A.R. veterans. He died in Beloit, Wisconsin and was buried in Miles, Iowa.