Kane County Board Approves Historical Marker and Liberty Tree to Honor Revolutionary War Patriots
The Kane County Board has approved a resolution authorizing the placement of a historical marker and Liberty Tree at the historic Kane County Courthouse in Geneva to honor Revolutionary War patriots buried within the county. The initiative, led by the Elias Kent Kane Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
The memorial will recognize five Revolutionary War soldiers who later settled in what is now Kane County:
William Bennett (1758–1846), Private from Pennsylvania, buried in God’s Little Acre Cemetery, Campton Hills
John Finley (1760–1846), Private from New Hampshire, who died in St. Charles (exact burial location unknown)
John Gowdy (1759–1854), Private from Connecticut, buried in East Batavia Cemetery, Batavia
Abner Powers (1760–1825), Corporal from Massachusetts, buried in Lily Lake Cemetery, Lily Lake
Frederick Vaughn (1766–1845), Private from Connecticut, buried in Spring Lake Cemetery, Aurora
The Liberty Tree—an American Elm grown from seed since spring 2025—will be planted on the courthouse grounds, accompanied by a bronze marker inscribed “Revolutionary War Soldiers & Patriots of Kane County, Illinois.” The location was chosen for its public visibility, historical importance, and proximity to other commemorative features on the site.
The Elias Kent Kane Chapter of the NSDAR will cover all costs associated with the marker and tree, while Kane County will provide site preparation and cement work for installation.
According to the resolution, the project aims to “provide educational value, foster community engagement and honor the legacy of Kane County’s earliest patriots.”
Learn more about the Elias Kent Kane Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution at https://www.eliaskentkanedar.org/history
