People in Kansas HistoryMeet people through time who have a connection with Kansas history.
AAckert, James, 1879-1950, Manhattan, scientists Abdul-Aziz, Malik, 1977 - , Kansas City, actor Adams, Brandon Quintin, 1979 - , Kansas, actor Adair, Florella, 1816-1865, Osawatomie, abolitionist Adair, Samuel Lyle, 1811-1898, Osawatomie, minister and abolitionist Adams, Henry J., 1816 - 1870, Leavenworth, a partisan on the free-state side during the Bleeding Kansas era Allen, Bill, 1962 - , Wichita, actor Allen, Forrest C. "Phog", 1885 - 1974, Lawrence, University of Kansas men's varsity basketball coach Allen, Henry J. , 1868 - 1950, Wichita, publisher, governor, and U.S. Senator Allen, Neil, 1958 - , Kansas City, major league pitchers, actor Allen, Tyrees, Salina, actor Alley, Kirstie, 1951 - , Wichita, television and film actress Amrine, Milton F., 1872 - ?, Council Grove, newspaper editor, warden of the Kansas State Penitentiary Anderson, Walter A., 1880 - 1963, St. Marys, entrepreneur, fast food, co-founder of White Castle Angell, Charlie, Sr., circa 1881 - 1927, Plains, inventor Anthony, Susan B., 1820 - 1906, leader in women's suffrage Arbuckle, Roscoe "Fatty" , 1887 - 1933, Smith Center, silent film actor Asner, Edward , 1929 - , Kansas City, television actor Atchison, David Rice, 1807 - 1886, U.S. Senator and supporter of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, leader of border ruffian raids into Kanss Territory, Atchison, Kansas is named for him. Auker, Eldon, 1910 - 2006, Norcatur, major league baseball Axton, Mildred "Mickey", 1919 - , Coffeyville, aviator during World War II, Women Airforce Service Pilots, one of the first three women to become test pilots, first woman to pilot a B-29, BBailey, Jason, 1975 - , Wichita, actor Baker, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, 1932 - , Topeka, the first Kansas woman to serve in the U.S. Senate and the first woman to be elected to a full term in the Senate in her own right Bakula, Scott, 1954 - , studied law at University of Kansas, Lawrence, actor Balderson, Steve, 1975 - , Manhattan, film director Baldwin, Markus, 1970 - , Wichita, actor Ballard, Robert Duane, 1942 - , Wichita, undersea explorer, discovered remains of Titanic Balzer, Matt, 1978 - , Hutchinson, film producer, editor Bamman, Gerry, 1941 - , Independence, actor Barber, Thomas W., 1814 - 1855, Bloomington, free state supporter, shot and killed by a proslavery supporter, named in Representative Hall Barnes, Debra, 1947 - , Moran, Miss America 1968 Batchelor, Clarence Daniel, 1888-1977, Osage City, received a Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for editorial cartoons. Beaumont, Hugh , 1909 - 1982, Lawrence, television actor Beech, Olive Ann , 1903 - 1993, Waverly, Paola, and Wichita, aircraft manufacturer, philanthropist Beech, Walter H. , 1891 - 1950, Arkansas City and Wichita, aircraft manufacturer, philanthropist Bender, Kate , 1850 circa - 1910, Cherryvale, suspected murderer Bening, Annette , 1958 - , Topeka, actress Bickerdyke, Mary "Mother,", 1817 - 1901, Salina and Bunker Hill, Civil War nurse, veterans' supporter Blanton, David D. , Wichita, inventor of the autopilot in 1954 Bloch, Henry , 1922 - , Mission Hills, founder and owner of H & R Block Blount, William, 1883 - ?, Kansas City, doctor and state representative Bluejacket, Sallie, 1944 - 1924, Kansas City, member of the Shawnees, attended Shawnee Indian Mission Borglum, Gutzom , 1867 - 1941, St. Marys, American artist and sculptor of Mount Rushmore heads Bosin, Blackbear , 1921 - 1980, Wichita, an artist of Kiowa-Comanche ancestry Bowyer, Clint, 1979 - , Emporia, NASCAR Nationwide Series, 2004 and 2005, finishing as series runner-up in 2005, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 2006. Drives number 07 car owned by Richard Childress Racing. Brewer, David J., 1837 - 1910, Leavenworth, Kansas jurist, U.S. Supreme Court justice Brinkley, John R. "Doc" , 1885 - 1942, Milford, famous for his goat gland transplants, gubernatorial candidate, and pioneer radio broadcaster Bristow, Joseph L. , 1861 - 1944, Salina, editor and U.S. senator Brockovich, Erin, 1960 - , Lawrence, environmental activist Brooks, Gwendolyn, 1917 - 2000, Topeka, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Brooks, Louise, 1906 - 1985, Cherryvale and Wichita, actress Browder, Earl R., 1891 - 1973, Wichita, American Communist Party leader and presidential candidate Brown, Cleyson L., 1872-1935, Abilene, founded United Telecom, which became Sprint Corporation Brown, Esther, 1917 - 1976, Kansas City, civil rights advocate Brown, Henry Newton , 1857 - 1884, Caldwell, marshal, outlaw Brown, John, 1800 - 1859, Osawatomie, abolitionist, named in Representative Hall Brown, Campbell, 1968 - , Topeka, journalist Brown, Oliver, 1918-1961,Topeka, one of 13 plaintiffs of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka U.S. Supreme Court case to desegregate schools Bruce, Blanche K., Leavenworth, in 1885 becomes first African American graduate of the University of Kansas, later serves as school principal Bruce, Blanche Kelso, 1841 - 1898, Lawrence, organized first school in the nation for African Americans, U.S. senator Bryant, Deborah, 1947 - , Overland Park, Miss America 1966 Burch, Rousseau Angelus, 1862 - 1944, Salina, state chief justice Burnett, Abram, 1812 - 1870, Topeka, Potawatomi chief Burnett, McKinley, 1897 - 1968, Topeka, led challenge against racial