Zedekiah Kidwell (January 4, 1814 – April 27, 1872) was a prominent figure in the nineteenth century, known for his diverse career as a politician, physician, lawyer, teacher, and clerk in Virginia and West Virginia. Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Kidwell received an English education and studied medicine. After moving to Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1834, he pursued a career as a teacher and clerk while continuing his medical studies. Eventually, he graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began practicing medicine in Fairfax County, Virginia.Kidwell's career took a political turn when he moved to Fairmont, Virginia (now West Virginia) and served in the Virginia House of Delegates, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was an active participant in the Virginia Constitutional Convention and also served in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857. After leaving Congress, he resumed his medical practice and held various civil offices, making significant contributions to public works.His life came to an end in Fairmont, West Virginia, on April 27, 1872, where he was laid to rest in Fairmont Cemetery. Zedekiah Kidwell's legacy lives on as a multifaceted individual who made valuable contributions to both the political and medical arenas during his lifetime.

Zedekiah Belknap (1781–1858) was an American portraitist known for his itinerant lifestyle and distinctive style. Born in Auburn, Massachusetts, he later moved to Weathersfield, Vermont, where he began his career as a preacher after studying divinity at Dartmouth College. However, Belknap's true passion lay in painting, and he transitioned to full-time portraiture, traveling through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to create nearly two hundred commissioned portraits. His works are characterized by light-colored faces, heavily outlined features, and rounded roses, set against dark backgrounds. Belknap's legacy lives on through his surviving portraits, some of which are housed in esteemed institutions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Currier Museum of Art. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, his contribution to American portraiture remains significant.

Zedekiah Johnson Purnell (c. 1813–1882) was an influential African-American activist, businessman, and editor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a vocal advocate for the establishment of an African-American press and supported renowned authors such as Charles Bennett Ray and Samuel Cornish. Purnell initially worked as a sailor but later transitioned to becoming a successful hairdresser and business owner. He played a pivotal role in founding the Demosthenian Institute, a literary society for young people of color, and was a staunch supporter of publications like the Colored American and Mystery. Purnell's commitment to civil rights activism led him to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he continued to champion for equality and even ran for city council in Oakland. He passed away in California in 1882. Purnell was married to Ann Sammons, and the couple had a daughter. His legacy lives on as a prominent figure in the Colored Conventions Movement.