James Whitcomb Riley

Biography

James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet born in 1849, gave voice to childhood wonder and rural rhythms through verse that delighted readers across the nation. His dialect poems and lullabies, recited from stages and in print, brought comfort during times of change.

He championed libraries and literacy, ensuring that his beloved Indiana would remember both the simple pleasures and the deep feelings of everyday life. Crown Hill Cemetery now shelters the man known as the "Hoosier Poet," whose words continue to echo in homes and schools.