Greatest 12 Characters of the 1820's

Who is on this list, what this list is about and how they got on the list!

Synopsis 
This is one of a set of lists I made showing a progression of the greatest characters in a heroic style throughout time. Focusing for the most part on one decade at a time. The heroes that we know and love today were inspired by heroes before them. Some are even real people who moved into folklore. Before comics there were pulp magazines. Before that there was dime novels and before that was the penny dreadfuls. There were many others as well like Gothic novels, story papers and yes even a real novel.  
 
The List  
These are characters the appeared in between the years of 1820 and 1829.  These would be characters who will go on to be the biggest influences in comics either directly or indirectly.  In other words these will become great inspirations to future comic characters and stories. Right now they are in order of year.
 
New Stuff 
I had a real problem with this this as you can tell.  I was only able to find a few.  Here is the point where characters are much more scarce.  I believe that this has to do with the birth of America.  Comic Books being an American institution are most likely going to be inspired by American literature.  Obviously this is not exclusive.  I only have three more of these early decade lists 1820's, 1810's and 1800's.  I could use any suggestions.
 

Here is the past list 
Greatest 12 Characters of the 1810's
 
Here is the next list 
Greatest 12 Characters of the 1830's

List items

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  1. Headless Horseman

  Not a hero but the The Headless Horsemen has been in many stories over the years and first appeared in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820. There has been a lot of lore about headless Horsemen but this listing is specifically for the Sleepy Hollow Headless Horsemen.

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  2. Ichabod Crane

  Ichabod is an odd egg who faces the Headless Horseman and disappears. He first appeared in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820.

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  3. George Washington

  The first president of the United States is just as much legend as he is man. He was not the subject of fiction until the novel The Cooper's Spy in 1821.