These 5 Iconic Families Gave Us Many Things to Love in Illinois

I think we can all agree that Illinois is home to many powerful people and families both past and present, good and bad. If you're ever on a quest to discover Illinois families who have generations of impact on our state's history, you will likely find these 5 names come up the most.

The Pullman Family

First on the list is the Pullman family. George Pullman, the founder of the Pullman Palace Car Company, was an industrialist and inventor who revolutionized the railway industry with his luxury sleeper cars. He also built the town of Pullman, just outside of Chicago, as a model industrial community for his factory workers. The Pullman family's impact on Illinois is still felt today through the Pullman National Monument and the Pullman neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

The Wrigley Family

Next is the Wrigley family. William Wrigley Jr. was a businessman who started his career as a soap salesman and eventually became the founder of the Wrigley chewing gum empire. His company, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company was responsible for some of the most popular chewing gum brands in the world, such as Juicy Fruit and Doublemint. The Wrigley family's legacy lives on through the Wrigley Building in Chicago and  Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

The Field Family

The Field family is another historic family in Illinois. Marshall Field was a businessman and philanthropist who founded the Marshall Field and Company department store in Chicago, which was one of the largest and most successful department stores in the world during its time. The Field family also made a significant impact on the cultural and educational scene of Illinois through the Art Institute of Chicago, which was founded by Marshall Field and other members of the family.

The Palmer Family

The Palmer family is also an important historic family in Illinois. Potter Palmer was a businessman and philanthropist who was instrumental in the development of Chicago's famous State Street shopping district and the Palmer House Hotel. His wife, Bertha Palmer, was also a prominent figure in Chicago's social and cultural scene, and she played a major role in the city's World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.

The McCormick Family

Finally, the McCormick family is a significant historic family in Illinois. Cyrus McCormick was an inventor and businessman who developed the mechanical reaper, the revolutionary farming machine that greatly increased the efficiency of harvesting crops. The McCormick family's impact on Illinois is still felt today through McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, and the McCormick Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports various causes in the state.

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