Home > People > D Surnames of Allen County, Indiana
People of Allen County, Indiana
D Surnames
Dahm, Edward and Joseph
Starting in 1948, they built one of the country’s largest car wash chains, Mike's Carwash, with 41 locations. They washed their 100 millionth vehicle in 2012. Legendary Locals of Fort Wayne, by Randolph L. Harter, Craig S. Leonard discussion August 12, 2015 on You know you've lived in Fort Wayne too long when... Private Facebook group.
On behalf of Mike, Bill, Jerry and the Dahm Family, it is with heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of our co-founder, Ed Dahm. Ed has been a pillar in the Ft. Wayne community and within our organization for decades. He was greatly admired by all for his passion for his customers, friends and family. Ed lived his life fulfilling his mission to treat others as he would want to be treated and passed that legacy on to every Mike’s employee that has ever worked for our organization. We mourn his loss and ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.
Thank you to everyone that has reached out, offering such kindness and sympathy.
Joe will be remembered as a visionary business leader and a dedicated family man with strong faith. He was a mentor to many and a true inspiration to us all. His unwavering commitment to our customers, dedication to team members and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the foundation of our company and defined our values. As he often said, “We are in the people business, we just happen to wash cars.”
We will always remember Joe for teaching us what is important in life. “God, Family, Work…in that order.” His remarkable legacy will always live on.
1855 Born Fort Wayne, IN
1860 Census?
1870 Census?
1880 Census ?
1882 Jan 5 Married Jennie McKeeman, Allen County, IN
Margaret born
1890 City Directory Madison Twp, Allen County, IN
1893 Bertha born
1896 Francis born
1899 Herbert A. born
Mary born
1900 Soundex Not in IN???
1903 Fort Wayne Directory
Millwright
1907 Fort Wayne Directory 1602 Lake
1910 Census, Fort Wayne, IN with husband working hospital & 3 ch.
1920 Census Fort Wayne, IN 1602 Lake Ave with Ernest H. Felger
1925 Jul 24 Wife died & buried in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, IN
Christ Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN
1933 May 4 Died Fort Wayne, IN
Descendants of Henry F. DAUER
Generation No. 1
1. HENRY F.2 DAUER (DAUER1) was born 1855 in Fort Wayne, Allen County,
Indiana, and died 05 May 1933 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. He
married JENNIE MCKEEMAN 05 January 1882 in Allen County, Indiana, daughter
of DAVID MCKEEMAN and MARGARET MCCONAHEY.
Children of HENRY DAUER and JENNIE MCKEEMAN are:
i. MARY3 DAUER, b. 1887, Indiana; m. ERNEST FELGER.
ii. MARGARET DAUER, b. 1884, Indiana; m. LEWIS MERRILLAT.
iii. BERTHA DAUER, b. 1893; m. RANDOLPH H. EVERETT.
iv. FRANCIS DAUER, b. 1896, Indiana; m. HARVEY EVERETT.
v. HERBERT A. DAUER, b. 1899, Indiana.
MCKEEMAN FAMILY
Maryellen Hower's book says children:
____ Merrillat (Mrs. Lewis)
Bertha Everett (Mrs. Randolph H.)
Children: Richard Clayton, b 14 Apr 1924
Donald Carlton, b 28 Sep 1926
Jean Marie Foor, b 9 Jul 1929
Frances Everett (Mrs. Harvey)
Herbert A. Dauer
____ Felger, (Mrs. Ernest) (I found record which named her, Mary.)
MARRIAGE (age 26)
5 Jan 1882 Married Henry Dower, Allen County, IN Marriage Records, Charles
Zschoche
CHILDREN OF JENNIE MCKEEMAN & HENRY F. DAUER:
1. MARGARET DAUER m. Lewis Merrillat
2. BERTHA DAUER b. 1893 m. Randolph H. Everett
3. FRANCIS DAUER b. 1896 m. Harvey Everett
4. HERBERT A. DAUER b. 1899
5. MARY DAUER m. Ernest Felger
1850 FEDERAL CENSUS ALLEN COUNTY INDIANA MADISON TWP
DARR, John 167
1860 FEDERAL CENSUS ?
CHECK MADISON TWP 593 AND 594
1870 FEDERAL CENSUS?
DAUER, John Page 531
1880 FEDERAL CENSUS
1890 Madison Township, Allen County, IN
Dower, Henry F.