segregation in Kansas schools Burns, Karla , ? - , Wichita, Broadway actress Burroughs, William S., 1914 - 1997, Lawrence, novelist, essayist, key member of the Beat Generation Butler, Pardee, 1816 - 1888, Atchison, abolitionist, minister CCapper, Arthur , 1865 - 1951, Garnett and Topeka, publisher, governor, and U.S. senator Carlson, Frank , 1893 - 1987, Concordia, served in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. senate, and as governor Carney, Frank, ? - , and Dan Carney, ? - , Wichita, restauranteurs, in June 1958, the two brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to open a beer and pizza restaurant for college students. Two years later they franchised their first Pizza Hut restaurant in Topeka. Carver, George Washington , circa 1864 - 1943, Ness County, agricultural scientist, mortgaged his Kanas homestead to go to college Cero, Pete, Wichita, established candy store in 1885, family owned until 1999 and still operates today Cessna, Clyde, 1879 - 1954, Rago and Wichita, airplane manufacturer Chamberlain, Wilt "The Stilt," 1936 - 1999, Lawrence, University of Kansas basketball player 1955-1957 Chaput, Archbishop Charles Joseph, 1944 - , Concordia, of French-Canadian and Potawatomi heritage, was the first American Indian to lead an American diocese Chase, Mabel, 1876-1962, Kiowa County, one of the first female sheriffs Chiles, Nick, Topeka, editor of longest-running African American newspaper in the nation Chisholm, Jesse, 1805? - 1868, Wichita, of Cherokee descent, guide and interpreter, he and James R. Mead in 1865 loaded a train of wagons at Fort Leavenworth and established a trading post in Oklahoma, which became the route for the Chisholm Trail, connecting Texas longhorns to Kansas railroads Chrysler, Walter P., 1875 - 1940, Wamego and Ellis, estalished the Chrysler Corporation Clark, William, Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1804 - 1806 Clayton, Wilbur "Buck," 1911, Parsons, trumpeter in Count Basie's band Clendening, Logan, 1884 - 1945, Kansas City, professor at University of Kansas, wrote a number of medical textbooks, contributing writer for medical journals and popular health magazines, collected medical history materials that became the Clendening Library of Medical History at the University of Kansas Medical Center Clifford, Clark, 1906, Fort Scott, special counsel to President Truman, later served as Secretary of Defense Cline, Nellie, Larned, first woman lawyer to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court Cody, William "Buffalo Bill", 1846 - 1917, Leavenworth, Pony Express rider, buffalo hunter, and "Wild West show" entreprenuer/promoter Coleman, William Coffin, 1870 - 1957, Wichita, founder of Coleman Lamp and Stove Company Colmery, Harry, 1890 - 1979, Topeka, officer in the Army Air Corps in World War I and founder of the G.I. Bill of Rights Conway, Martin Franklin, 1827 - 1882, Leavenworth, the first U.S. congressman to represent Kansas, named in Representative Hall Coldsmith, Don, 1926, Iola and Emporia, doctor, professor, and author of the popular "Spanish Bit Saga" Corbett, Thomas R. Boston, 1832 - ?, Concordia, credited with shooting John Wilkes Booth Coronado, Francisco Vasquez de, circa 1510–1554, made expedition north from Mexico in 1541 to land that would become Kansas Crandall, Henry "Hank", 1887-1970, Newton, photographer, work associated with Grand Teton National Park Crandall, Prudence, 1803-1890, Elk Falls, Quaker educator who fought to teach African American female students in Connecticut, later moved to Kansas Crawford, Nelson Antrim, 1888 - 1963, Topeka, teacher, author, lecturer, editor, journalist Crumbine, Samuel J., 1862 - 1954, Dodge City, secretary of the State Board of Health, led public health campaign against the use of common drinking cups, the roller towel, and the fly Cuevas, Teresa,, 1920 - , Topeka, formed Mariachi Estrella, one of the first all-female mariachi bands Cunningham, Glenn, 1909 - 1988, Elkhart, held the world record in the mile run in the 1930s Curry, John Steuart, 1897 - 1946, Jefferson County, artist, creator of Tragic Prelude Curtis, Charles, 1860 - 1939, Topeka, served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and as Vice President of the United States Custer, Elizabeth Bacon, 1842 - 1933, Hays, Fort Riley, wife of George Armstrong Custer, wrote novels and a memoir Custer, George Armstrong, 1839 - 1876, Hays, Fort Riley, U.S. army officer in Civil War and Plains Indian Wars, appointed lieutenant colonel to serve the newly appointed U.S. Seventh Cavalry headquartered at Fort Riley, court-martialed at Fort Leavenworth for being absent without leave DDalton, Emmett, 1871 - 1937, Meade and Coffeyville, bank robber Davis, Frank Marshall, Arkansas City, writer, poet, journalist Davis, Kenneth Sydney, 1912 - 1999, writer, biographer, aide to Milton Eisenhower, received the Francis Parkman Prize for his biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Damon, Johnny, 1973 - , Fort Riley, Major League Baseball outfielder, plays with the New York Yankees DeMoss, Elwood, 1889 - 1965, Topeka, successful second baseman in many Negro League teams Denny, John, 1846 - 1901, Hays, sergeant in Company C of the 9th Cavalry Regiment "Buffalo Soldiers," recipient of the Medal of Honor De Priest, Oscar Stanton, 1871 - 1951, Salina, first African American elected to U.S. Congress in the 20th century where he represented Illinois, lawmaker, civil rights