Major league baseball players, a famous singer and others are buried here in Rockford area cemeteries.

Whenever I visit a cemetery, I can't help but read the names on other stones. I know I'm not the only one.

Each one of the stones represents an extraordinary life lived here on planet Earth. Each unique with it's own story.

Winnebago County is home to many cemeteries. While walking through you may stumble upon the graves of these famous individuals.

Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford

1. Roscoe Charles Barnes

May 8, 1850 - February 5, 1915
Barnes was a major league baseball player with Chicago in 1876. He was considered the league's finest player with many accomplishments. He won two batting titles in the National Association, he was the National League's first batting leader, he specialized in "fair-foul" hits, short bunts that landed fair and many more.

2. William Bebb

October 8, 1802 - October 23, 1873
Bebb was the Governor of Ohio. He also was an attorney as a partner of U.S. congressman John Woods. He was a devoted campaigner for the presidential campaign of William H. Harrison and John Tyler. He was also an advocate and supported racial equality.

3. John Theodore Buckbee

August 1, 1871 - April 23, 1936
Buckbee was born in Rockford and later became a U.S. Congressman. He played an important role in agriculture and horticulture over seas and established a seed business in Rockford.

4. Stan Campbell

August 26, 1930 - March 14, 2005
Campbell graduated from high school in Rochelle and went on to play football for Iowa State. He then was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1952 and played as an offensive guard in the NFL for nine years. He played for the Detroit Lions (1952, 1955-58), Philadelphia Eagles (1959-61), and finished up with the Oakland Raiders (1961). He won three championships (Detroit 1952, 1957 and Philadelphia 1960) and missed out on another while in the service in the Army. He retired from football at 31 years old.

5. Julia Clifford Lathrop

June 29, 1858 - April 15, 1932
Lathrop was a friend of Jane Addams and worked as a county visitor and later served as a member of the Illinois State Board of Charities. She was appointed by President William Howard Taft to head the Children's Bureau, as part of the Department of Labor. She served as chief until 1912.

6. William Lathrop

April 17, 1825 - November 19, 1907
Lathrop was the City Attorney of Rockford in 1852, a member of the State House of Representatives in 1856-1857 then elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth Congress serving until 1879.

7. Loyd Wheaton

July 15, 1838 - September 17, 1918
Wheaton served as a Major General in the Union Army and was awarded the Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 8th Illinois Infantry for action at Fort Blakely, Alabama.

Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Rockford

8. Harold Gust Carlson

May 17, 1892 - May 28, 1930
Carlson was born in Rockford and on April 13, 1917 debuted as a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1917-1923, Philadelphia Phillies from 1924-1927 and the Chicago Cubs from 1928-1930. He pitched for Chicago in the 1929 World Series.

9. Betty Everette

November 23, 1939 - August 19, 2001
Everette is best known for her 1964 hit "The Shoop Shoop song (It's in His Kiss). Other memorable songs include "You're No Good" and "Getting Mighty Crowded."

10. Elon John Farnsworth

July 30, 1837 - July 3, 1863
Farnsworth was promoted from Captain to Brigadier General on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg along with Wesley Merrit and George Custer during the Civil War.

11. Dottie Ferguson Key

February 17, 1923 - May 8, 2003
Key played 10 seasons with the Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was the muse for Mae "All the Way" Mordabito character in A League of Their Own played by Madonna.