1900 FEDERAL CENSUS
1903 Fort Wayne City Directory
1907 Fort Wayne City Directory
Dauer, Henry lab Ribb Hoop Co h 1602 Lake
1910 FORT WAYNE, IN CITY DIRECTORY
Dauer Bertha clk Int Harv Co b 1602 Lake av
Dauer Henry F foreman Imp Hoop Co h 1602 Lake av
1910 FEDERAL CENSUS FORT WAYNE, ALLEN COUNTY, IN
1602 Lake Ave.
Dauer Henry F Head M W 54 M1 27 IN Ger Ger Eng Foreman Hosp Facory W N Y
Jennie Wife F W 53 M1 27 NY Ire Ire Eng
Bertha Daughter F W 17 S IN IN NY Eng Office girl Harvesting Co W N
Francis Daughter F W 14 S IN IN NY Eng None Y Y Y
Herbert A Son M W 11 S IN IN NY Eng none
1911 FORT WAYNE, IN CITY DIRECTORY
Dauer Bertha stenogr Int Harv Co b 1602 Lake av
1910 FEDERAL CENSUS 1910 Federal Census Indiana, Allen County, Wayne Township,
1602 Lake
Dauer, Henry F. 54 M Foreman hosp factory IN GER GER English None
Jennie53 F NY IRE IRE English (age 53)
Bertha17 F Office girlIN IN NY English Office girl
Harvesting Co.
Francis 14 F Harvest co.IN IN NY English None
Herbert 11 MIN IN NY English None
1920 FEDERAL CENSUS ALLEN COUNTY, FORT WAYNE, IN
Dauer, Henry F. 1602 Lake Ave. Fort Wayne Father-in-law
Enumerated with Ernest H. Felger
102 126 356
Felger, Ernest H. Head R M W 39 M _ Y Y IN GER German OH Y Machinist Helper
RR shop W
Mary J. Wife F W 33 M _ Y Y IN IN NY Y None
Earl Son M W 12 S Y Y Y IN IN IN Y None
Paul Son M W 10 S Y Y Y IN IN IN None
Virginia Daughter F W 5 S Y _ _ IN IN IN _ None
Dauer, Henry F Father-in-law M W 64 M _ Y Y IN GER German GER German Y
Foreman Man
Jennie Mother-in-law F W 62 M _ Y Y New York Ireland Scotch Ireland Scotch Y
None
Herbert P. Brothe-in-law M W 21 S Y Y Y IN IN NY Y None
ALLEN COUNTY IN OBITUARY INDEX
DAUER, Henry Journal Gazette May 6, 1933 2:5
OLD RESIDENT DIES
Henry F. Dauer, 77, Succumbs After Long Illness
Henry F. Dauer, 77, died at 11:45 o'clock Friday night at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Ernest H. Felger, 1602 Lake avenue after an illness of one year.
He had lived with the daughter for seven years. Mr. Dauer, who was born in
Fort Wayne in 1855, was a millwright, having been last employed by the Vail
Cooperage company. He was a member of the Christ Lutheran church.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Margaret Merrillat, Mrs. Mary Felger, Mrs.
Frances K. Everett, all of this city, and Mrs. Bertha Everett of Pleasant
Mills; a son, Herbert A. Dauer of this city; 11 grandchildren; one
great-grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Louise Gick, and a brother, August Dauer of
the Tillman road. The body will be taken from Klaehn & Sons funeral home to
the residence of Mrs. Felger this afternoon.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Felger home
and at 2:30 at Christ Lutheran Church, Rev. Richard Trojan officiating. Burial
will be at Lindenwood cemetery. Friends are asked to omit flowers.
Fort Wayne postman served in the Civil War where he lost his leg at Shiloh for the North Shiloh-44th-01-Co-D. Two photos were shared November 11, 2017 on the ACGSI Facebook page from a November 11, 2017 post bythe original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. Author Margret Hobson added to both posts: I hadn't seen that photo of him before. He was a member of Co. D, not Co. H (pictured). Here's more about him: Alfred Dougherty, of Co. D, enrolled Sep. 7, 1861 in Allen Co., IN, by Capt. Cosgrove as a Private; mustered in Nov. 22, 1861 in Ft. Wayne by Lt. Stansbury at age 21. He was 5′ 11″ tall, dark complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. Born May 9, 1840, in Stark Co., OH, employed as a carpenter, single, resident of Harlan, in Allen Co., IN. Discharged for wounds Sep. 12, 1862 in Louisville, KY with rank of Sergeant. Notes: 21" shoulders, medium build, scar on right cheek. Also listed Bethlehem as town of birth. Lost left leg by amputation in hospital due to gunshot wound at Shiloh Apr. 6, 1862. In Evansville Gen. Hospital #3 on Aug. 15, 1862. Married Martha A. Johnson 1864 in Allen Co., IN. He filed Invalid Pension Application to receive Pension Certificate #10993 Sep. 29, 1862 and received $18 monthly pension for loss of left leg. Resident of Ft. Wayne 1870-1917; was Washington township trustee. Died Aug. 12, 1919; buried Lindenwood Cemetery, Sec. S/#185, as Daugherty. (Albert//Daugharty, Daugherty, Daughorty) copied from "The Iron Men of Indiana's 44th Regiment, Part 1: Biographies and Statistics".
