Famous People of Beech Grove, Indiana

The quiet but spiffy Indianapolis suburb known as Beech Grove can hold up several names of famous Beech Grove residents.

Some of these notables are historic figures that carved a lasting niche in the annals of the town’s progress. Early residents that will forever remain prominent on the list of famous Beech Grove people come from families such as the Cottmans, the MacGregors, the Churchmans and the Boltons.

Sara T. Bolton, a poet and women’s rights champion, patriot and ardent political activist during the 1800’s, is the town’s best-known citizen from the past. Though she was born in Kentucky, this interesting woman lived for many years on South 17th Avenue in Beech Grove, a family farm dubbed Beech Bank. The Bolton Farm was later developed by the city of Beech Grove into the Sarah T. Bolton Park, now an important and beautiful green space for citizens to meet, play and relax in.

By far the most famous Beech Grove people, however, are two stars of the silver screen, Clifton Webb and Steve McQueen. Both were born in Beech Grove, both were taken away as infants and neither of the two actors spent any more significant time there.

But the very fact that their biographies list the small Midwest community as their birthplace lends Beech Grove the type of distinction that few other cities in Indiana can claim.