Gen Samuel Bell “Sam” Maxey (1825 - 1895)

Civil War Confederate Major General.Maxey was born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. Maxey served in the West and led Native Americans troops in Indian Territory. Maxey attended West Point and graduated in 1846, second to last in a class of 59. He was sent immediately to fight in the Mexican War. He fought at the Battle of […]

Col Leland James Holland (1927 - 1990)

United States Army Colonel. One of the 52 Americans held hostage by Iran from 1979 to 1981. (bio by: Erik Lander)

Red Jacket (1970 - 1830)

Native American Indian Chief. Born Sagoyewatha in Geneva, New York, he was Chief of the Seneca Wolf clan. He fought on the side of the British in the American Revolution and was named Red Jacket from his wearing British red coats. After the hostilities, as the British ceded their territories to the Americans, Red Jacket […]

LeRoy Whitfield (1969 - 2005)

Journalist and Writer. He was born in Chicago and died in Harlem. He used a magazine column to chronicle the everyday struggles of people with H.I.V. He moved to New York in 2000, where he became one of the nation’s leading journalists reporting on AIDS among African-Americans. He had written a column titled “Native Tongue” […]

Josiah Winslow (1629 - 1680)

Governor of Plymouth Colony. The son of Mayflower Pilgrim and Governor Edward Winslow, Josiah was educated at Harvard. In 1656 he succeeded Myles Standish as commander of the colony’s military forces. Winslow was Plymouth’s assistant governor from 1657 to 1673, and Plymouth’s Commissioner to the New England Confederation from 1658 to 1672. He became governor […]

Daria Trafankowska (1954 - 2004)

Actress. A native of Poland, best known in her native country for her role in the soap opera “Na dobre i na zle.” She appeared in several international films including 1984’s “The Year of the Quiet Sun” and 1987’s “The Young Magician.” (bio by: Butterfly)

Gerald Jerry Plotkin (1934 - 1996)

One of the 52 Americans held hostage by Iran from 1979 to 1981. He was the only non-governmental employee amongst the hostages. (bio by: Erik Lander)

Charles William Hargens, Jr (1893 - 1997)

Painter. The son of a country doctor, he was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He later moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. During these times he was able to sell his realistic drawings of neighbor’s homesteads and barns for extra money. He also came in connect with Native Americans and western landscapes which would influence […]

Robert R. “Satch” Armstrong (1931 - 1990)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Toronto, Ontario, ‘Bob’ Armstrong stood 6’01, and weighed 180lbs. He played the position of Defense for teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), American Hockey League (AHL), and the Eastern Pacific Hockey League (EPHL), including the Boston Bruinns from 1950 to 1962, Hershey Bears from 1951 to 1952, Springfield […]

Thomas “Broken Hand” Fitzpatrick (1970 - 1854)

Explorer. US Indian Agent. He was one of the “Mountain Men,” a group of explorers credited with opening up the western United States. During his travels, he discovered the “South Pass” through the Rocky Mountains. The South Pass became a main passage into the Oregon Territory for settlers. He worked as a guide, among the […]

John Prentiss “Print” Matthews (1840 - 1883)

Social Refomer. Known as “Print” Matthews, he led a coalition of African Americans and small landowners in his native Copiah County, Mississippi during Reconstruction, with himself serving as county sheriff. After the withdrawal of federal troops enforcing African-American suffrage, this coalition became untenable, with white supremacists using terror tactics like night riding, church burning, and […]

Claude Earl “Chuck” Rayner (1920 - 2002)

Hall of Fame Professional Hockey Player. A native of Sutherland, Saskatchewan, he played as a goalie for the New York Americans from 1940 to 1941, and the New York Rangers from 1945 to 1955.  He was the recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1950, and was the Second All-Star Team Goalie in 1949, 1950, […]

Chief Tecumseh (1768 - 1813)

Early 19th Century Native American Leader. He is remembered as the chief of a large tribal Native American confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh’s War (the conflict between the US and Native Americans in the area of the Northwest Territory from about 1809 to late 1811) and the War of 1812. It is […]

Chief Young Man Afraid of His Horses (1970 - 1893)

Oglala Chief. Born Tasunka Kokipapi which roughly translates to ‘the man of whose horse we are afraid’ meaning that the bearer of the name was so feared in battle that the mere sight of his horse inspired fear. During the Red Cloud War of 1866, he was one of the leading lieutenants for Red Cloud. […]

Frederick William Sievers (1872 - 1966)

Sculptor. Known for his busts and statues of famous Americans which are displayed in various cities. (bio by: Laurie)