1912 Titanic Sinking Survivor. "86, died Jan. 13 (1962) after a brief illness. Mrs. Danielson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana Feb. 7, 1875, daughter of Mahala Babb and Sylvannus Thorpe. She spent her early days in Kansas during her marriage to the portrait painter, Paul Lawrence, until his untimely death. In 1903 while visiting friends in Wisconsin, she met and married Dr. William E. Minehan (sic), a prominent Wisconsin physician. They lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for nine years until their voyage on the ill-fated Titanic. Dr. Minehan (sic) was tragically lost at sea, but she was rescued by the S.S. Carpathia." Read the rest of her story published January 25, 1962 in the Laguna Beach Post newspaper.
D'Arcy, Rev. John Michael
August 18, 1932 - February 3, 2013 - Rev. John Michael D'Arcy, 80, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. D'Arcy served the diocese as its eighth bishop from 1985 to 2010, coming from the Boston Archdiocese, in which he had grown up and where he served as an auxiliary bishop. His successor was the Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades. He was born August 18, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to Michael J. and Margaret Moran D'Arcy. The Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend released the following statement Sunday afternoon (February 3, 2013): The Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend is saddened to announce the death of Bishop Emeritus John Michael D’Arcy. Bishop D’Arcy died in the late morning hours of February 3rd, 2013. Bishop D’Arcy was at home at the time of his death, surrounded by loved ones. He passed on the 56th anniversary of his first Mass as an ordained priest. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades along with the diocese, asks for and offers prayers for Bishop D’Arcy, his family, loved ones and friends as together we grieve the loss of our beloved Bishop D’Arcy. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. Read more of his life story including a photo gallery at Retired Bishop D'Arcy dies February 3, 2013 and Bishop John D’Arcy 1932 -2013 ‘Faced death with deep faith’
Combatted priest shortage, stressed spiritual growth, with timeline, February 4, 2013 both by Rosa Salter Rodriquez of The Journal Gazette. D'Arcy's legacy: tough decisions in life and true faith in the face of death He valued 'truth,' even when it wasn't easy or politically correct by Kevin Leininger of The News-Sentinel. Spiritual standard in word and deed February 5, 2013 Journal Gazette newspaper Editorial. D.O.McComb & Sons Obituary. See also Faith, friendship were D’Arcy’s twin gifts Bishop’s life of service continued even through his final days by Melissa Long of Indiana NewsCenterin the February 7, 2013 The Journal Gazette newspaper
"Homer Davisson Studio" Daniel Baker on flickr Taken March 11, 2016
This little building was once upon a time the art studio to Homer Davisson. Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, Davisson studied art at Depauw University, and found his passion for landscape painting. He left prior to graduation to attend Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home. Davisson split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. By the time of his passing in 1957 (at 90 years of age), Davisson's impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists." 331 W. Pontiac St. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 3.11.2016.
Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, died in 1957 at age 90, studied art at Depauw University and attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home with his studio at 331 W. Pontiac Street. He split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. His impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists." Noted artist's studio may be facing its greatest and last fight for survival by Kevin Leininger published August 20, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. reasures from the Vault: Homer Gordon Davisson Katy Thompson April 18, 2022 at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
"Homer Davisson Studio" March 11, 2015 Daniel Baker on flickr.com.
This little building was once upon a time the art studio to Homer Davisson. Born in Henry County, Indiana in 1866, Davisson studied art at Depauw University, and found his passion for landscape painting. He left prior to graduation to attend Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and several other art schools before venturing overseas for several years painting in Europe. He returned to Indiana around 1910 and made Fort Wayne his home.
Davisson split his time between northeast Indiana teaching at the Fort Wayne School of Art and his summers in Nashville, Indiana. By the time of his passing in 1957 (at 90 years of age), Davisson's impressionist landscapes were nationally known and he was nicknamed the "dean of Indiana artists."
