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Famous people · Janesville

41 famous people come from Janesville, Paul Ryan the best known

Paul Ryan leads the list, covered in 59 languages. Second and third on the list are Russ Feingold and Bryan Steil. The largest group, 18, was born between 1920 and 1969. Births since 1970 account for 9 of the names.

#2 best knownRuss FeingoldPolitics & Law · born 1953
+37more
Born here
41
notable people
Best known
Paul Ryan
in 59 Wikipedia languages
First
1849
John Henry Comstock
Youngest
1996
Nate Trewyn
Most common field
Sports
15 people

What stands out about Janesville’s famous people

★ What stands out · The best known

Born in Janesville

The three best known are all leaders.

PR#1
Politics & Law

Paul Ryan

born 1970

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019

59 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Russ Feingold#2
Politics & Law

Russ Feingold

born 1953

Wisconsin politician; three-term U.S. Senator

30 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Bryan Steil#3
Politics & Law

Bryan Steil

born 1981

U.S. Representative from Wisconsin

14 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Janesville’s famous people were born

The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 7 births.

A new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday1850190019502000Larry HoughJames BuddBryan Steil
SportsPolitics & LawNotableBusinessMilitaryScience & MedicineMusicWriting & Arts

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Known for

What Janesville is known for

Janesville has 2.8× the usual share of business people.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Janesville

A further 38 follow, born between 1849 and 1996.

James Budd

James Budd

1851–1908

Governor of California

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Harold P. Brown

Harold P. Brown

?–1944

American inventor

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
John Henry Comstock

John Henry Comstock

1849–1931

American entomologist

Steve Preston

Steve Preston

born 1960

American civil servant

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Tucker Fredricks

Tucker Fredricks

born 1984

American speed skater

Mistie Mims

Mistie Mims

born 1983

American basketball player

Milton Robert Carr

Milton Robert Carr

1943–2024

American politician from Michigan

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
KH

Ken Hendricks

1941–2007

American businessman

CS

Charles Alden Seltzer

1875–1942

Writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
CW

Claron A. Windus

1850–1927

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

DM

David W. Márquez

born 1946

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
FN

F. S. C. Northrop

1893–1992

American philosopher

JF

Jim Fitzgerald

1926–2012

American entrepreneur and businessman

JA

John Atwood

1923–2008

American football player

AH

Aurelia Harwood

1865–1928

American conservationist

BS

Bob Strampe

born 1950

American baseball player

DC

Dave Considine

born 1952

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
DA

David Adamany

1936–2016

Political scientist, academic, eighth president of Wayne State University (1982-1997); eighth president of Temple University

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
JB

John Boie

born 1991

American wheelchair basketball player

The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Of the towns nearby, 2 have famous names listed.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Janesville and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (14)