West Chicago

Helen Hills
Helen Hills’ father was an English immigrant who built many of the buildings in downtown West Chicago. Helen and her sister worked to preserve the City’s oldest cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery. Additionally, she was involved in the launch of the West Chicago Library and served as the Winfield Township Assessor. Helen’s achievements were not hindered by her lifelong disability, which resulted in mobility issues

Emeteria Zarate
Emeteria Zarate was a Mexican immigrant who raised her family along with her husband in the West Chicago boxcar camps in the 1930’s. Emeteria was an avid gardener who saved up money from selling items from her gardens to purchase a family home in 1947. This home was the first Mexican-American-owned home in West Chicago.

Henry Bayer
Henry Bayer was a German immigrant who ran a barbershop in downtown West Chicago for many years. Additionally, Henry sold steamer tickets for Germans in West Chicago who were buying tickets for their family members to relocate to the area.

John Tye
John Tye was an Irish immigrant that came to West Chicago to work on the railroads. His son, also named John, was a well-known businessperson who built a mansion on Summit Avenue and his son, Thomas, served as one of West Chicago’s first mayors from 1911 to 1913.