Local artist and instructor Homer G. Davisson, often referred to as the “Dean of Indiana Artists,” studied at DePauw (Class of 1889) and later studied in Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D. C, and Europe. He was recruited to become an Instructor at the Fort Wayne Art School around 1910, where he remained active until 1947. He maintained a home studio in Fort Wayne, and also established a second home with his wife in Somerset, Indiana, where he maintained a studio and gallery. Davisson was known for pastoral landscape scenes, but he also painted portraits earlier in his career. To view more artifacts related this artist visit the History Center to see our new temporary display on his career. #sociallyhistory
A painting of PEARSONS MILL a favorite subject of the artist HOMER G. DAVISSON (1866-1957) who had a summer home and studio for 25 years in old Somerset on the Mississinewa River and a gallery in the old IOOF building. His summer home and studio was on W. Main St. He was known far and wide for his Indiana Impressionist landscapes. So impressed with the beauties of Somerset and the Mississinewa that many of his paintings have them as their theme. During his time in Somerset, he would conduct, one or two days a week, a class of local pupils. Jeannine Durnbaugh Knotts-Brown adds " Mr. Davisson used to have an art school and would take the students out in the country to paint countryside subjects. My older brother would go with him sometimes. Mr. Davisson corrupted my brother because the young women (gasp!) smoked! For some reason when I think of the stories my brother told, I see sheep, so perhaps one of the paintings of sheep was done when he was with Mr. Davisson. I have always wanted a Davisson." He was a teacher in the Fort Wayne Art School and a charter member of the Brown County Art Galley Association.
His paintings have become highly sought after. His paintings can be found in Wabash County at the Wabash Carnegie Public Library, Honeywell Center, Woman's Clubhouse and Manchester College. The Peabody Home collection was sold at auction in 2015. For a more complete biography of Davisson see Wabash County Chronicles page 118-20. Larry Drook says "I grew up in Somerset. My Mother was Postmaster there for 44 years. Mr. Davisson painted a license plate for my wagon when I was about 6. He was a familiar fixture in the area, often setting up his easel in the roadway to capture a scene on canvas."
John Bevier adds “This is a marvelous painting. I love the colors and the freedom of each brush stroke…Mr. Davisson had lots of talent.” And Judie Silvers continues “Beautiful Art, don’t miss the collection at the Wabash Carnegie Library!”
On this day in Wabash County history, in 1957: Homer Davisson, an outstanding Indiana artist who kept a studio in old Somerset, died in Fort Wayne at the age of 90.
Wrote the short book Charcoal sketches of old times in Fort Wayne (1959 reprint) " (1820-1877) — of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Ind. Born in Cambridge, Dearborn County, Ind., October 21, 1820. Farmer; lawyer; newspaper editor; candidate for Indiana state house of representatives, 1854; candidate for secretary of state of Indiana, 1856; candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1858; Governor of Utah Territory, 1861. In December, 1861, after less than a month as territorial governor, fled Utah amid controversy and scandal. Just east of Salt Lake City, he was attacked by three men and badly injured. Died in Indiana, September 10, 1877 (age 56 years, 324 days). Interment at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Ind." - From Political Graveyard. John W. Dawson sent a letter to Abraham Lincoln Monday, January 13, 1862 (Affairs in Utah Territory) from Fort Bridger. Utah Terrritory. See pages 20-22, A Biographical History of Eminent and Self Made Men of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio 1880. Wikipedia has his photo.
See also Find-A-Grave.
From his obituary, "88, of New Haven, died on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born Jan. 23, 1924, in Allen County, he was the son of the late David and Margaret Delagrange. He started his working career as a milk hauler for Allen Dairy, in Fort Wayne; he owned/operated Delagrange Ford, in New Haven; and also was a developer and contractor of both residential and commercial developments in the Fort Wayne area. He was a member of Maplewood Mennonite Church; one of the organizers of Big Brothers & Big Sisters; and served on the Board of Trustees at Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio, for many years. Surviving are his wife, Marian; daughter, Lisa (Matt) Momper of Fort Wayne; son, Jon Delagrange of New Haven; grandchildren, Ashlee Delagrange, Brittany McKee, Luke, Libby and Mary Momper; great-grandchildren, Braxton and Bentley McKee; and sisters, Marguerite Yoder of Woodburn and Iona (Lewis) Miller of Leo. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Menno, Amos and Delbert Delagrange. Memorial service is 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2012, at Maplewood Mennonite Church, 4129 Maplecrest Road. Pastor Barry Schmell and Pastor Don Delagrange officiating. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road. Private burial in Yaggy Cemetery, Grabill. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Bluffton University, in Bluffton, Ohio; Maplewood Mennonite Church; or Parkview Home Health & Hospice."
DeLobbe, Gabriel
Saboteur from Ball State TCOM on Vimeo Saboteur explores the early life of Gabriel DeLobbe, a current Fort Wayne resident who was a Belgian resistance fighter during the Second World War. DeLobbe was only 14 years old in 1940 when the Nazis invaded his hometown of Charleroi. By the time he was 18, DeLobbe was sabotaging German supply routes and protecting downed Allied airmen in the Ardennes Forest. After the liberation of Belgium, DeLobbe was regularized in the United States Army and marched into Germany. He fought in the Battle of Remagen and helped to liberate the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Told in his own words and with his own photos, Saboteur surveys DeLobbe’s harrowing journey through the Second World War as an eyewitness to history as it unfolded.