advocate, Deuell, Peggy Hull, 1889-1967, Bennington, Marysville, Junction City, (born Henrietta Eleanor Goodnough), the first woman war correspondent accedtied by the U.S. goernment and the first woman to serve on four battlefronts Dickey, Lynn, 1949, Osawatomie, Green Bay Packers quarterback Diggs, Anne L., 1853 - 1916, Lawrence, journalist, state librarian, and supporter of Populism and women's suffrage Dinsmoor, Samuel P., 1843 - 1932, Lucas, teacher, his Garden of Eden, containing more than 200 sculptures on a biblical theme, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places Docking, Robert, 1925 - 1983, Lawrence, Arkansas City, Democrat, served as 38th governor of Kansas from January 9, 1967 - January 13, 1975 Dole, Robert , 1923, Russell, U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, vice presidential candidate in 1976, sought Republican presidential nomination in 1980 and 1988, and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Douglas, Aaron, Topeka, prominent artist-illustrator recognized for celebrating African-American achievement. Douglas is also located in the Notable Kansans of African Descent Douglass, Bobby, El Dorado, University of Kansas All-America football quarterback, Chicago Bears Dresslar, Len "Bud" Jr., 1925 - 2005, St. Francis, Topeka, bass-baritone singer, voice of the Jolly Green Giant and sang in the "Snap, Crackle and Pop" jingle for Rice Krispies. Duckwall, Alva Lease, 1877-1937, and Wilbur, Greenleaf, born in Ohio, the family moved to Kansas in 1898. In 1901 "Lease" purchased a Racket Store in Abilene. Wilbur soon joined the business and Duckwall Brothers was founded, featuring everything needed for the home. EEarhart, Amelia, 1897 - 1937?, Atchison, the first woman granted a pilot's license by the National Aeronautics Association and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean Earp, Wyatt, 1848 - 1929, Wichita and Dodge City, marshal Eisenhower, Dwight D., 1890 - 1969, Abilene, five-star U.S. Army General, Supreme Allied Commander of European theater, and President of the United States Eisenhower, Milton, 1899 - 1985, Abilene, university president Elvira, 1949, Manhattan, aka Cassandra Peterson, actress Engle, Joe, 1932, Chapman, Space Shuttle commander STS-2 Etheridge, Melissa, 1961, Leavenworth, singer Evans, Ron, 1933 - 1990, Topeka, commander of the pilot ship on Apollo 17 FFairfax, Alfred, Chautauqua County, Civil War veteran, first African American elected to state legislature Farnsworth, Martha, Topeka, preserved stories through diaries and photo albums Fazel, John., 1855 - 1938, Topeka, minister, Boy Scout leader Felton Jr., Peter E.., 1933, Hays, creator of Kansas State Capitol rotunda sculptures Finney, Joan, 1931 - 2001, Topeka, first woman to serve as state treasurer and first woman governor of Kansas Fitzwater, Marlin, 1942, Abilene, served as press secretary to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush Fletcher, Arthur, 1924 - 2005, Junction City, known as the father of the Affirmative Action Enforcement Movement Fuller, Lorenzo Dow, Jr., 1919, Stockton, actor, first African American to host a national television show Fundis, Garth, Baldwin City, music producer, song writer Funston, Frederick, 1865 - 1917, Iola, adventurer, colonel of the Twentieth Kansas Volunteer Regiment, general regular U.S. army, received Congressional Medal of Honor for action during Phillippine Insurrection GGage, Robert Merrell, 1892 - 1981, Topeka, creator of Abraham Lincoln sculpture on the Kansas State Capitol grounds Garcia, Dionisio, 1922-1985, Holcomb and Garden City, first Hispanic elected Garden City commissioner and mayor Gardner, Alexander , 1821 - 1882, Civil War photographer, recorded earliest photographs of Kansas while surveying the proposed route of the Kansas Pacific Railroad Garvey, Ray Hugh, 1893-1959, and Olive, Phillips County, Topeka, wheat farmer, in 1947 harvested a 1 million bushel wheat crop, believed to be the largest for an individual in America Gavitt, William Wellington, 1893-1959, and Olive, Phillips County, Topeka, wheat farmer, in 1947 harvested a 1 million bushel wheat crop, believed to be the largest for an individual in America Glickman, Dan, 1944 - , Wichita, served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, later appointed president of the Motion Pictures Association Goff, National S., Neosho Falls, among founders of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railway Company Gonville, Josette, Julie, Pelagie, and Victoire, Kansas Territory, women of Kaw descent who received special reservations Goodnow, Ellen D. Denison, 1812 - 1890, Manhattan, free-state supporter, moved with husband Isaac to Kansas Territory and other freestaters Goodnow, Isaac Tichenor, 1814 - 1894, Manhattan, free-state supporter, founded Bluemont College, which later became Kansas State University Grant, Jane, 1892-1972, born in Missouri grew up in Girard, andco-founded The New York Times with her first husband Harold Ross Gray, Georgia Neese Clark, 1898 - 1995, Richland, the first woman to serve as U.S. Treasurer Greene, Maurice, 1974 - , Kansas City, track and field sprinter, Olympic gold medalist Greene, Zula Bennington "Peggy", 1895 - 1988, Topeka, author and columnist Gregg, John A., 1877 - 1953, Eureka, minister, college president Grinstead, Minnie J., died 1925, Seward County, one of the state's first female legislators Grinter, Annie, 1820-1905, Kansas