USA Famous People of Iowa

Iowa (IA) 

  • Adrian Constantine (Cap) Anson (1851 - 1922) Known as the greatest baseball player of the 19th century; born in Marshalltown.

  • Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818 - 1894) She headed the Iowa woman Suffrage Association and made popular loose fitting pants called “bloomers”; lived in Council Bluffs.

  • Johnny Carson (1925 - 2005) Comedian that hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years; born in Corning.

  • Carrie Chapman Catt (1859 - 1947) She led the campaign that ended with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution allowing women to vote; lived in Charles City.

  • William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846 - 1917) Pony Express rider, cavalry scout, buffalo hunter, and showman in the late 1100%s; born in LeClaire.

  • Bob Feller (1918- ) Baseball player.  A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Many consider him to be the premier right-handed pitcher in baseball history.; born in Van Meter.

  • Dan Gable (1948- ) Wrestler/Coach. Won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics without surrendering a point.  Two-time Olympic head coach (1980 and 1984).  As a coach at Iowa, he won 15 NCAA team titles in 22 years and 22 straight Big Ten Conference titles; born in Waterloo.

  • Frank Gotch (1878-1917) World heavyweight wrestling champion from 1908 to 1915, the best known athlete of his era; born and raised in Humboldt.
  • Fred Grandy (1948 - ) Actor made famous in the Love Boat and politician; born in Sioux City.

  • Herbert Hoover (1874 - 1964) The 31st President of the United States; born in West Branch.

  • Fred Maytag (1857 - 1937) Founder of the Maytag Company; lived in Newton. 

  • Glenn Miller (1904 - 1944) Bandleader and Composer of many famous songs including “In the Mood,” and “Moonlight Serenade;” born in Clarinda.

  • Henry Wallace (1888 - 1965) Vice President of the United States and secretary of agriculture during the depression; born near Orient.

  • Meredith Willson (1902 - 1984) Writer of the famous Broadway musical The Music Man; born in Mason City.

  • John Wayne (1907 - 1979) Actor who became famous for his hero image in western and war movies; born in Winterset.
  • Grant Wood (1892 - 1942) Artist.  Painted his most famous painting "American Gothic" in 1930; born in Anamoso.

More Famous People of Iowa

  • Bess Streeter Aldrich author, Cedar Falls
  • Bix Beiderbecke jazz musician, Davenport
  • Norman Borlaug plant pathologist, geneticist, Cresco
  • Donald L. Campbell inventor, Clinton
  • Wallace Hume Carothers inventor, Burlington
  • Gardner Cowles Jr. publisher, Algona
  • Lee DeForest inventor, Council Bluffs
  • Simon Estes bass-baritone, Centerville
  • William Frawley actor, Burlington
  • George H. Gallup poll taker, Jefferson
  • Susan Glaspell writer, Davenport
  • Ann Landers columnist, Sioux City
  • Cloris Leachman actress, Des Moines
  • William D. Leahy fleet admiral, Hampton
  • John L. Lewis labor leader, Lucas
  • Glenn L. Martin aviator, manufacturer, Macksburg
  • Elsa Maxwell writer, Keokuk
  • Glenn Miller bandleader, Clarinda
  • Harriet Nelson actress, Des Moines
  • Nathan M. Pusey educator, Council Bluffs
  • David Rabe playwright, Dubuque
  • Harry Reasoner TV commentator, Dakota City
  • Donna Reed actress, Denison
  • Lillian Russell soprano, Clinton
  • Wallace Stegner author, critic, Lake Mills
  • Billy Sunday evangelist, Ames
  • James A. Van Allen space physicist, Mount Pleasant
  • Abigail Van Buren columnist, Sioux City
  • Andy Williams singer, Wall Lake
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