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Ernst Von Oven chose to immigrate to Naperville from his native Germany in 1854 because a married sister lived here. He acquired a large acreage at the southwest edge of the village, an ideal location for future business enterprises. Today, the land he purchased is now near the center of town and is known as the East Highlands subdivision (between Columbia St on the east and Washington St. on the west, Hillside Rd. on the north and Gartner Rd. on the south - also including some acreage to the west of West Ave. including the Green Acres subdivision, Von Oven Boy Scout campground area and Sportsman Park).

At first, Von Oven cultivated plants as a pastime. He missed the trees and shrubs that grew in his native Germany but were not as well-known in the pioneer community of Naperville. He started raising fruit trees, and later planted small ornamental trees, shrubs, and evergreens which grew vigorously in the fertile soil of the DuPage River valley. Von Oven had a prominent role in Naperville's business life, also establishing the Naperville Tile and Brick Works and the Naperville Stone Company.

After Ernst Von Oven's death in 1906, his son Frederick managed the Naperville Nurseries and greatly expanded operations, increasing the plantings acreage from 20 to 350 acres. Under his direction, the nurseries became a national leader in propagating young plants, which they sold wholesale. By 1920, the successful business had 125 workers. After Frederick passed away in 1929, Ernst Von Oven's two daughters controlled the Naperville Nurseries until the business closed in 1954.