Edward Cole “Eddie” Oatman (1889 - 1973)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Springford, Ontario, Oatman played for teams in the PCHA, WCHL, AHA, CAHL, and the CHL Hockey Leagues. He played for the Victoria Aristocrats from 1920 to 1922, Victoria Cougars from 1922 to 1923, Calgary Tigers from 1923 to 1926, Minneapolis Millers from 1926 to 1927, Boston Tigers from 1927 […]

Madame Sul-Te-Wan (1873 - 1959)

American actress. The daughter of freed slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the east coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high profile films such as Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance […]

Thomas William Sweeny (1820 - 1892)

Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Ireland, he moved to America in 1832 and settled in New York City. He joined the Baxter Blues, militia company in 1843, his unit fought in the Mexican War and his right arm was amputated after being wounded. After he recuperated, he fought against Native Americans in the […]

Alexander “Boots” Smith (1902 - 1963)

Professional Hockey Player. Smith who was a native of Bootle, England, played for teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), International Hockey League (IHL), Eastern Hockey League (EHL), Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL), and the IAHL. Smith played the position of Defense for the Ottawa Senators from 1924 to 1931, 1932 to 1933, and 1945 […]

Art Chapman (1906 - 1962)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he played the position of Center for the Natonal Hockey League’s Boston Bruins from 1930 to 1934, and the New York Americans from 1933 to 1941. He was a member of the 1937 NHL Second All-Star Team, and played in the 1937 NHL All-Star Game. He retired […]

Asher Tyler (1798 - 1875)

US Congressman. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1817, studied law and became a lawyer in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County. He was Agent for the Devereaux Land Company and then the Erie Railroad, and was also involved in local politics and government. In 1842 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Whig […]

Pompey Factor (1970 - 1928)

Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Indian Wars as a Private in the Indian Scouts, which were Native Americans in the United States Army service. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Pecos River, Texas on April 25, 1875. His citation reads “With 3 other men, he participated […]

Marty Barry (1905 - 1969)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Quebec City, Quebec, Barry played for teams in the CAHL, NHL, AHA, and the IAHL hockey leagues. At 6’00”, and 195lbs, he played the position of Center for the Philadelphia Arrows from 1927 to 1928, New York Americans from 1927 to 1928, New Haven Eagles from 1928 to 1929, […]

Clifford Joseph “Fido” Purpur (1912 - 2001)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Purpur played for teams in the CHL, NHL, USHL, AHA, USHL, and the NCAA hockey leagues. At 5’5″, and 157lbs, Purpur played for the Grand Forks Falcons from 1931 to 1932, Minneapolis Millers from 1933 to 1935, St. Louis Eagles from 1934 to 1935, St. […]

Hank Edward “Coon” Ciesla (1934 - 1976)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Ciesla played the position of Center for teams in the OHA, NHL, and the AHL. At 6’02”, and 190lbs, Ciesla played for the St. Catharines Teepees from 1951 to 1952, 1954 to 1955, Chicago Blackhawks from 1955 to 1957, New York Rangers from 1957 to 1959, […]

Benjamin Alden Bidlack (1804 - 1849)

US Congressman. Elected to represent Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives, he served from 1841 to 1845. He also served as a Member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1835, and as the United States Charge d’Affaires to New Grenada from 1845 until his death in 1849. This monument with the […]

Edmund Francis Cooke (1885 - 1967)

US Congressman. Born in Prescott, Arizona, he moved with his parents to Alden, New York, in 1887. There he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1910, practiced law in Alden and served as a member of the New York Assembly, (1923-28). In 1929, he was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-first and […]

Hugh Edward “Yug” Bolton (1929 - 1999)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Bolton played the position of Defense for teams in the NHL, AHL, QHL, OHA-JR, OHA-SR, and the Al-Cup hockey leagues. At 6’03”, and 192lbs, Bolton played for the Toronto Young Rangers from 1945 to 1947, Toronto Marlboros from 1947 to 1950, Toronto Maple Leafs from 1949 to […]

John Boyle O’Reilly (1844 - 1890)

Social Reformer. Irish Republican Brotherhood member who enlisted in the British Army in Dublin in 1865 to recruit Irish rebels. Convicted of treason by a Dublin court martial in 1866, he was transported to Australia in 1867, in the last group of convicts sent there from England. He escaped on an American whaling ship to […]

Bertram Harold “Bert” McInenly (1906 - 1993)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Montreal, Quebec, McInenly was 5’07”, and played the position of Defense for teams in the CPHL, IHL, NHL, CAHL, IAHL, and the AHL Hockey Leagues. He played for the Detroit Olympics from 1928 to 1930, Detroit Falcons from 1930 to 1932, New York Americans from 1931 to 1932, Ottawa […]