Nicole Lehrman listened to her grandfather Gabriel DeLobbe tell story after story about his efforts to fight the Nazis in Belgium during the 1940s. The Ball State graduate brought his memories to life in the documentary “Saboteur.” “He’s been telling stories of his time growing up in Belgium during the war for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never heard a full chronological account of what he experienced,” said Lehrman, who graduated in 2017. “I didn’t realize how amazing my grandfather’s story is. At just 14 years old, he was a saboteur in a war-ravaged nation.” The documentary was broadcast at 11 p.m. November 8 on WIPB-TV (49.1), and on Veterans Day through vimeo and the TCOM Facebook Page. Copied from the longer article WWII resistance fighter from Fort Wayne the subject of his granddaughter’s documentary at Ball State University. Similar story is WWII vet's heroics documented Ball State film on local man by Ashley Sloboda published November 7, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Demetroff, Caroline Josephine
Caroline Josephine Demetroff born in Fort Wayne on April 9, 1926, was a Central High School and International Business College graduate, and worked for S.F. Bowser and Co. She married Alexander "Lexy" Demetroff in 1947 and they launched a local pizza empire. They had two sons Kevin and Alexander (Alex) Jr. Lexy preceded her in death in 2005. They opened Alexander's in 1956, an Italian restaurant and bar that served pizza, the first of over a dozen pizza shops the couple owned and operated. Among the names of those eateries that still operate today are the Lexy's pizza chain, a'Roma Pizza and River Bend Pizza, which is owned and operated by Alex and his wife Denise, as well as Caroline's granddaughters, Marisa Sickles and Alexandra "Lexi" Demetroff. Copied from Local pizza empire matriarch Caroline Demetroff dies at 93 by Ryan Duvall published May 6, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper .
The book starts out: The Indiana-Purdue Regional Campus at Fort Wayne occupies a part of the DeRome Reserve, land granted by the government to Princess Maria Christina, a half breed Miami Indian, by the Miami Treaty of October 23, 1826. Maria Christina, born about 1798, was the illegitimate child of Ca-ba-no-kay of the family of Les Jambes Croches,^ (The Crooked Legs) perhaps his daughter. He was Chief of the Miami tribe which lived in the village of Kikapoufuoi along the Wabash River. Maria Christina’s father was John Christopher Frederick Graeter of Mackinac and Vincennes, who was the first of his family to come to America and was in Knox County, Indiana as early as 1772. A native of Alsace-Lorraine, he engaged in fur trade at Mackinac where he held considerable property around the year 1800. Eventually he settled in Vincennes where his daughter Maria Christina must have joined him. Reading this book could be useful for local Indian researchers and local Indiana reservation information.
A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Karl William Detzer was born on Sept. 4, 1891, the son of August J. and Laura Goshorn Detzer. On Nov. 26, 1921, he married Clarice Nissley and they had two children, Karl, Jr., and Mary Jane. He was a reporter and photographer for Fort Wayne newspapers, 1909-16; advertising writer in Chicago , 1920-23; screenwriter and technical director in Hollywood, 1934-36; and roving editor for the ENTERPRISE-TRIBUNE (Leland, Mich.), 1947-51. He became roving editor for the READER'S DIGEST, 1939-42, and resumed that position again in 1946. Detzer served in the armed forces during 1916-19 and 1942-46. Information from Who's Who in America. Copied from Indiana authors and their books 1917-1966. at .Karl Detzer was born September 4, 1891 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A journalist and free-lance writer, Detzer began his career working for a Fort Wayne newspaper as a reporter and photographer. Following service in World War I, he came to Chicago where wrote advertising copy. He would leave this to write full-time on his own, writing for various pulp magazines, submitting screenplays to Hollywood studios, eventually working as a roving editor for Reader's Digest. He died April 28, 1987 in Leland, Michigan, where some years earlier he had made his home. Copied from Karl Detzer papers: 1916-1981 at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan Digital Library.
Myself When Young - Harold Wolf wroted this review for Amazon books
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, AT THE TURN TO THE 20th CENTURY Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2008 The author, Karl Detzer (1891-1987), was born & grew up in Fort Wayne, IN, and became acquainted with many of his parents friends including Hoosier historian Jacob Dunn who whetted his natural appetite for local history. This is a delightful memoir of a young lad and his mischief and opportunities through youthful years. An average youth in a not-so-average time and place. A FUN READ.
