Elouise Pepion Cobell (1945 - 2011)

Native American Leader. An elder of the Niitsi’tapi people, she worked as treasurer of the Blackfeet Nation. During the course of her job, she noticed irregularities that led her to question the federal government’s management of Indian trust funds. As a result, she became the lead plaintiff in Cobell v. Salazar, a class-action lawsuit against […]

John C Cremony (1970 - 1879)

Civil War Union Army Officer, Author. A native of Maine, Cremony first saw military service with the coming of the Mexican War and served as a Lieutenant with the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. After the war he was hired as a journalist for the Boston Herald until 1849, when he was recruited to be an interpreter […]

Stan Smrke (1928 - 1977)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Smrke played the position of Left Wing for teams in the NHL, EHL, QSHL, QHL, and the AHL hockey leagues. At 5’11, and 180lbs, Smrke played for the Copper Cliff Jr. Redmen from 1945 to 1946, Atlantic City-Baltimore from 1947 to 1948, Chicoutimi Volants from 1948 to […]

George Lovington “Sassafrass” Winter (1878 - 1951)

Major League Baseball Player. He was right hander pitcher, making his debut for the for the Boston Americans on June 15, 1901. For eight-seasons, he played with the Boston Americans 1901-08) and part of the 1908, season with the Detroit Tigers. Altough he was not a part of the Boston Americans World Series win in […]

LTC George Croghan (1791 - 1849)

Lieutenant Colonel US Army. Known as the “Hero of Fort Stephenson” his leadership in deterring the British forces as they attempted to enter northern Ohio has been called the turning point of the War of 1812 by many historians. Born in Locust Grove, Kentucky he enlisted as a private in 1811 serving under Major General […]

Laudas Joseph “Duke” Dukowski (1900 - 1976)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1926 to 1927, and from 1929 to 1931, and the New York Americans from 1930 to 1931, and from 1932 to 1934. Originally going by the name Dutkowski, he dropped the ‘T’ from his name. After his hockey days he […]

Darryl Hayward Sly (1939 - 2007)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Collingwood, Ontario, he played at the position of defense for six seasons (1965 to 1971) in the National Hockey League. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, and the Vancouver Canucks. His NHL career consisted of 79 games, 1 goal, and 2 assists. Besides the NHL, […]

Natalie Curtis Burlin (1875 - 1921)

Ethnomusicologist.  Curtis studied at New York’s National Conservatory of Music and in Europe.  After a 1900 trip in which she visited Arizona’s Hopi Indian reservation, she decided to devote herself to collecting and preserving Native American music.  Transcribing lyrics with pencil and paper and recording the songs with an Edison cylinder recorder, her work brought […]

Laura Adorkor “Mother Kofi” Kofi (1970 - 1928)

Social Reformer. A native of Ghana, she founded “The African Universal Church and Commercial League” in the United States. Its aim was to repatriate African-Americans back to the homeland of their forefathers in West Africa. She was assassinated on the pulpit. Cause of death: assassinated

Leonard Cecil “Len” Grosvenor (1905 - 1981)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, he played at the position of Center and Right Wing for a total of seven seasons (1927 to 1933) in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators, New York Americans, and the Montreal Canadiens. His total NHL career consisted of 144 games played, 9 goals scored, […]

Rev David Brainerd (1718 - 1747)

American Missionary to Native Americans. Died of tuberculosis at the home of Jonathan Edwards in Northhampton, Massachusetts. He was close to Edward’s daughter, Jerusha (who is buried next to Brainerd). His Journal was published and has had a telling effect on many Christians since, including John Wesley, founder of Methodism.  Family links:  Parents:  Hezekiah Brainerd […]

Alonzo Wright (1898 - 1976)

First African-American to have a gas staion franchise (Standard Oil).  By 1930’s had 11 stations, and by the 1940’s, employed more African-Americans than anyone in the U.S.  Also made a plan for African-Americans to work their way through college, one of which was Jesse Owens. (bio by: Ginny M)

Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967)

Renowned Poet Lauerate of African Americans. He translated the joy, pain and love of African Americans to the world. He is buried at the Schomburg Library of African American Culture in Harlem. (bio by: Dianne Washington)  Family links:  Parents:  Caroline Mercer Langston Clark (1873 – 1938)Cause of death: Cancer

