History of Winfield
The Village of Winfield, Illinois just celebrated the 75th anniversary of its incorporation in 1996. It was named in honor of Lt. General Winfield Scott, famous from the War of 1812 to the Civil War. Although the first town meeting was held April 2, 1850, the petition to incorporate was not filed until March 28, 1921.
...... Winfield Scott PapersThe Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company and its choice of a route gave birth to Winfield. The post office was established as Winfield July 12, 1852, and by 1854 it was Winfield on railroad maps. John Hodges became the first stationmaster and postmaster. The solitary building Hodges put up beside the tracks was the first building at Winfield, and was occupied for several years as the depot of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. The Winfield Historical Society now occupies the building.
In 1897 Miss Jessie Forsythe selected Winfield as the site for a rest home. In 1909 a new institution, for tuberculosis patients was opened at the site, the Chicago-Winfield Tuberculosis Sanitarium. Central DuPage Hospital took over the site in 1962.
Located approximately 30 miles west of Chicago, the village of 9,000 residents is home to the hospital, thriving business areas, a new commuter train station, and miles of biking and hiking trails.
Thank you to Roy Groesbeck for this contribution.