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

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

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

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)

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

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