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.

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.

In August 1951 Sioux City became embroiled in a bitter controversy that erupted when officials at Memorial Park Cemetery refused to bury Sergeant John R. Rice, a decorated World War II veteran and Korean War casualty, because of his Native American ancestry. The event provoked public outrage both locally and nationally and eventually required the personal intervention of President Harry Truman.

Mary Augusta Safford was a very important woman in the Unitarian Church. Throughout her life she was instrumental in the establishment and growth of Unitarian churches across the American West in the late nineteenth century. She was the central figure in a group of women Unitarian Ministers called the “Iowa Sisterhood” that founded congregations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In Sioux City she ministered at the First Unitarian Church from 1885 to 1899.

Stella Wolf Sanford arrived in Sioux City with her husband in 1921. She first became involved in the Community House, teaching an English class for women. Later, Stella and her husband made a gift of $100,000 for a new community center on the westside. The Booker T. Washington Center's board of directors unanimously voted to name the new building "The Sanford Center" in honor of the donors. The Sanford Center, constructed at 1700 Geneva Street, was dedicated on June 17, 1951.

Just weeks after his arrival in Sioux City in 1909, Wallace Mertin Short made headlines in the newspapers when three men attempted to rob him. Short broke his cane over one of his mugger’s heads and fled to safety. In 1914, the minister began speaking publicly about two controversial issues of the time, temperance and labor unions. While controversial, he served as mayor, and later, in the Iowa Legislature.

A devoted friend to Sioux City immigrants and their families, Mary Treglia (1897-1959) dedicated her life to helping those in need. For over 33 years, she served the immigrant population of Sioux City as director of the Community House.

Elzona Trosper dedicated her life to helping improve the status of blacks and minorities in Sioux City.  A social worker, wife, mother, and community activist, Trosper was tireless in her efforts to help those in need.