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
• Frank Haven Hall, inventor of the Hall Braille Writer and other Braille printing devices^[1]
• 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

Media and arts

• 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

Military

• Benjamin Grierson (1826–1911), Civil War era general; commanded the all-Black 10th Cavalry known as Buffalo Soldiers; music teacher from Jacksonville
• Martin Davis Hardin (1837–1923), brigadier general during the Civil War; born in Jacksonville

Politics and law

• James M. Barnes (1899–1958), US 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), US Postmaster General
• Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), US senator and presidential candidate; settled in Jacksonville
• Joseph Duncan (1794–1844), sixth governor of Illinois
• Nancy Farmer (1956-), Missouri State Treasurer
• Paul Findley (1921-), US 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
• Richard Yates (1818–1873), US congressman (1851–1855) and senator (1865–1871); 13th governor of Illinois (1861–1865)

Sports

• Jerry Barber (1916–1994), golfer with the PGA Tour
• 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
• 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 an epic heavyweight fight
• Ken Norton, Jr. (1966- ), linebacker for Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, and coach for the Seattle Seahawks; 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
• Steve King (1966-), Crossfit Games Athlete 2016-Masters 50-54

References

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