City, Lenapi (Delaware), with her husband, Moses, operated a ferry and trading post and lived on Wyandot-Delaware Reservation land she received from government Grinter, Moses,, 1809-1878, Kansas City, with his wife, Annie, operated a ferry and trading post and lived on Wyandot-Delaware Reservation land Annie received from government Grisnik, Ed, Kansas City, Polka band conductor Grisnik, Marijana, 1936, Kansas City, artist Groves, Junius, Armourdale and Edwardsville, known as the "Potato King of the World" HHalbe, Leslie Winfield, 1893 - 1981, Dorrance, photographer, produced a visual record of rural and small-town life in the pre-World War I era Haldeman-Julius, Anna Marcet, 1887 - 1941, Girard, actress, bank president, and with her husband, Emanuel, was author and co-publisher of the popular "Little Blue Book" series Haldeman-Julius, Emanuel, 1889 - 1951, Girard, and wife his wife, Anna, was author and co-publisher with his wife of the popular "Little Blue Book" series Halsey, Jim, Independence, music promoter and booking agent Harbord, James G., 1866 - 1947, Lyon County, served as brigadier general, chief of staff of the American Expeditionary Force, and major general Harlow, Jean, 1911 - 1937, Seneca, film actress, originally named Harlean Carpentier Harman, Moses, 1830 - 1910, Valley Falls, free thinker and editor of Lucifer, the Light-Bearer Hart, Gary, 1936, Ottawa, served as U.S. Senator for Colorado and was a 1988 presidential candidate Harvey, Fred, 1835 - 1901, Leavenworth, Topeka and Peabody, restaurant operator Harvey, Paul, 1918 - 2009, Abilene, Salina; station manager 1936-1939, KFBI/Abilene, national radio commentator, inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990 Haskell, John G., 1832 - Lawrence, served as captain and quartermaster during the Civil War with the Third Kansas and the Tenth Kansas Volunteers, as captain and assistant quartermaster to General James G. Blunt, and chief quartermaster of the Army of the Frontier. He is considered the architect of the Kansas State Capitol, which was under construction from 1866 until 1903. Hatch, Carl A., 1889 - 1963, Kirwin, U.S. senator and U.S. district judge, author of the Hatch Act Hatke, Mary Chaney, 1918 - , Topeka, served in the U. S. Marine Corps during WWII Hawkins, Coleman, 1904 - 1969, Topeka, jazz saxophonist, played with Dizzy Gillespie, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie Hawley, Steven, 1951, Ottawa and Salina, mission specialist on the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery Hazlett, Robert H., El Dorado, cattle rancher Helzberg, Morris , Kansas City, established Helzberg jewelry store in 1915 in Kansas City, Kansas, which became one of the largest jewelry retailers in the nation Herd, Stanley James, 1950, Protection, recognized for mural works and as a crop artist Hertzler, Arthur E., 1870 - 1946, Halstead, established hospital, wrote best-selling book of his experiences as a country doctor Hibbs, Ben, 1901 - 1975, Fontana and Pretty Prairie, editor of Saturday Evening Post and Reader's Digest Hickok, James Butler "Wild Bill", 1837 - 1876, Ellis County, Abilene, gunfighter, sheriff, marshal Higuchi, Takeru, 1918-1987, Lawrence, KU chemistry department chair and developer of timed-release medicine. Hockaday, F. W. "Woody", 1884 - 1947, Mount Hope and Wichita, businessman Hollenberg, Gerat, Hanover, founded and operated with his wife, Sophia, a station on the Oregon-California Trail and stop on the Pony Express Hollenberg, Sophia, Hanover, operated with her husband, Gerat, a station on the Oregon-California Trail, stop on the Pony Express Holliday, Cyrus K., 1826 - 1900, Topeka, railroad builder, entrepreneur, developer Holt, Nora Douglas, 1885 - 1974, Kansas City, singer/composer, graduated from Western University, Quindaro, in 1917, went on to graduate school at Chicago Musical College and became the first African American woman to earn a master's degree, she was a participant in the Harlem Renaissance Hope Sr., Clifford R., 1893 - 1970, Garden City, U.S. congressman Hopper, Dennis, 1936, Dodge City, film actor and director Houston, John Mills, 1890 - 1975, Formosa, congressman from Kansas, 1935 - 1943 Houston, Velina Hasu, 1957 -, Junction City, playwright, essayist, screenwriter Howe, Edgar Watson, 1853 - 1937, Atchison, editor of the Atchison Daily Globe and novelist Hughes, James Langston, 1902 - 1967, Topeka and Lawrence, poet and author Huxman, Walter A., 1887 - 1972, Pretty Prairie, 27th governor of Kansas, judge of the 10th United States District Court Hyde, A. A., 1848 - 1935, Wichita, co-founded the Yucca Company, later beaome the Mentholatum Company IIngalls, John J., 1833 - 1900, Atchison, served in the U.S. Senate, submitted the design for the state seal and proposed the state motto Inge, William, 1913 - 1973, Independence, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright JJardine, William, 1879 - 1955, Manhattan and Wichita, president of Kansas State Agriculture College and Wichita University, secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture Jerman, Ed C., 1865 - 1936, Topeka, a pioneer in the field of X-ray technology Jessye, Eva, 1895 - 1992, Coffeyville, Caney, Iola, and Pittsburg, singer actress, composer, choral director, author, and poet Johnson, Don, 1949, Wichita and Lawrence, television and film actor Johnson, Martin, 1884 - 1937, Lincoln and Independence with wife, Osa, were photographers and