Antoine Le Claire (1797 - 1861)

Pioneer. First white settler in Iowa. Co-founder of the city of Davenport, Iowa. Le Claire, Iowa is named for him. He acted as an interpreter for the US government in dealings with Native Americans in the midwest, notably providing his services at the signing of the treaty which secured the Black Hawk Purchase, which included […]

Tony Hemmerling (1911 - 1983)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Landis, Saskatchewan, he played the position of Left Wing for the New York Americans from 1936 to 1937. He passed away in Spokane, Washington, at the age of 72. (bio by: K)

Leslie Roy “Les” Cunningham (1913 - 1993)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Calgary, Alberta, he played as a center for the New York Americans from 1936 to 1937, and the Chicago Blackhawks from 1947 to 1949. (bio by: K)  Family links:  Spouse:  Kay Cunningham (1914 – 1990)* *Calculated relationship

Phil Lucas (1942 - 2007)

Film Maker. For four decades, he was known as one of the foremost Native American filmmakers. Himself a Choctaw Indian, he produced or directed more than 100 television shows, films, documentaries and consulted on how to accurately portray Native Americans. Among his works was the 1980 PBS series “Images of Indians,” co-produced the early 1990s […]

Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (1793 - 1864)

Indian Agent. Explorer. Author. He was involved with the Native Americans of the Midwest for over thirty years. While working with the Chippewa, he was the first to discover and report the true source of the Mississippi River. It is believe that he was the first non-Native American to visit Lake Itasca while looking for […]

Rev Frederic Baraga (1797 - 1868)

Religious Leader. He was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Upper Michigan. A priest to the Ojibway Indians, his efforts to evanglize these Native Americans and to improve their lives was well known.  A county, a village, a street, a township and numerous shrines have been named for him.  For twenty years he labored to […]

Native Diver (1959 - 1967)

Famed California Racehorse. Native Diver will always be remembered by racing fans for winning three straight Hollywood Gold Cups from 1965 to 1967, running faster each time as he got older. Through 81 starts and 37 victories, the stable banked $1 million dollars in earnings, the first California horse to accomplish this feat. At the […]

Native Dancer (1950 - 1967)

Race Horse.  Native Dancer, a thoroughbred race horse nicknamed the Gray Ghost because of his color, was the first horse to gain fame through the medium of television. Born at Scott Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II. In his first season of racing Native Dancer won all nine races […]

José Bettinoti (1878 - 1915)

Singer. One of the last Argentine payadores (singer that improvises songs with his guitar, like a troubadour). Composer of the song “Pobre mi Madre Querida,” which was popularized by Carlos Gardel. (bio by: 380W)

Nicolette Larson (1952 - 1997)

Singer. She was a popular singer best known for her 1978 cover of Neil Young’s song “Lotta Love”. She was acclaimed Female Vocalist of 1978 by Rolling Stone Magazine and followed with the hit single “Four Strong Winds”. Shifting her style to country music, she toured with various artists and had a Top 40 country […]

Jean Sablon (1906 - 1994)

Singer. Born in Nogent-sur-Marne, France, he was a popular international French singer, known for his music hall and vaudeville style. He started in the cabarets of Paris at the age of 17 and was the first singer to use a microphone in his stage act. His records sold in the millions around the world and […]

Susannah McCorkle (1946 - 2001)

She was a jazz and cabaret singer who performed in major clubs and concert halls throughout the country. In addition to being an accomplished singer, she also was a published writer. Cause of death: Suicide

Anita Palmero (1902 - 1987)

Singer. Noted female tango singer who achieved popularity during the 1930s. She was born in Málaga, Spain, and came to Argentina circa 1925. (bio by: Guada)

Joey Ramone (1951 - 2001)

Singer. Punk Rocker and lead singer for the seminal rock band “The Ramones.” Cause of death: Lymphatic cancer

Francisco Martino (1884 - 1938)

Singer. Argentinian folk singer and composer. He sang with Carlos Gardel in the 1910s. (bio by: Guada)

Clarice Vance (1871 - 1961)

Singer. She was a popular Vaudeville singer and entertainer who was known for her recordings “I’m Wise” and “He’s a Cousin of Mine.” (bio by: Laurie)

Linda Thelma (1970 - 1939)

Actress, Singer. She was the first female tango singer in Argentina. (bio by: Guada)