This period covers the time near the turn of the century that an earlier super-group endeavored to fight crime in Gotham. The underworld of Gotham took notice of this vigilante group, and called them “masks” because they did their best to protect their identities for fear of retribution.

• Captain Hero, a wealthy landowner, adventurer, and inventor recruits Gotham's best and brightest to work outside of the law to retake Gotham for law and decency.
• Captain Hero's first recruit is an old prospector from the American South West who had created industrial grade hand-digging equipment known only as his code name Silver Dollar.
• Captain Hero was sought out by a native american adventurer who, after he made peace with his long-time nemesis Liver-Eating Johnson, became the second member of the group. He was code named Noble Savage.
• Famous gunfighter and expert on prize-fighting Bat Masterson was recruited into the Legion as well, going under the code name Marshal Justice, until he moved off to New York in 1902 to become a sports writer.
• The accomplished hypnotist and occultist, and native of Gotham, Barnabas Cobblepot also joined the legion under the code name Dr. Mind.
• A man fully clad in a mechanical suit of armor that resembled that of a knight was later associated with the group under the code name Knight Watchman. He operated with the group inconsistently, and proved to be quite difficult.
• In 1896, the Legion caught the eye of then New York City police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who made a public show of support for the group, and a private grant of intelligence assistance and cash.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-100-favourite-fictional-characters-as-chosen-by-100-literary-luminaries-526971.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Characters_in_American_novels_of_the_19th_century