Clow
Creek Farm History
Clow Creek Farm was named after the Clow Family, which settled in Naperville in 1844. Robert Clow left Southern Scotland five years after his
wife’s dying wish was made to sell their estate (which was in the family since 1320)
and move where land was cheap. She wanted her family of nine children kept together.
After spending seven years on rented land in New York they moved to Naperville and purchased 640
acres of prairie land and an adjoining 80 acres in Wheatland Township for $1.25 per acre.
William F. Clow, great great grandson of Robert Clow sold the property to MAF Development,
Inc. The large rock in front of the park on Dairyman’s Circle has a plaque dedicating
the park as "William F. Clow Memorial Park".
Clow Farm was a diary farm and while the dairy cows left several years
ago, the memory will remain in the names of the streets. Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, and
Cloverdale are different types of dairy cows. Buttermilk and Dairyman names are related to
the dairy business. Alfalfa is a type of grass that dairy cows eat. Wicklow, Meadow Lakes
and Schillinger are carry-over from other neighborhoods. Bill Haider is the President of
MAF Developments, Inc. and he has a son Joseph William Haider thus the names for Haider
Avenue and Joe Willie Court. Pradel Drive was named prior to George Pradel becoming mayor.
George Pradel had the nickname of Officer Friendly in the schools and was well liked by
the children, which is the reason the street was named after him.
Clow houses are still around. The farmhouse behind Schillinger Drive is
the original house built by Robert Clow and his family. The stone house at the end of
104th and the house on Book Road and 111th are Clow houses. The Wheatland Cemetery, which
is next to the house on 104th, is the burial ground of the Clow’s ancestors.
Location and
Transportation Access...
Clow Creek Farm is located just minutes from
I-55, Route 59 and I-355 all major access points to the suburban area and metropolitan.
Chicago. The Burlington Northern Train
Station, with express trains directly to Chicago, is minutes north on Route 59;
O’Hare International and Midway Airports are approximately 40 and 30 minutes,
respectively.
Major shopping, from exclusive department stores to famous
name discount warehouses, is just minutes from Clow Creek Farm at the Fox Valley Shopping
Center and surrounding area directly north on Route 59
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