Detzer sat on James W. Riley's lap (as a prop) during a performance & got his head patted (which he loathed) by Wild Bill who was reminiscing with his Uncle, and complaining about a lady, Annie Oakley, that disappeared prior to the performance. Detzer met her too.
This author's mother was 1/3 owner of Fort Wayne's, Lehman Book Store. Third owner/manager (Miss Lehman) instructed an author, Gene Stratton Porter, to dust between book signings of her first book. She did. Detzer's mother, a friend of Gene's, but not a fan, told Porter, when "Freckles" had already sold 1/2 million, "I tried to read it." Porter answered, "You just couldn't like it, Laura. I didn't write it for you." Karl's father, a druggist who regularly sold medicines to Gene Stratton Porter's husband, considered her only "Druggist Charley Porter's wife."
Maj. John Whistler, ancestor of the artist, built the last fort of Fort Wayne, and this author's mother found old prints by the artist in a "junk shop" selling at ten cents each. She was reprimanded by the merchant when she suggested he was selling them too cheaply. Laura surely bought them all.
Karl Detzer began a Ft. Wayne newspaper career an hour after leaving school at 16 when an English teacher said, "You'll never write a decent English sentence." After years as a reporter, he was a Hollywood screenwriter and asst. director, then first roving editor for Reader's Digest (1937-76). Indiana Univ awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1979. Karl wrote 12 books.
This is a 5-star book for all historical minded readers in Fort Wayne, in Indiana, or the Midwest. Perhaps a 4-star for the rest of the USA.
ARCH’s 2024 Fun & Free Lecture Series is back in ONE WEEEK!
February 17 @ 1 p.m. “Himself When Young” by Connie Haas Zuber, ARCH’s executive director. Author and Fort Wayne native Karl Detzer was 10 in 1900 and growing up in the nice but not nicest neighborhoods of downtown Fort Wayne.
His memoir “Myself When Young,” recreates scenes from his childhood in the neighborhoods of early 20th Century Fort Wayne.
It all begins at 1:00 PM in our Spectator Lounge!
ARCH Fun & Free Lecture: Himself When Young June 4, 2024 College TV Fort Wayne on YouTube
Presented by Connie Haas Zuber Author and Fort Wayne native Karl Detzer was 10 in 1900 and growing up in the nice but not nicest neighborhoods of downtown Fort Wayne. His memoir “Myself When Young,” recreates scenes from his childhood in the neighborhoods of early 20th Century Fort Wayne. “Himself When Young” shares those stories and looks anew at the places where they actually took place. Come along for the journey!
DeVincent, Sam
Born in Chicago, with his wife, Nancy, arrived in Fort Wayne in 1945 to work at WOWO, he retired in 1983. Died at the age of 79 from his December 1, 1997, obituary in The Journal Gazette. Wife Nancy died around 2011. Starting from age 10, he collected 130,000 pieces of sheet music that took 3 moving vans in 1988 to move to the Smithsonian National Museum of History titled the “Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated Sheet Music.” From WOWO legend's music collection is at home at the Smithsonian by Steve Warden published July 8, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Dewald, Sophia LaSelle
SOPHIA LaSELLE DeWALD
Ft. Wayne, Ind April 29 – A descendant of one of the earliest white families of Ft. Wayne, Mrs. Cophia Angeline DeWald, aged 72, widow of George DeWald is dead at her home here. She was the last of a family whose name has been intimately connected with the history of Ft. Wayne for 130 years and whose members bore a leading part in the settlement of the great Northwest Territory and its defense for the US Government. Mrs. DeWald’s maiden name was Laselle, a name indissolubly connected with the history of Ft. Wayne. Her ancestor, Col. James Lasselle, came from Montreal to the Indian village of Keklonga now Ft. Wayne in 1776, as Indian agent for the British Government. One of his sons, Hyacinth served as a general of the American militia in the War of 1812. The family maintained peaceful relations with the Indians and remained at Keklonga until Labalme’s invasion in 1780 when they fled down the Maumee in canoes and one of the daughters was drowned by falling from a boat. The family went to Detroit but afterward the young members returned and settled in Ft. Wayne.
Source: Indianapolis Star (Marion County, Indiana) Monday 30 April 1906 , Indianapolis Star, page 5.
Lived on land along the Maumee River on the Indiana-Ohio line. Land that has been in the family since 1822 when his grandparents bought eleven hundred acres of old growth timber and moved here among the Indian's and swampland to cut timber. As the timber disappeard the family turned to farming, his grandfather raised Morgan horses. His great-grandmother planting corn during the Civil War when there was no men folk. she plowed 17 acres of ground cultivated it with horses and planted the seed by hand and harvested it. Paraphrased from Local Man's Land Settled by His Family in 1822 video by Eric Olson August 6, 2009 no longer online.
