a means for establishing new communities within the state of Illinois. In 1857, Naper became the first village president of Naperville. As many early settlers had done, Naper engaged in a number of trades and businesses as he helped to develop Naperville and Dupage County. Death On August 23, 1862, Joseph Naper died in Naperville, Illinois and was buried in Naperville Cemetery. References Sources Richmond, C.W. and H. F. Valletta. A history of the county of DuPage, Illinois. Chicago: 1857. Richmond, C.W. History of DuPage County, Illinois, Aurora, IL: Knickerbocker & Hodder, 1877. Blanchard, Rufus. History of DuPage County, Illinois. Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Company, 1882. DuPage Roots. Wheaton, IL: Du Page County Historical Society, 1985. Gingold, Katharine Kendzy (2007). Ruth by Lake and Prairie; True Stories of Early Naperville. Gnu Ventures Company. . Williams, William W. (1878). History of Ashtabula Co., Ohio. William Bros. Anonymous (1894). Portrait and Biographical Record of Cook and DuPage Counties. Lake City Publishing Company. Naperville, Illinois History Page A photograph of Capt. Naper 1798 births 1862 deaths American shipbuilders American city founders Politicians from Ashtabula, Ohio American people of the Black Hawk War Members of the Illinois House of Representatives History of Naperville, Illinois People from Bennington, Vermont 19th-century American politicians