explorers Johnson, Osa , 1894 - 1953, Chanute, with husband, Martin, were photographers and explorers Johnson, Walter "Big Train", 1887 - 1946, Humboldt and Coffeyville, pitcher for the Washington Senators, inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1936 Johnston, William, 1848 - 1937, Minneapolis and Topeka, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court Johnston, Lucy Browne, 1846 - 1937, Minneapolis and Topeka, social activist who fought for women's rights Jones, Charles J. "Buffalo," 1844 - 1918, Garden City, buffalo hunter, cattle rancher, game warden at Yellowstone National Park Jones, Samuel J., sheriff who led sacking of Lawrence in 1856 Jump, Gordon, 1932 - 2003, Manhattan, Topeka, television actor KKarpis, Alvin "Creepy," 1908 - 1979, Topeka, bank robber, bootlegger Keaton, Buster, 1895 - 1966, Piqua, silent film comedian Kelly, Emmett, 1898 - 1979, Sedan, circus clown Kelker-Kelly, Robert, Wichita, actor on ABC-TV's Another World and Days of Our Lives Kennekuk, died around 1856, Kickapoo Indian chief and prophet, moved to present-day Kansas around 1833 with Kickapoo removal from Illinois Kenton, Stan, 1912 - 1979, Wichita, big band leader Kersting, Kathleen, 1908 - 1956, Wichita, opera singer Kilby, Jack St. Clair, 1923, Great Bend, 2000 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work as inventor of the integrated circuit and co-inventor of the pocket calculator Knedlik, Omar, 1916-1989, Coffeyville, invented the ICEE machine, the first frozen carbonated drink machine, in 1961 Knight, Shirley Enola, 1936, Goessel, stage, feature film, and television actress Kurtis, William, 1940, Independence and Topeka, television news anchor, producer LLair, Mary Alice, Piqua, first woman to become vice-chairman of the state Republican committee Laird, E. M., Wichita, co-founder of the Wichita aircraft industry Landon, Alfred M., 1887 - 1987, Independence and Topeka, governor and 1936 Republican presidential candidate Lane, James Henry, 1814 - 1866, Lawrence, U.S. senator and antislavery supporter Langston, Charles Henry, 1817 - 1892, Leavenworth, born a free man, fought for African American suffrage in Kansas, grandfather of poet Langston Hughes Layton, Elizabeth "Grandma," 1909 - 1993, Wellsville, artist Lear, William Powell, Jr., 1902 - 1978, Wichita, inventor and business, founder of Lear Jet Corporation, creator of 8-track stereo cartridge Lease, Mary Elizabeth, 1853 - 1933, St. Paul, Kingman and Wichita, lawyer and supporter of Populism Lee, H. D., 1849 - 1928, Salina, established H.D. Lee Mercantile Company that produced Lee Rider Jeans Lehrer, Jim, 1934, Wichita and Independence, television journalist, anchor on PBS's The News Hour with Jim Lehrer Leskanich, Katrina, 1960, Topeka, musician, lead singer for Katrina and the Waves Lewis, Chester, 1929 - 1990, Hutchinson, Wichita, state and national leader of the modern Civil Rights Movement Lewis, Meriwether, Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1804 - 1806 Lewis, Delano, Topeka and Arkansas City, U.S. Department of Justice attorney, director of the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda, first African American president of National Public Radio Lieurance, Thurlow, 1878-1963, composer, bandsman with the 22nd Kansas Volunteer Regiment during the Spanish American War, recorded American Indian music Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Troy, Atchison, Leavenworth, 16th president of the United States, visited Kansas in 1859 at the start of his presidential campaign Lindbergh, Charles Augustus, 1902-1974, Bird City, in 1922 lived in Kansas while barnstorming through Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado Livgren, Kerry, 1949, Topeka, original member of the rock group, Kansas Lock, Don, 1936, Topeka and Wichita, Washburn University graduate, baseball player with the Oakland Athletics Loneker, Keith, 1971, Lawrence, football player, lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, screen actor Longren, Dolly, 1893 - 1971, Topeka and Leonardville, aviator and engineer Longren, Albin K., 1882 - 1950, Topeka and Leonardville, aviator and engineer Loo, Miriam, Topeka, co-founder of a greeting card company Lopez, Concepción and Rafael, Wichita, restaurant business, owned and operated long-running Connie's Café Love, Nat, Dodge City, early cowboy Lovejoy, Julia Louisa, 1812-1882, Manhattan and Lawrence, abolitionist Lytle, Lutie, circa 1875 - circa 1950, Topeka, one of the first African American women to be admitted to the practice of law in the United States MMaathai, Wangari Muta , 1940 - , Atchison, founder of an environmental non-governmental organization promoting conservation and women's rights, elected to Kenya's Parliament, recipient of Nobel Peace Prize McBride, Martina, 1966 - , Medicine Lodge, Sharon, singer McCabe, Edward P., 1850 - 1920, Nicodemus, colonizer and the first African-American to serve as state auditor in Kansas McCarter, Margaret Hill, 1860 - 1938, Topeka, teacher, editor, and novelist McCarthy, Kathyrn O'Loughlin, 1894 - 1952, Hays, lawyer and first Kansas woman to serve in the U.S. Congress McCarty, Kelli, 1969, Liberal, Miss U.S.A. 1991 McCormack, Jesse, Moran, the first woman in the United States to pass the examination for bank cashier McCoy, Joseph G., 1837 - 1915, Abilene, cattle trader McCuish, John B., 1906 - 1962, Hillsboro, Newton, 34th governor of Kansas McDaniel, Hattie, 1895 - 1952, Wichita, film