Iowa Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

Links to histories and biographies of the famous people of Iowa. Many famous people of Iowa have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and the state of Iowa. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women, heroes, great explorers, and others Iowa famous Americans have all made Iowa their home. This list includes Iowa historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Iowa who have influenced the lives of others.

• Adrian Constantine (Cap) Anson (1851 - 1922) Known as the greatest baseball player of the 19^th 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 19^th 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 1800s; 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 31^st 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