John A. Kennicott was born near Saratoga, New York, in 1802.
Kennicott taught in Buffalo, New York, then attended the Fairfield Medical College.
Upon graduation, he taught for a year in Mississippi, then opened a medical office in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1829.
Seven years later, Kennicott moved with his wife and two sons to Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois, an area that was almost completely undeveloped.
He made a claim of several hundred acres 15 miles (24 km) south of Half Day between Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines River.
Naming his homestead "The Grove" for the abundance of trees, Kennicott built a house on it around 1856.

Kennicott was the only physician in a wide circuit, at least 10 miles (16 km) in radius from The Grove.
In the early 1840s, with his son Charles, Kennicott planted the first commercial nursery in the area.
Botany increasingly became an interest for Kennicott, and he planted every kind of shrub that he could find during his travels.
After co-founding the Illinois State Agricultural Society, Kennicott began to provide nurserymen with free scions from varieties grown at The Grove.
Kennicott died at his home on June 4, 1863.

Robert Kennicott, John's second son, would become a renowned naturalist.
Too sickly to attend public school, Kennicott was educated at The Grove and spent much of his youth outside on the property.
Kennicott collected plants and animals there and taught his siblings to do the same.
He identified dozens of new species at the Smithsonian Institution and co-founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences in 1857.
While on the Western Union Telegraph Expedition in Russian America in 1866, Kennicott died of heart failure.

Kennicott descendant Bertha Redfield had the Redfield Estate built in 1929.
The Tudor Revival house was designed by George Grant Elmslie.
Three years later it became home to her daughter, author Louise Redfield Peattie, who was married to author Donald Culross.
Donald's A Prairie Grove (1938) describes his experiences at The Grove.
John A. Kennicott was born near Saratoga, New York, in 1802. Kennicott taught in Buffalo, New York, then attended the Fairfield Medical College. Upon graduation, he taught for a year in Mississippi, then opened a medical office in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1829. Seven years later, Kennicott moved with his wife and two sons to Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois, an area that was almost completely undeveloped. He made a claim of several hundred acres 15 miles (24 km) south of Half Day between Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines River. Naming his homestead "The Grove" for the abundance of trees, Kennicott built a house on it around 1856.
Kennicott was the only physician in a wide circuit, at least 10 miles (16 km) in radius from The Grove. In the early 1840s, with his son Charles, Kennicott planted the first commercial nursery in the area. Botany increasingly became an interest for Kennicott, and he planted every kind of shrub that he could find during his travels. After co-founding the Illinois State Agricultural Society, Kennicott began to provide nurserymen with free scions from varieties grown at The Grove. Kennicott died at his home on June 4, 1863.
Robert Kennicott, John's second son, would become a renowned naturalist. Too sickly to attend public school, Kennicott was educated at The Grove and spent much of his youth outside on the property. Kennicott collected plants and animals there and taught his siblings to do the same. He identified dozens of new species at the Smithsonian Institution and co-founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences in 1857. While on the Western Union Telegraph Expedition in Russian America in 1866, Kennicott died of heart failure.
Kennicott descendant Bertha Redfield had the Redfield Estate built in 1929. The Tudor Revival house was designed by George Grant Elmslie. Three years later it became home to her daughter, author Louise Redfield Peattie, who was married to author Donald Culross. Donald's A Prairie Grove (1938) describes his experiences at The Grove.
Kennicott Grove