actress, Academy Award winner McFarland, Kay, 1935, Topeka, first woman in Kansas to serve as a district judge and as state supreme court justice Magoffin, Susan, 1827-1855, kept a journal of her experience on the Santa Fe Trail McGill, George S., 1879 - 1963, Great Bend, Wichita, Pawnee Rock, Democrat, U.S. senator from Kansas 1930 - 1938, member of the U.S. Tariff Commission McGraw, Phil, 1950 - , Overland Park, television personality, psychologist, known as "Dr. Phil" Malin, James Claude, 1893 - , historian, past president, KSHS Maneval, Rex, 1890 - 1974, Frankfort, inventor and helicopter manufacturer Martin, Glenn Luther "Cy", 1886 - 1955, Liberal and Salina, California mechanic, barnstormer, and aircraft manufacturer Martinez, Jim P., Hutchinson, businessman, in 1969 was first Hispanic elected as city commissioner, then following year was elected Hutchinson mayor Masters, Edgar Lee, 1869 - 1950, Garnett, poet and biographer Masterson, William "Bat", 1853 - 1921, Ford County, sheriff Mathewson, William E., 1830 - 1916, Wichita, trader and trapper, who first earned the title "Buffalo Bill," for supplying setters with buffalo meat Matthews, William D., Fort Scott, captain in the First Kansas Colored Infantry during the Civil War May, Rudy, Coffeyville, major league baseball player Mehringer, Pete, Kinsley, won a gold medal at the 1932 Olympic games in light heavyweight wrestling Menninger, Karl, 1893 - 1990, Topeka, psychiatrist and co-founder of the Menninger Clinic and Foundation Micheaux, Oscar, 1884-1951, Great Bend, first African American feature filmmaker Miles, Vera, 1929, Wichita, television and Broadway actress Miller, Solomon, 1831 - 1897, White Cloud, newspaper editor Mills, William Mervin "Billy," 1938, Lawrence, born at Pine Ridge, South Dakota and a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux), attended Haskell Institute and the University of Kansas, in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympics he became the only American to win the 10,000 meter run Mix, Edward Townsend, 1831 - 1890, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prepared original plans for the Kansas State Capitol—French Renaissance architectural features with Corinthian composite details. Work began in 1866 and Mix's designs were modified by Kansas architect John G. Haskell before the Capitol was completed in 1903. Moore, Bruce, 1905 - 1980, Bern, Wichita, sculptor Mokohoko, Doniphan County, a leader when the removal of the Sac and Foxes from Kansas Montgomery, James, 1814 - 1871, Mound City, one of Kansas's most famous (or infamous) "jayhawkers" Moore, Bruce, 1905 - 1980, Bern, Wichita, sculptor Mudge, Benjamin Franklin, 1817 - 1879, Quindaro, a geologist who was invited to deliver a series of lectures before the legislature NNaismith, James, 1861 - 1939, Lawrence, inventor of the game of basketball and a coach at the University of Kansas Nation, Carry A., 1846 - 1911, Medicine Lodge, temperance advocate Nichols, Clarina I. H., 1810 - 1885, Lawrence, Lane, and Quindaro, women's rights supporter, educator, and newspaper journalist Niven, Lawrence Van Cott, Topeka, Hugo Award-winning science fiction writer Nutter, Corinthian, 1906 - 2004, Kansas City, schoolteacher who helped launch a student walkout at a segregated school OO'Hare, Kath Richards, 1877 - 1948, Ada, Socialist, novelist, anti-war activist Ohno, Mitsugi, 1926-1999, Manhattan, born in Japan, came to Kansas State University to serve as scientific glassblower, where he remained until retirement in 1996, know also for his glass-scale sculptures of ships and historic buildings PPaddleford, Clementine, 1900 - 1967, Stockdale, Manhattan, known as "America's Number One Food Editor," writing for New York Herald Tribune and Gourmet magazine Paretsky, Sara, 1947, Lawrence, born in Iowa and raised in Kansas, Paretsky created the book series featuring female private investigator, V. I. Warshawski Parker, Charlie "Yardbird", 1920 - 1955, Kansas City, jazz saxophonist Parks, Gordon, 1912 - 2006, Fort Scott, photographer, writer, and motion picture director Parks, Larry, 1914 - 1975, Olathe, film actor, nominated for Academy Award for The Jolson Story, 1936 Peffer, William Alfred, 1831 - 1912, U.S. Senator, Kansas, Populist Party Peterson, Cassandra, 1949 - , Manhattan, actress, known as Elvira Petersen, Frank E. Jr., 1932, Topeka, first black brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps, NAACP Man of the Year Pitt, Nancy Louise, circa 1855 - circa 1900, Labette County, early Kansas settler and craftswoman Pitts, Riley L., Wichita, first African American to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam Pitts, ZaSu, 1894 - 1963, Parsons, film and television actress Pratt, John Fenton, 1856 - 1937, Studley, business, sheep rancher Probst, Jeff, 1962 - , Wichita, game show host, received an Emmy Award for hosting the television program, Survivor QQuantrill, William C., 1837 - 1865, Lawrence, Confederate soldier and outlaw RRamey, Samuel, 1942, Colby, opera singer Ramsey, Norman F., 1915, mathematics instructor at the University of Kansas. