(1735?-1815) Seneca chief, prophet, leader, storyteller, orator. “The Code of Handsome Lake/ The Gaiwiio.” Handsome Lake was born near the Genesee river in Livingston county. He was an Iroquois chief, half-brother of Cornplanter, who fought in the Revolutionary War and who went on to express a religious and social vision known as “The Code of … Continued
Seneca, translator, tutor, guide. Lived during the 1800s and worked with Jeremiah Curtain, who went on to write “Seneca Indian Myths,” collected 1883 and published 1922.
(1876-1916) Writer, novelist. London wrote in “The Road” (1907) of his experiences as a drifter coming to Niagara Falls in 1894, being enthralled for hours by the falls, but then (having no money for a hotel room) being arrested for vagrancy and sentenced to a month in the Erie County Penitentiary. “The Call of the … Continued
(1902-1986) Playwright, screenwriter. Emmet Lavery was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. He was an award-winning screenwriter and playwright.
(1748-1828) Poet. Henry Livingston Jr. is now believed to be the author of the famous Christmas poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” There was some controversy over its authorship (Clement Clarke Moore was earlier given credit for writing the poem). Mr. Livingston lived near Poughkeepsie, New York.
(1813-1891) Historian, illustrator. Benson J. Lossing was born in Beekman, New York. He was apprenticed to a watchmaker in Poughkeepsie in 1826, became editor and joint owner of Poughkeepsie Telegraph in 1835, then moved to New York City in 1838. Works include “Pictorial Field-Book of the American Revolution” (1850-1852), “Pictorial History of the Civil War … Continued
(1830-1912) Writer, iconic lesbian figure. “Adventures of Lucy Ann Lobdell, Female Hunter” (1855), “Lucy Ann Lobdell: Female Hunter of Delaware County,” hunted in Sullivan County.
Writer. “The Struggles Of Petroleum V. Nasby,” was born in Vestal.