Last week's Throwback Thursday post had an incorrect photo. We are reposting the correct photo and information. We apologize for the confusion.
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Dr. Edward Wright Dodez' Neoclassical home, Westover, is our Throwback Thursday feature today. Born in 1875, Dodez was a dentist and manufactured dental remedies. He was a charter member of the Fort Wayne Rotary Club, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. According to the Pictorial History of Fort Wayne, "Westover, the beautiful suburban home of Dr. Dodez, on the Leesburg road, is one of the most attractive places in this vicinity."
South Side High School graduate. "A Fort Wayne native born in 1922, became president and chief executive officer of Dime Trust and Savings Bank in 1957. The bank eventually became Summit Bank, and he became chairman of the board and CEO of Summit Bank and Summcorp, its parent company." from his lengthy Journal Gazette newspaper obituary Banker, civic ‘giant’ Dick Doermer dies October 11, 2010. More history is found on IPFW Names Business School for Local Entrepreneur from May 4, 2006 IPFW.edu news release.
Donovan, Marion O'Brien
Marion O'Brien Donovan born October 15, 1917 Fort Wayne, died November 4, 1998 Manhatten, New York from Marion O'Brien Donovan on Find A Grave.
Like many famous inventors, Marion Donovan (1917-1998) was originally mocked for her most significant invention, but she succeeded in revolutionizing the infant care industry by inventing the disposable diaper. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1917, Marion O'Brien grew up surrounded by machinery and invention. Her father and uncle invented the "South Bend lathe," used for grinding automobile gears. After her mother died when she was seven, Marion spent most of her free time in their factory. Copied from Marion Donovan Disposable diaper Consumer Devices at Lemels N-MIT.edu.
Far too often, we think about invention as only taking place in neat contexts – within sterile labs and under ideal conditions. When we imagine these picture-perfect circumstances, the messiness of creativity and experimentation is largely forgotten. In fact, it’s typically during moments of spontaneity that originality flourishes and breakthroughs happen. National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) [2015] Inductee Marion Donovan is a powerful example of an inventor who thrived outside of traditional scientific settings. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1917 as Marion O’Brien, she grew up around machinery and invention. Her father and uncle invented the “South Bend lathe,” a tool used to grind automobile gears. From a young age, she spent a great deal of her free time in their manufacturing plant, instilling in her a lifelong love for innovation. Copied from Marion Donovan: Mother, Inventor, Visionary at National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Marion Donovan, a onetime Connecticut housewife who had to change one damp diaper too many, died on Nov. 4 at Lenox Hill Hospital near her home in Manhattan. She was 81 and had helped spearhead an industrial and domestic revolution by inventing the forerunner of the disposable diaper. Her family said the cause was heart disease. Disposable was not what Mrs. Donovan had in mind in 1946 when her second daughter came along and proved as maddeningly reliable as the first: Put her down for a nap and by the time the light was out her diaper would be wet, and her clothes and crib sheet would soon be soaked and in need of changing. Copied from Marion Donovan, 81, Solver Of the Damp-Diaper Problem by Robert Mcg. Thomas Jr. Nov. 18, 1998 at The New York Times.
Manufacturers, though, weren’t interested. As Donovan would tell Barbara Walters in 1975: “I went to all the big names that you can think of, and they said ‘We don’t want it. No woman has asked us for that. They’re very happy, and they buy all our baby pants.’ So, I went into manufacturing myself.” In 1949, she started selling the boater at Saks Fifth Avenue, where it was an instant smash hit. Two years later she sold her company and her patents to Keko Corporation for a million dollars. Donovan considered going on to develop a diaper using absorbant paper, but executives at the time allegedly weren't interested. Pampers, the first mass-produced disposable diaper, wouldn't hit the market until 1961. The boater wasn’t the end of Donovan’s inventions. She went on to earn a total of 20 patents, for things from a pull cord for zipping up a dress with a back zipper to a combined check- and record-keeping book to a new kind of dental floss device. Copied from Meet Marion Donovan, the Mother Who Invented a Precursor to the Disposable Diaper The prolific inventor with 20 patents to her name developed the “Boater,” a reusable, waterproof diaper cover in the late 1940s by Emily Matchar Innovation Correspondent May 10, 2019 at Smithsonian Magazine. Includes a link to a video: From the Archives: Daytime Talk and Invention July 3, 2012 by Alison Oswald Jacob Rabinow and Marion O'Brien Donovan’s inventive lives intersected in 1975, when they both appeared in two episodes of "Not For Women Only" titled “Inventors and Inventions.”
