James Whitcomb Riley - Songs of Friendship: "Think of him still as the same, I say. He is not dead-he is just away."

James Whitcomb Riley, known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet," rose to fame through his regional dialect poetry, particularly with his collection 'Boone County Poems.' Despite a troubled early career marked by temporary jobs and struggles with alcohol, he gained national recognition and enjoyed success on speaking circuits. However, his later works faced criticism, leading to declining sales. After a final tour in 1895, he retired to write patriotic poetry until his death in 1916, receiving a remarkable public tribute in Indiana.