Who Was Nathaniel Moore Banta?

(1867-1932)

Nathaniel Moore Banta was born December 3, 1867 in Rensselaer, Indiana to Henry and Mary Jane Banta. He was the eighth of ten children. He graduated at Valparaiso University and took a post graduate course at the University of Chicago. He was also a student at the Berlitz School of Languages and at the Soper School of Oratory.

Banta moved to Arlington Heights in 1900. He was the principal of the public schools. He married Minnie Muller on July 17, 1901.

He was active in school teaching and administration for 16 years: two years in Indiana, eight years as the principal at Niles Center, three years in Arlington Heights, and three years in Barrington.

According to his obituary, Banta as a "leader in almost every activity of a community nature in Arlington Heights."

• He became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of A.H. in 1906. He was ordained as a ruling elder in 1908 and served as a trustee from 1915 to his death.

• He was the first President of the Community Library Board in 1926. Through his leadership, the library became a permanent publicly supported entity in Arlington Heights in 1927.

• He was an author of 27 books, including the "Brownie Books" for children and many books about nature and bird life. His first book The Brownie Primer was published in 1905. These books were widely used as supplemental texts in area schools. He became Managing Editor of A. Flanagan and Son, Publishers, in 1906 and continued in that position until his death. Books by Nathaniel Moore Banta, many of which were co-authored with his sister, Alpha Banta Benson are in the Collection of the Arlington Heights Historical Society.

• As a former school teacher and principal in Arlington Heights, Banta served as President of the School Board until 1914 and under his leadership, a High School program was added. Prior to this, teens in Arlington Heights were required to attend Charles Schurz HS in Chicago or Des Plaines High School.

• He also served as President of the Park Board from 1925-1928 and was an early environmentalist. His gardens were well known in the area. His opposition to the intrusion of traffic through the town was carried all the way to Springfield in 1928 when he fought against Northwest Highway. His early leadership in preserving recreational areas was the beginnings of a highly regarded Park District. During his tenure, the District took over control of the railway parks and war memorial park.

The efforts of Mr. Banta in providing good schools, parks, and a public library made Arlington Heights attractive to developers in the late 1920’s. The developments which were begun then made the community one of the fastest growing suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Aside from his civic activities, Mr. Banta’s principal interests were in nature. " His beautiful garden in season is famed as one of the principal beauty spots in Arlington Heights; a joy to all beholders."

Mr. Banta died on Friday, February 5, 1932.

A park named in honor of Nathaniel Moore Banta is located at 21 N. Phelps