List of people from Jacksonville, Illinois

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

Authors and academics[]

Dr. Greene Vardiman Black (1836–1915), considered the "father of modern dentistry"; first to use nitrous oxide gas for extracting teeth without pain
Martha Capps Oliver (1845–1917), poet, hymnwriter
Everett Dean Martin (born and raised in Jacksonville), writer, lecturer, social psychologist, and an advocate of adult education. Final Director of the People's Institute of Cooper Union in New York City from 1922-1934.
Frank Haven Hall, inventor of the Hall Braille Writer and other Braille printing devices^[1]
Bell Elliott Palmer (1873–1947), playwright, born and died in Jacksonville
Willis Polk, architect
J. F. Powers (1917–1999), Roman Catholic short story author and novelist; born in Jacksonville^[2]
Alfred Henry Sturtevant (1891–1970), geneticist; constructed the first genetic map of a chromosome (1913)
Wilson "Bob" Tucker (1914–2006), mystery, adventure, and science fiction writer; lived in Jacksonville^[3]
Jonathan Baldwin Turner (1805–1899) classical scholar, botanist, and political activist
Janice May Udry (1928–), Caldecott Medal-winning children's author, born in Jacksonville
Bari Wood (1936–), science fiction, crime and horror author, born in Jacksonville

Media and arts[]

Marjorie Best (1903–1997), Academy Award-winning costume designer; born in Jacksonville
William Fitzsimmons, folk singer; lived in Jacksonville
Richard Moore (1925–2009), cinematographer and co-founder of Panavision; born in Jacksonville
Kyra Phillips, correspondent for CNN and HLN, raised in Jacksonville
Frank Reaugh (1860–1945), western artist
Brian Sherwin, art critic; born in Jacksonville
Liam Sullivan, actor; born in Jacksonville

Military[]

Benjamin Grierson (1826–1911), Civil War era general; commanded the all-Black 10th Cavalry known as Buffalo Soldiers; music teacher from Jacksonville
John J. Hardin (1810–1847), congressman; killed as a colonel leading the First Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican War
Martin Davis Hardin (1837–1923), brigadier general during the Civil War; born in Jacksonville

Politics and law[]

James M. Barnes (1899–1958), U.S. congressman
William H. Barnes, jurist
William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925), lawyer and politician; ran for US president; known for his involvement in the Scopes Trial
J. Edward Day (1914–1996), U.S. Postmaster General
Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), U.S. senator and presidential candidate; settled in Jacksonville
Joseph Duncan (1794–1844), sixth governor of Illinois
Nancy Farmer (1956–), Missouri State Treasurer
Paul Findley (1921–2019), U.S. congressman
Hugh Green (1887–1968), Illinois legislator and lawyer
Edward E. Johnston (1918–2011), high commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Ruth Bryan Owen (1885–1954), U.S. congresswoman, ambassador to Denmark and Iceland, daughter of William Jennings Bryan
Mary Louise Preis (1941–), state congressman from Maryland
Harris Rowe (1923–2013), politician, lawyer, and businessman
Richard Yates Rowe (1888–1973), politician and businessman
Andrew Russel (1854–1934), Illinois politician and businessman
Paul Samuell (1886–1938), Illinois Supreme Court justice
Wiley Scribner (1840–1889), politician and acting governor of Montana Territory
Owen P. Thompson (1852–1933), judge of the Seventh Judicial District of Illinois and a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois in 1904.
Richard Yates (1818–1873), U.S. congressman (1851–1855) and senator (1865–1871); 13th governor of Illinois (1861–1865)

Sports[]

Jerry Barber (1916–1994), golfer with the PGA Tour, winner of 1961 PGA Championship
Doug Brady (1969–), second baseman for the Chicago White Sox
Red Dorman (1900–1974), outfielder for the Cleveland Indians
Jim Hackett (1877–1961), pitcher and first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals
"A Guy Named Blake" Hance (1996–), offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns.
Mabel Holle (1920–2011), third basewoman and outfielder in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; born in Jacksonville
Milton McPike (1939–2008), tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, educator and community leader; born in Jacksonville
Brett Merriman (1966–), pitcher for the Minnesota Twins
Ken Norton (1943–2013), boxer who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw in a historical heavyweight fight
Ken Norton, Jr. (1966–), linebacker for Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, defensive coordinator for Oakland Raiders; first NFL player to win three consecutive Super Bowls; son of Ken Norton; born in Jacksonville
Henry Eli "Harry" Staley (1866–1910), pitcher for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Beaneaters, and Pittsburgh Pirates; born in Jacksonville
F. Calvert "Cal" Strong (1907–2001), Olympic water polo bronze medalist; born in Jacksonville
Luther Haden "Dummy" Taylor (1875–1958), coach and pitcher for New York Giants and Cleveland Bronchos; teacher and administrator at the Illinois School for the Deaf; died in Jacksonville

References[]

^ Larson, Erik. A Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. New York: Vintage Books, a Division of Random House, Inc. p. 291 (Adobe epub book).
^ "The Gospel according to J. F. Powers". Portland magazin. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
^ "The Two Bobs: An Interview with Bob Bloch and Bob Tucker", Mimosa, issue 28, June 2002

[1] Larson, Erik. A Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. New York: Vintage Books, a Division of Random House, Inc. p. 291 (Adobe epub book).

[2] "The Gospel according to J. F. Powers". Portland magazin. Retrieved October 14, 2012.

[3] "The Two Bobs: An Interview with Bob Bloch and Bob Tucker", Mimosa, issue 28, June 2002

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