Baby Face Nelson - Gangster

Gangster Baby Face Nelson attended St. Patrick's Academy in Momence for a short time in 1918. Click the link below to read his story. 

Credits: YouTube /Files of the FBI

Famous Chicago Jazz artist, Eddie Condon lived in Momence from 1905 until 1914. Click the link below to read his story. 

Credit: YouTube

Chef Shabbona, also known as Shabonee and Shaubena, (c. 1775-1859) was a Ottawa tribe member who became a chef within the Potawatomi tribe in Illinois during the 19th century. 

Credits: Kay Hess "The Making of a River Town" / History and Folklore of the Indians of Kankakee Land.

The Inter Ocean, Chicago 1907 Newspaper interview with 96-year-old A.S. Vail.

 “In 1836 I came West with Mr. Hardin Beebe and his family. They settled on a claim later, known as Beebe’s Grove, which was not far from what is now Crete, Ill.  

Credits: Inter Ocean, Chicago 1907 Newspaper

Jacob Ruger was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, on December 11, 1835. He lived in his native land until about seventeen years of age, where he learned the harness-making trade, of which he became a master.  

Credits: Momence Paper / Graham Historic House / Prairie Family / Momence Library

The original Biblical Garden of Eden has been found. It is located in Illinois on the banks of the beautiful Kankakee River. It was discovered by Daniel Parmalee, who is a noted pioneer, trapper, and hunter.

Credits: Kay Hess / Inter Ocean  Newspaper / Graham Historic House/ Nancy Porter.

Lieutenant Pat O'Brien was one of the first Americans to fight in World War I and the first American-born pilot to escape as a prisoner of war during that conflict. 

Start the video in "FIND OUT MORE" at 21:05

Credits: Kevin McNulty / Travel Channel's "Mysteries at the Museum"/ Graham Historic House

Born in 1914 in a small farming community of Momence, Illinois, William Tabler spent many happy childhood hours helping his father run the family lumber and grain business. 

Credit: Horatio Alger Association 

Colonel James Kasler (May 2, 1926 - April 24, 2014) was the only person to be awarded the Air Force Cross three times. The Air Force Cross ranks just below the Medal of Honor as an award for extraordinary heroism in combat.
 

Credits: Martha and Jim Kasler Jr. / Wikipedia / YouTube / Kankakee Library

Janet Hubert is best known for playing the sassy, witty, outgoing, protective mom on the hit TV sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Janet spent most of her childhood growing up in Momence, IL.

Janet was the 1973 Momence Homecoming Queen. 

Credits: Momence Yearbook and IMDB Bio. 

Famous Jazz Artist, Orbert Davis was born in Chicago and raised in Momence, IL. He began playing trumpet around ten but was not formally instructed until teacher Charles Danish, a Momence elementary school teacher, found him a trumpet teacher and drove him to lessons.

Credits: YouTube /Wikipedia  

Ted Petersen, a Momence native and two-time Super Bowl champion in the 1970s with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Credits: Steelers.com / Kankakee Podcast.