The motto of Aurora's northern neighbor, “The Village with a View to the Future,” is perhaps most appropriate. The town is looking ahead, expanding its boundaries and inviting new residents, as housing developments and new businesses, at a steady flow, become fixtures of the community.

But records on the history of this far western suburb reveal a “limited view to the past.” . “We have almost nothing on North Aurora,” said local historian and retired school teacher Marilyn Robinson, noting the records of the Aurora Historical Society.

She writes the Yesteryear column for the Windmill Herald, a weekly newspaper covering Batavia and North Aurora events. “North Aurora is a step-child,” said Robinson.

“Part of it is in Batavia Township, part is in Aurora Township.”

Though she has spent many hours of research going through the Aurora Public Library's collection of The Beacon-News newspapers dating back to 1848, tidbits on North Aurora are scarce.

The Sesquicentennial Yearbook, put out in 1984 by North Aurorians celebrating the village's 150 years, is perhaps the most comprehensive account of the town's history, said Robinson.

According to the yearbook, North Aurora used to be known as Schneider's Mill, or Schneider's Crossing, 161 years ago. At least that was the mailing address the U.S. Post Office recognized. That name came from a grist mill built by John Peter Schneider, the first settler to this valley locale, who came here in 1834.

At that time, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, was in office. Steam locomotives were considered modern transportation. The North was free, but slavery continued with abandon down South.

Schneider, a skilled carpenter and millwright, was an immigrant from Germany, who traveled westward until he came to the Fox River. Here he saw the river, the densely wooded terrain and the fertile soil. This was an area full of promise.

A cabin, a dam, a mill Schneider built a cabin for his family to live in on a hill near the present intersection of Butterfield Road and Route 25. He cleared some of the land for farming.

Then, in 1835, he built a sawmill close to the site of the present Village Hall. Two years later, a dam was built to supply power to Schneider's mill.

A branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy . railroad line was built through Schneider's Mill extending from Aurora to West Chicago, in 1850. That brought ready transportation, the possibility of jobs and consequently, more people.

Before long, a farming community developed. Lumber from Schneider's sawmill was used for building settlers' homes and barns. Most of today's streets and structures were part of somebody's farm fields, grazing pastures, woods or prairie back then.

For example, the North Aurora Activity Center and parking lot sits on a former farm site. Many town streets were named after residents. Pierce Street, on the southeast side of the village, was named for the man who built his house there.

Construction of factories and homes, the development of grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, saloon and church created jobs and served the community. Some exist today. The more than 100-year-old William Hawksley home on 201 N. River Road, or Route 25, still stands.

“The D.R. Sperry Company has been (in North Aurora) forever,” said Robinson. “It started in Batavia, then moved. (The foundry) was destroyed by fire, and then by flood, and then by fire again in North Aurora.”