Early Sioux City developers and promoters, Daniel and Charles Hedges were well known for their countless area business activities.  Until Charles’ untimely death in 1877, the two brothers were partners in countless enterprises. 

Gertrude Brown Henderson was a curator at the Sioux City Public Museum, but more than that, she was a historian and writer of early Sioux City history. Her stories about the first decades of the region’s history surely inspired many future amateur historians to further their own studies in Sioux City’s past.

Harry L. Hopkins, a prominent member of President Franklin D Roosevelt’s administration, was born on August 17, 1890 at 512 Tenth Street in Sioux City.

"Lets make music together." Leo Kucinski (1904-1998), long time Sioux City conductor, educator and musician often spoke those words in his efforts to bring the best possible music to the people of Sioux City. In his long career, he exposed thousands of school children to the finest music, nurtured a little orchestra into a superb symphony and brought extraordinary music to the community of Sioux City.

A Canadian-born fur trapper, Joseph Leonais purchased a claim for 160 acres of land for $100 from Theopile Bruguier in 1852. This land is today is in the downtown area of Sioux City.

Rosalie Menard Leonais earned the moniker "first bride" because she was believed to be the first bride of a non-Native American in the area that would become Sioux City. Rosalie died in 1865 at the age of 27, shortly after the birth of her fourth child.

During the 1890s, the location of T. S. Martin’s store moved to various locations on Fourth Street to meet the needs of the growing business. By 1902, sales were close to a million dollars over two stores: one in Sioux City and one in Cedar Rapids. In 1908, Martin purchased the Peirce Mansion (2901 Jackson Street) and resided there until his death.

Oscar Micheaux was an African American novelist and filmmaker. Over the course of his life, his travels took him from Southern Illinois to the West, South America, and Europe. His work and art also brought him to live in Sioux City in the West 7th Street neighborhood. Today he is recognized as a pioneering filmmaker, but also as a man ahead of his time.

One of the most colorful figures in Sioux City history, John Peirce was born in Pennsylvania March 17, 1840. Peirce came to Sioux City in 1869, where he entered real estate business and devoted his time and money to the development of the “north side” — the area between 23rd Street and 40th Street on Jackson and Nebraska Streets.

Edwin Peters (1836-1917) was an early Sioux City promoter, developer and speculator. He is perhaps best known for developing and promoting the area of the city known as Morningside.