In 1796, when Gen. Moses Cleaveland founded the settlement on Lake Erie's shores that would become the city of Cleveland, he opened the way for many dynamic, visionary, and diverse individuals who would not only help Cleveland prosper as one of the greatest cities in the Midwest, but also give the city its unique character. Mobster Danny Greene's fate was sealed by a car bomb and his life was later immortalized in film. Vernon Stouffer helped revolutionize the frozen food industry and the way Americans eat. Almeda Adams refused to let her disability keep her from making contributions in education and music. And Zelma Watson George found success in theater and, later, politics as a goodwill ambassador and a delegate to the United Nations. Legendary Locals of Cleveland chronicles the fascinating stories of citizens who have impacted the city in political, social, philanthropic, business, educational, scientific/medical, entertainment, and even criminal areas.

A diverse immigrant population that arrived to work in Berea's sandstone quarries, plus the academic atmosphere of a liberal arts college, provided a distinct cultural heritage uncommon in American suburbia. The town has inherited a strong work ethic and deep spiritual values from early Bereans. Consider Dr. William Pierce, first resident pastor, who gave the town "a stamp of culture." Capt. Edward Kennedy, Civil War veteran and survivor of the tragic Sultana explosion, served Berea in nearly every elected capacity. Mary Elmore, elected to the Berea school board years before the 19th Amendment passed. Modern-day Berea has its legends, too, like Arthur Bassett, NASA astronaut; Daisy G. Collins, federal administrative law judge; John-Michael Tebelak, creator of Godspell; Frances Millward, known as the "Mother Teresa of Berea"; and dozens more.

Princeton grew along a Leni Lenape Indian trail that was widened in the 1700s and eventually became part of the King's Highway through New Jersey. Right from its beginning, Princeton's history has been truly American. So have its inhabitants, both great and humble. George Washington won a crucial victory here and returned when Princeton was briefly de facto capital of the fledgling United States. George Gallup pioneered modern opinion polling here. Albert Einstein and other European refugees transformed the region scientifically and intellectually. Internationally famous actors and musicians, including Paul Robeson, Bebe Neuwirth, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Ethan Hawke, have called Princeton home. Resident writers have ranged from Sinclair Lewis to Peter Benchley. Locally beloved were small business persons such as country store owner Mary Watts and public servants like mayor and unabashed cancer battler Barbara Boggs Sigmund. And among the good and great have been a few real rogues. They are all part of Princeton's colorful saga.

Covington was a natural place for people to settle. Located on the banks of the Ohio and Licking Rivers, it developed quickly as the urban core of northern Kentucky. Sitting just opposite of Cincinnati, Ohio, it was a great location for travel by both animals and people. Originally owned by Thomas Kennedy, the land was ultimately purchased by Thomas Carneal and John and Richard Gano, and thus the city of Covington was founded in 1815. Not long after its establishment, railroads made Covington their home and many other businesses followed. By 1850, it was the second-largest city in Kentucky. Over its 200 years, Covington has seen many people play a role in its history, development, and reputation. Some are great business and community leaders. Others made tremendous contributions to the arts, and some are notorious. A community is defined more by its people than its buildings and streets. The individuals who have lived and worked in Covington provide a colorful insight into its past. From its founding until the present day, these individuals are a fascinating look into the citys history.

It was 1810 when a group of men from Connecticut roved west to Ohio, establishing the first permanent settlement in what became North Ridgeville. Led by David Beebe Sr., they foraged for food and shelter. The pioneer spirit of the aggregation sustained them and others who followed. Farming provided sustenance and many farms including those owned by the Solomons, Gerharts, and others have continued the tradition. Education was greatly respected and 10 school districts became part of the communitys landscape. An early school still stands on Jaycox Road, where retired teachers Julie Bajda and Barb Sutton reenacted the roles of teachers from earlier times. The former Buffalo Trail became Center Ridge Road, the citys main thoroughfare, and, in 1960, the township developed into a city governed by a mayor, council, and various department heads. Businesses, such as Bueschers Hardware and the Bogner Funeral Home opened and remain today. Groups of residents cultivated interests into organizations with a goal of working together seamlessly for the good of the community.

Greenville has long been a city of visionaries. Richard Pearis settled on the banks of the Reedy River in Cherokee hunting land where few white men would venture. Max Heller, who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria as a teen, triggered the rebirth of downtown. They are some of Greenville's local legends who have seen possibilities, not limitations. They come from all walks of life. Textile leaders such as John T. Woodside, Thomas Parker, and John D. Hollingsworth transformed the city into the "Textile Capital of the World." When textiles began to fade, businessmen and leaders such as Charles Daniel, Tommy Wyche, Tom Barton, Virginia Uldrick, Dick Riley, Carl Sobocinski, and Xanthene Norris helped transform the city once again. Stories of people who have shaped Greenville with their vision, making it what it is today, fill these pages.

In 1807, Dover's founders, Christian Deardorff and Jesse Slingluff, carved their dream out of Ohio's rugged wilderness. Their choice of location on the Tuscarawas River would prove wise as local industry benefited from the proximity to a water source. Progress was slow at first, but the advent of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1827 and the steel industry, helped the small town on the river grow into a thriving city. Over time, the city developed its own niche with an opera house, community theater, great museums, and wonderful schools. Out of this uniquely American setting came a cast of interesting and enterprising characters. These include industrialist Jeremiah Reeves, Rear Adm. Herald Stout, Broadway actors Elliot and J.C. Nugent, and Pixar Animation Studios writer and director Bob Peterson. Inspired, yet not defined by their small-town roots, the men and women chronicled in this book represent true Americana and the American dream realized.

Peoria harkens back to the 1670s glory days of the French voyageurs and became the now-familiar face of Americana--its townsfolk have touched every aspect of national and international life, often significantly. In comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly, Charles Correll, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, and even Bishop Sheen with his witty homilies have made Peoria the "Habitat of Humor." Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique jump-started the 1960s feminist movement, while Philip José Farmer's The Lovers rocked the 1950s sci-fi universe. Dr. C.T. Vivian, Dr. Romeo Garrett, and John Gwynn Jr. held the frontline against racism. Representing the best of society's core values, Barb and Dick Hammond founded Friends of the Children of Haiti, a medical organization tending to the year-round needs of the earth's poorest. And unheralded Bill Noel has shouldered the sorrows and burdens of others who have leaned on him for decades. When it comes to all the legendary locals, they play in Peoria . . . and the world.

Founded as a lumbering town in the mid-1800s, Cheboygan has transformed over the years to be something much less simplistic and much more dynamic; so, too, have its people. While some of Cheboygan's residents played important roles in business or commerce, others made their mark through philanthropic work, service to the community, or just by their demeanor. History is as much about people as it is about events--people like Gordon "Scoop" Turner, who came to Cheboygan for a few months but ended up staying for a lifetime. There are businessmen like Millard D. Olds, who became one of the most successful lumbermen at a time when others were leaving town, and George M. Humphrey, the 55th treasurer of the United States. An eye towards the community has also made some residents legendary, such as Joyce and Quincy Leslie. And, of course, there are those whose history is shrouded in controversy, including Sheriff Fred Ming, under whose authority a Native American village was burned to the ground. Whatever their story, these locals have contributed to the character and history of Cheboygan.

A pictorial history of Fort Myers as exemplified by its citizens and their accomplishments.