'The Grove' Settler Inducted Into National Agricultural Hall of Fame

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, John Deere and Eli Whitney have been joined in the National Agricultural Hall of Fame by Dr. John Albert Kennicott (1802-1863), who moved his family from New Orleans to West Northfield (now Glenview) in 1836.

Kennicott was inducted posthumously to the Hall of Fame on July 11.

Kennicott settled the land that is currently known as The Grove, which is now maintained by the Glenview Park District.

When referring to the honor, Clausie Smith, president of the board of directors for the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, wrote “it is obvious he was an outstanding leader and an important pioneer in agriculture.”

Dr. Kennicott was a visionary horticulturist, according to a Glenview Parks news release.

“He was instrumental in the creation of the Illinois State Fair system and was a powerful voice in the formation of the United States Department of Agriculture. He wrote for the best agricultural publications of his day and strongly advocated for the development of public parks. He worked toward a national system of agricultural and mechanical universities, efforts that led to the passage of the Land Grant Act signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.”