Notable Births & Deaths for Prairie Center ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Prairie Center. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

• Hugh 'Lumpy' Brannum     (Vocalist, arranger, composer, actor)
  • He was born in Sandwich (IL) on January 5, 1910 (a Wednesday) and died in East Stroudsburg (PA) on April 19, 1987 (a Sunday) at the age of 77. The body was cremated.
  • Sandwich is located 20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Hugh 'Lumpy' Brannum<1>
• Jessie Davis     (Opera Singer)
  • Full name: Jessie Bartlett Davis
  • She was born in Morris (IL) in September 1859 and died in Chicago (IL) on May 14, 1905 (a Sunday). She is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Morris is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the east of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Jessie Davis<1>
• Sam 'Mad Sam' DeStefano     (Crime figure)
  • He was born in Streator (IL) on September 13, 1909 (a Monday) and died in Chicago (IL) on April 14, 1973 (a Saturday) at the age of 63. He is buried at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Streator is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the south of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Sam 'Mad Sam' DeStefano<1>
• Frank Wesley Griffith     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Gilman (IL) on November 18, 1872 (a Monday) and died in Waterman (IL) on December 13, 1908 (a Sunday) at the age of 36.
  • Waterman is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the north of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frank Wesley Griffith<1>
• Paul Harvey     (Actor)
  • Full name: Roy Paul Harvey
  • He was born in Sandwich (IL) on September 10, 1882 (a Sunday) and died somewhere in Los Angeles County on December 15, 1955 (a Thursday) at the age of 73. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Sandwich is located 20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Paul Harvey<1>
• Thomas S. 'Jumbo' Lynch     (1884/08/05:1884/08/05)
  • He was born in Peru (IL) on January 1, 1863 (a Thursday) and died in Peru (IL) on May 13, 1903 (a Wednesday) at the age of 40. We don't have any burial details.
  • Peru is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest of Prairie Center.
  • Peru is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Thomas S. 'Jumbo' Lynch<1>
• Edward Patrick 'Slip' Madigan     (Professional football, coach)
  • He was born in Ottawa (IL) on November 18, 1896 (a Wednesday) and died in Oakland (CA) on October 10, 1966 (a Monday) at the age of 69. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery (Alameda County, California).
  • Ottawa is located 9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Edward Patrick 'Slip' Madigan<1>
• Johnston McCulley     (Author)
  • Full name: John William Johnston McCulley
  • He was born in Ottawa (IL) on February 2, 1883 (a Friday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on November 23, 1958 (a Sunday) at the age of 75. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Ottawa is located 9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Johnston McCulley<1>
• Russ 'The Mad Monk' Meyer     (Major League Baseball)
  • Full name: Russell Charles Meyer
  • He was born in Peru (IL) on October 25, 1923 (a Thursday) and died in Oglesby (IL) on November 16, 1997 (a Sunday) at the age of 74. He is buried at Peru City Cemetery (La Salle County, Illinois).
  • Peru is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest of Prairie Center.
  • Oglesby is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Russ 'The Mad Monk' Meyer<1>
• John J. Molenda     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Oglesby (IL) on February 20, 1905 (a Monday) and died in Banning (CA) on July 20, 1986 (a Sunday) at the age of 81. He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery (Riverside County, California).
  • Oglesby is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: John J. Molenda<1>
• George 'Lefty' Pierce     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Shabbona Grove (IL) on February 10, 1888 (a Friday) and died in Joliet (IL) on October 11, 1935 (a Friday) at the age of 47. He is buried at Plainfield Twp. Cemetery (Will County, Illinois).
  • Shabbona Grove is located 18 miles [29 km] to the north of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: George 'Lefty' Pierce<1>
• Polly Platt     (Producer, screenwriter)
  • She was born in Sheridan (IL) on January 29, 1939 (a Sunday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on July 27, 2011 (a Wednesday) at the age of 72. She is buried at Green - Wood Cemetery (Kings County, New York).
  • Sheridan is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the east of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Polly Platt<1>
• Douglas Spencer     (Actor)
  • Born: William Henry Mesenko
  • He was born in Princeton (IL) on February 10, 1910 (a Thursday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on October 6, 1960 (a Thursday) at the age of 50. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery (Bureau County, Illinois).
  • Princeton is located 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Douglas Spencer<1>
• Clyde William Tombaugh     (Astronomer, discoverer of Pluto)
  • He was born in Streator (IL) on February 4, 1906 (a Sunday) and died in Las Cruces (NM) on January 17, 1997 (a Friday) at the age of 90. The body was cremated.
  • Streator is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the south of Prairie Center.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Clyde William Tombaugh<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Prairie Center. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for La Salle County: www.lasallecounty.org/

The official website for State of Illinois: https://illinois.gov