List of people from Galesburg, Illinois

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Galesburg, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Galesburg, Illinois.

Educators, scientists, writers, and journalists[]

Barry Bearak, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Edward Beecher, theologian and abolitionist; brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe; first president of Illinois College
Jonathan Blanchard, abolitionist, social reformer, and educator; President of Knox and founder of Wheaton College
Ira Clifton Copley, publisher and statesman, founder of Copley Press
John Huston Finley, former editor of the New York Times, professor at Princeton University, president of Knox and City College of New York
George Helgesen Fitch, author, humorist, journalist
George Washington Gale, founder of Knox
Anna Groff Bryant, vocal teacher at Lombard College
Robert Hellenga, novelist and George A. Lawrence Distinguished Service Professor of English at Knox
George William Hunter, biologist and author of Civic Biology, textbook at heart of famed Scopes Monkey Trial (former professor at Knox)
Alexander Kuo, author, poet, essayist
Francis T. McAndrew, evolutionary psychologist and essayist; Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox
Emily Arnold McCully, children's book author, winner of 1993 Caldecott Medal
Carl Sandburg, writer and editor; winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, two for poetry and one for biography of Abraham Lincoln; born in Galesburg
Ellen Browning Scripps, journalist and philanthropist, founder of Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Robert Seibert, Robert W. Murphy Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Knox and coauthor of Politics and Change in the Middle East
Chad Simpson, short and flash fiction author^[1]
Marilyn Salzman Webb, activist, author, and journalist
Mary Allen West, journalist, editor, educator, superintendent of schools, and temperance worker
Douglas L. Wilson, author, co-director of Lincoln Studies Center; George A. Lawrence Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of English at Knox
Richard L. Wilson, newspaperman, recipient of 1954 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting; born in Galesburg in 1905^[2]
Quincy Wright, political scientist
Sewall Wright, evolutionary biologist, a founder of modern population genetics
Theodore Paul Wright, aeronautical engineer; served as acting president of Cornell University

Business innovators and inventors[]

Earnest Elmo Calkins, advertising executive, founder of first modern advertising agency
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., inventor of the Ferris wheel
Whitcomb L. Judson, inventor of the zipper
Charles Rudolph Walgreen, founder of Walgreens

People in the arts[]

Frank Shaver Allen, architect of Streator and Joliet, later of California, born in Galesburg in 1860
Karen Bjornson (born 1952), model; born in Galesburg^[3]
Amy Carlson, Television actress best known for her roles in Blue Bloods, Third Watch, and Another World. Lived in Galesburg when she attended Knox College.
Vir Das, comedian and Bollywood actor (lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Mae Shumway Enderly (born 1871), harpist, entertainer born in Galesburg
Hugh Gillin, actor
Michael Greer, actor, comedian, and cabaret performer
Otto Harbach, lyricist and librettist; known for "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Indian Love Call" and "Cuddle up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine" (lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Dorsha Hayes, actress
Mark Nicolson, opera singer
Tim Piper, visual designer; born in Galesburg
Stephen Prina, contemporary artist
George Reeves, actor, played Superman in popular 1950s television show
Dorothea Tanning, painter, printmaker, sculptor and writer
Rudy Vaughn, singer-songwriter
Chris Verene, artist
Allan Arthur Willman, classical pianist and composer
Matthew Wilson, jazz drummer, composer and band leader, born in Galesburg in 1964

Military leaders[]

Joseph A. Ahearn, US Air Force general
Mary Ann Bickerdyke, also known as "Mother Bickerdyke"; Civil War nurse for Union Army
Gustavus Cheyney Doane, US Army officer and explorer
David P. Fridovich, retired Lieutenant General and Green Beret in US Army, deputy commander of U.S. military's United States Special Operations Command (lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Hobart R. Gay, U.S. Army general, served under General George S. Patton

Politics, government, and law[]