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1989. Reader, Samuel, 1836 - 1914, Shawnee County, Civil War veteran, amateur artist Reed, Clyde M., Parsons, publisher, governor, and U.S. senator Reeder, Andrew Horatio, 1807 - 1864, Pawnee, the first governor of Kansas Territory, named in Representative Hall Reid, Albert T., 1873 - 1958, Concordia, painter, illustrator, and political cartoonist Remington, Frederic, 1861 - 1909, Peabody, Western painter Renko, Steve, 1944, Kansas City and Fort Scott, pitcher for Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland As Reynolds, James, 1950, Oskaloosa, Topeka, attended Washburn University, actor on ABC Television's "Days of Our Lives," nominated for Daytime Emmy Award Riggins, John, 1949, Centralia, University of Kansas graduate, All-American and all-Big-Eight, played with the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins Ripley, John Wilbur , 1917 - 1990, Topeka, businessman, collected photography, early 20th century music, and lantern slides Robinson, Charles, 1818 - 1894, Lawrence, free-state leader, first governor of the state of Kansas Robinson, Sara T. D., 1827 - 1911, Lawrence, author, Kansas: Its Interior and Exterior Life, was second to Uncle Tom’s Cabin in promoting antislavery sentiment Rogers, Bernard W., 1921, Fairview, served as commander of the NATO forces in Europe Rogers, Charles "Buddy", 1904, Olathe, film actor Roper, Christian "Jim," 1916 - 2000, Halstead, in 1949 became the first NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race winner Ross, Edmund G., 1826 - 1907, Topeka, Lawrence, and Coffeyville, journalist and U.S. senator Rowland, Frank Sherwood, 1927 - , Lawrence, researcher in atmospheric chemistry and chemical kinetics, received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry Rudd, Paul, 1969 - , Overland Park, television and screen actor Runyon, Damon, 1884 - 1946, Manhattan, short story writer and journalist Rupp, Adolph "The Baron", 1901 - 1977, Halstead, basketball coach, played basketball at Kansas University under coach Forrest "Phog" Allen, served four decades as coach at the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Wildcats were named national champions three years after his arrival, retired in 1972 Russell, Bill, 1948, Pittsburg, Los Angeles Dodger shortstop Ryun, Jim, 1947, Wichita, World's Outstanding Athlete in 1966-1967, three-time Olympian, set a world track record for the mile in 1966, U.S. Congress SSt. John, John P., 1833 - 1916, Olathe, governor, national Prohibition Party's presidential candidate, 1884 Salter, Susanna Madora, 1860 - 1961, Argonia, first woman mayor in the nation Sanders, Barry David, 1968, Wichita, running back for Oklahoma State University and Detroit Lions Sandzén, Sven Birger, 1871 - 1954, Lindsborg, artist and professor Santee, Wes, Ashland and Lawrence, the University of Kansas mile runner was known as "Ashland Antelope." He was a sophomore and one of the world's premiere milers when he ran the 5,000 meter race in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Satanta, 1830-1878, called "Orator of the Plains" Sayers, Gale, 1943, Wichita, University of Kansas football star known as "The Kansas Comet," played with the Chicago Bears Sayers, William L., Hill City, early African American county clerk and county attorney Schreffler, Marilyn,1945 - 1988, Topeka, voice of Olive Oyl in the Popeye cartoon series Scott, Elisha, Sr., Topeka, attorney at the local level for Brown v. Board of Education Sebelius, Kathleen, 1948 - , Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, 1995 - 2003; 44th Governor of Kansas, 2003 - 2009; secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama Seaton, Fred Andrew, 1909 - 1974, Manhattan, served as secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Dwight D. Eisenhower Sheldon, Charles M., 1857 - 1946, Topeka, minister and best-selling author Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820 - 1891, Leavenworth, general in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, operated a law practice in Kansas after the war Simpson, Jeremiah "Sockless Jerry", 1842 - 1905, Medicine Lodge, Populist member of U.S. House of Representatives Sinclair, Harry Ford, 1876 - 1956, Independence, Coffeyville, oil industry, founder of Sinclair Oil Company Singleton, Benjamin "Pap", 1809 - 1892, Topeka, Cherokee County, Morris County, ex-slave supporter, organized settlement in Kansas Smith, Dean , Emporia, played basketball at the University of Kansas, head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina Smith, Jedediah Strong, 1799 - 1831, Ulysses, early explorer through Kansas Smith, Marilyn, Topeka, numerous career victories on the LPGA circuit, founder and charter member of the women's golf organization Smith, Vernon L., Milan, received the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for founding the study of experimental economics Smith, William Eugene, 1918 - 1978, Wichita, photojournalist for Newsweek, Life, and Parade; known for humanistic photography Stafford, Terry, 1874 - ?, Topeka, owned bicycle shop that became the Smith Automobile Company Stafford, William Edgar, 1914 - 1933, Hutchinson, poet, winner of the 1963 National Book Award, poet laureate of Oregon, 1975-1993 Stiles, Jackie, 1978, Claflin, basketball player Stinson, Julia, 1834 - after 1914, Tecumseh, Kansas Territory, member of the Shawnee tribe Stone, Dee Wallace, Kansas City, television and film actress Stone, Fred Andrew, 1873 - 1959, Topeka, vaudeville, song and dance man Stone, Jesse, 1901 - 1999, Atchison, jazz musician and composer Stone, Milburn, 1904 - 1980, Burrton, television actor Stout, Rex, 1886 - 1975, Topeka, mystery writer Stover, Clara, 1893 - 1975, Kansas City, with her husband, Russell, started