Ethan Allen Hitchcock

Ethan Allen Hitchcock (1835–1909) made his fortune from numerous railroad, mining and manufacturing interests both in the U.S. and in China. President McKinley sent him to Russia as an envoy in 1897 and then promoted him to be the first U.S. ambassador there. In 1899 Hitchcock was called back to serve as McKinley's secretary of the Interior, a position he held for eight years—the second longest secretarial tenure in Departmental history. During Hitchcock's term, forestry responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and the Reclamation Service was established within the U.S. Geological Survey. He cleaned house over timber and land frauds, strongly supported the Antiquities Act of 1906, sought to preserve oil and gas lands, and was committed to improving the management of Indian Affairs. Hitchcock stayed on for the transition to the Roosevelt Administration but was not among the new president's close advisors. Hitchcock tendered his resignation in 1907.

Artist William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) was an esteemed American Impressionist considered one of the country's most gifted portrait painters.