William Adcock, Illinois state representative and farmer, lived in Galesburg^[4]
Edgar Bancroft, lawyer and diplomat; served as United States Ambassador to Japan
John Rusling Block, Cabinet member in Ronald Reagan administration; born in Galesburg
Susan E. Cannon Allen, African-American suffragist
George Radcliffe Colton, US Army colonel; Governor of Puerto Rico (1909–1913)
Edwin H. Conger, US congressman, diplomat, and lawyer^[5]
Omer N. Custer, Illinois State Treasurer and newspaper editor; lived in Galesburg^[6]
Phil Hare, US congressman representing Illinois's 17th district^[7]
Don Harmon, Illinois State Senator (Lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Carl Hawkinson, Illinois politician; born in Galesburg^[8]
Russell Jump, Mayor of Wichita, Kansas; born in Galesburg^{[citation needed]}
Richard R. Larson, Illinois state legislator, educator, and businessman; born in Galesburg^[9]
Charles B. Lawrence, Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme Court; lived in Galesburg^[10]
Leo F. O'Brien. Illinois state representative and lawyer; born in Galesburg^[11]
John Podesta, chairman of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016, Chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, and Counselor to President Barack Obama; lived in Galesburg while attending Knox
Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States; lived in Galesburg in his youth
Don Samuelson, 25th Governor of Idaho
George L. Shoup, first Governor of Idaho; moved to Galesburg at age 16
Wallace Thompson, Illinois State Senator; born in Galesburg^[12]
Richard H. Whiting, U.S. Representative 1875-77; lived in Galesburg

Sports figures[]

Barry Cheesman, former PGA Tour Golfer, born and raised in Galesburg
Mike Davison, pitcher for San Francisco Giants; born in Galesburg
Bill Essick, former professional baseball pitcher
A. J. Fike, driver with NASCAR
Aaron Fike, driver with NASCAR
Jimmie Foxx, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer; lived in retirement in Galesburg during the 1960s
Todd Hamilton, golfer with PGA Tour, 2004 British Open champion; born in Galesburg
Willie Heston, college football halfback and coach; state judge in Michigan; born in Galesburg
Irma Hopper, Olympic fencer; born in Galesburg
Elbert Kimbrough, safety with NFL's Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and New Orleans Saints; born in Galesburg
Todd Monken, offensive coordinator and Quarterbacks coach for the University of Georgia. Former offeinsoive coordinator of the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi. (lived in Galesburg while attending Knox College)
Jason Shay, head basketball coach for East Tennessee State
Jim Sundberg, catcher with Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers; born in Galesburg
Art Twineham, catcher for St. Louis Browns; born in Galesburg
Pete Weber, sports broadcaster, voice of NHL's Nashville Predators; born in Galesburg

References[]

^ Simpson, Chad (June 15, 2006). "Miracle". Smoke Long Quarterly. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
^ "Pulitzer Prizes". The Pulitzer Prizes: National Reporting. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
^ "Karen Bjornson". iconicfocus.com. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1925-1926,' Biographical Sketch of William Adcock, pg. 186-187
^ "Edwin H. Conger". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1929–1930,' Biographical Sketch of Omer N. Custer, pg. 96-97
^ "HARE, Phil (1949 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002, Biographical Sketch of Carl Hawkinson, pg. 118
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1953-1954,' Biographical Sketch of Richard R. "Dick" Larson, pg. 267-268
^ Dead, Judge C. B. Lawrence of Illinois Passes Away-Death of Rev B. F. Crocker, Monmouth Evening Gazette, April 10, 1883, pg. 1
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968,' Biographical Sketch of Leo O' Brien, pg. 280-281
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1951–1952,' Biographical Sketch of Wallace Thompson, pg. 232

[1] Simpson, Chad (June 15, 2006). "Miracle". Smoke Long Quarterly. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.

[2] "Pulitzer Prizes". The Pulitzer Prizes: National Reporting. Retrieved 9 October 2012.

[3] "Karen Bjornson". iconicfocus.com. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.

[4] 'Illinois Blue Book 1925-1926,' Biographical Sketch of William Adcock, pg. 186-187

[5] "Edwin H. Conger". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 20 October 2012.

[6] 'Illinois Blue Book 1929–1930,' Biographical Sketch of Omer N. Custer, pg. 96-97

[7] "HARE, Phil (1949 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 19, 2012.

[8] 'Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002, Biographical Sketch of Carl Hawkinson, pg. 118

[9] 'Illinois Blue Book 1953-1954,' Biographical Sketch of Richard R. "Dick" Larson, pg. 267-268

[10] Dead, Judge C. B. Lawrence of Illinois Passes Away-Death of Rev B. F. Crocker, Monmouth Evening Gazette, April 10, 1883, pg. 1

[11] 'Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968,' Biographical Sketch of Leo O' Brien, pg. 280-281

[12] 'Illinois Blue Book 1951–1952,' Biographical Sketch of Wallace Thompson, pg. 232

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