candy company in their home Stover, Russell, 1888 - 1954, Alton and Kansas City, with his wife, Clara, started candy company in their home Strowger, Almon Brown, 1839 - 1902, Topeka, El Dorado, Kansas City patents rotary dial telephone Sudeikis, Jason, 1975 - , Overland Park, actor/comedian Sutherland, Earl, 1915 - 1974, Burlingame, winner of the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1971 Swayze, John Cameron, 1906, Wichita, radio and television commentator Switzer, Veryl, Nicodemus and Manhattan, professional football player, college professor TTaka, Uhsah, member of the Chaui band of Pawnee Talley, Marion, Colby, opera singer Taylor, Lucy Hobbs, 1833 - 1910, Lawrence, the first fully-trained woman dentist in the world Ten Bears, born Paruasemena, circa 1790 - 1872, Medicine Lodge, member of Comanche nation, helped negotiate peace with the United States Thompson, Bradbury, 1911, Topeka, designer and art director Thorpe, Jim, 1887 - 1953, Lawrence, Sac and Fox, among the greatest athletes of 20th century Tinker, Clarence Leonard, 1887 - 1942, Elgin, Lawrence, of Osage descent, attended Haskell Institute. He was named Commander of the Air Forces in Hawaii and promoted to Major General. He was killed when his B-24 crashed during the Battle of Midway, the first American general to die during the war. Tinker Air Base in Oklahoma City is named for him. Tinker, Joe, Muscotah, shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, known for the double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1946 Todd, Lucinda, 1903 - 1966, Topeka, one of 13 plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka landmark U.S. Supreme Court case to desegregate schools Toler, Sidney, 1874 - 1947, Wichita, screen actor, playwright, and producer Tombaugh, Clyde, 1906 - 1997, Burdette, astronomer, discovered the planet Pluto in 1930 Torrez, Mike, 1946, Topeka, major league baseball player UUnderwood, Elmer, 1859 - 1947, and Underwood, Bert , 1862 - 1943, Ottawa, photographers, businessmen VVance, Vivian, 1909 - 1979, Cherryvale, television actress Vernon, William, Quindaro/Kansas City, college president, bishop WWaggoner, Lyle, Kansas City, television actor Walker, Mort, 1923 - , El Dorado, cartoonist, created of Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois Waller, John Lewis, Lawrence and Kansas City, lawyer, editor, U.S. consul to Madagascar Walsh, Joe, 1947 - , Wichita, guitarist, songwriter, rock musician with the James Gang and the Eagles Walt, Lewis, 1913 - 1989, Harveyville, former assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Ware, Eugene Fitch, 1841 - 1911, Fort Scott, Topeka, illustrious citizen serving as a soldier, lawyer, politician, and author Watson, Tom, 1949, Overland Park, professional golfer Warkentin, Bernard, 1849-1908, Newton, Halstead. Warkentin was born in Crimea, Southern Russia, and was among the Mennonite settlers who came to Kansas in 1873. He imported Turkey Red Wheat to Kansas and established a milling operation. Wayland, Julius Augustus 1854 - 1912, Girard, founder of Socialist newspaper, Appeal to Reason Wedel, Waldo R., 1908-1996, North Newton, served as archeologist for the Nebraska State Historical Society where he conducted extensive research and excavations, served as field director for the Smithsonian Missouri River Basin Surveys Projects, and was archeologist emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution's U.S. National Museum Welch, Larry D., Liberal, commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command, served as vice chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force Wendelin, Rudolph, 1910 - 2000, Rawlins County, created Smokey the Bear design White, Kathrine, 1903 - 1988, Cawker City, Emporia, editor, Emporia Gazette, after the death of her husband, William Lindsay White White, William Allen, 1868 - 1944, Emporia, editor, publisher, author, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, author of noted editorials "What's the Matter With Kansas?" and "Mary White." White, William Lindsay, 1900 - 1973, Emporia, editor, correspondent during World War II, author of They Were Expendable and Journey for Margaret, both of which were adapted for motion picture Whittaker, Charles E., 1901 - 1973, Troy, U.S. Supreme Court justice Wieschaus, Eric F. , 1947 - , Lawrence, biologist, co-recipient in 1995 of the Nobel Prize in Physiology Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867 - 1957, Independence, writer of children's books who lived in Kansas from 1869 - 1871 Willard, Jess, 1881 - 1968, Emmett, world heavyweight boxing champion Williams, Mamie, 1894 - 1986, Topeka, Educator Willkie, Wendell, 1892 - 1944, Coffeyville, 1940 Republican presidential candidate Wilson, Thomas Bayne, 1892 – 1963, Williamsburg, served as chief of transportation for General Douglas MacArthur during World War II Woodard, Lynette, 1959 - , Wichita, basketball standout at University of Kansas, captain of U.S. women's basketball team that won gold medal, first woman on the Harlem Globetrotters Woodring, Harry Hines, 1887 - 1967, Elk City, banker, Democratic governor of Kansas, U.S. Secretary of War Wooster, Lorraine Elizabeth, 1868 -1953, Beloit, in 1918 became the first woman elected to statewide office in Kansas, as state superintendent of public instruction she served two terms Wright, Chely, 1970 - , Wellsville, singer XYZ |
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