PBS Backpack: Marion Donovan & Floaters by Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention posted Nov 6, 2020
This PBS Backpack video by the Cade Museum introduces viewers to the historical inventor Marion Donovan. Her invention, Floaters, was the first disposable diaper. Learn about the materials used in the making of diapers and how diapers wick and retain moisture. We explore concepts like polymers and hydrophilic Polyacrylates.
Fort Wayne filmmaker and advocate indirectly involved in founding the women’s movement and the local Johnny Appleseed Festival. He launched the Fort Wayne Folk School in the 1970s and started Theater for Ideas programs, which bring experts and citizens together to discuss an issue or topic, as well as into creating films and cable-access TV programming. A nearly two-hour documentary Portrait of a Pioneer: The Life and Work of Terrance Doran was discussed in Fort Wayne filmmaker and social-justice advocate Terry Doran the subject of documentary premiering June 11 at the Allen County Public Library by Kevin Kilbane published June 5, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Doswell, John
Designed Lindenwood Cemetery and was its first superintendent. His son George Doswell succeeded him. The first four homes at the entrance to Lindenwood Cemetery are still Doswell homes 100 years later. They had a flower shop and a dozen huge greenhouses on 3 acres in the mid-20th century. Read more in Generations of history enliven home Near Lindenwood Cemetery stands a century-old house still in the family by Rosa Salter Rodriguez published April 6, 2014 in the Who lives there? series of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
1860, October 2 - Presidential candidate Stephen A. Douglas running against Abraham Lincoln came to Fort Wayne. From 148 Years Ago Today…by Stephen Parker posted on October 2, 2008 on Around Fort Wayne blog.
Down Homers
Five man musical group on the WOWO Hoosier Hop Barn Dance radio show in the 1940s.
Doyle, Tim
Master stone carver whose work graces buildings from Fort Wayne to West Point, died Sunday November 6, 2016 at age 70. See Tim Doyle, master stone carver, dies by Kevin Leininger published November 8, 2016 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
With Veteran’s Day just a week ago, remembering the connection our community has to honoring military veterans and the United States Armed Forces is essential. In our community, countless individuals have sacrificed for our larger US community, including one who helped develop the very Flag of Fort Wayne. Today is a patriotic story of a military family, the Magnavox Company, and the Flag of Fort Wayne.
Veterans Day is on November 11th because World War I hostilities were agreed to end at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. During World War I, the US was involved in a multi-front war, one in Europe and the other on the Mexican border. On the Mexican border, German and Mexican troops died, and one person sent to the southern front was a Fort Wayne native, Clyde Dreisbach.
Clyde had served in the Spanish-American war in the late 1800s before becoming a three-sport athlete (basketball, football, and track) at Indiana University. Amidst all of this, Clyde got married and had two children, Robert, and Eloise. Robert, who lived at 908 Kinnaird in the Historic South Wayne Neighborhood Association, was the Chief Electrical Engineer for Magnavox in Fort Wayne and led the development of radios and other communication manufacturing for the US military in World War II. By 1942, all production at Magnavox was devoted to the military, which Robert helped lead.
Eloise married Robert Keller, a prominent member of one of the original families to settle in Corydon, Indiana, and they had one daughter before Robert was killed in action leading units in the Battle of the Bulge. Robert, who served both in the Pacific and Europe, is one of 81,000 Americans who died in that battle alone. With this backdrop, Clyde helped craft our current Flag of Fort Wayne.
Clyde, driven by pride in our community, approached the original designer, Guy Drewett, about redesigning the city flag to include more historical symbols. In this redesign, Clyde recommended the blockhouse, a Native American, a French fleur-de-lis, and a British lion. Each represented our deep history of the area. Perhaps Clyde, even with his personal and family ties to such global conflicts, felt that embedding history in our local symbols was key to future generations remembering those stories.
Drysdale, George
On the original 1952-53 Komets hockey squad. Named Komets captain after goaltender Jack Timmins the team's original captain. George scored the first goal and still went to all the home games in 2014. The book Hat Trick Man is a 130-page biography by Wendy Luley, whose husband's parents were some of the Drysdales' best friends, discussed the book in Local author inspired to write Drysdale book "Hat Trick Man" profiles original Komet by Blake Sebring published November 4, 2014 in The News-Sentinel newspaper
Duemling, Dr. Herman
Dr. Herman and Addie Duemling. A plaque outside his Queen Anne style house at 301 West Creighton states he served as professor of anatomy at the Fort Wayne Medical College and chief surgeon at Lutheran Hospital. He was also a vice president at Valparaiso University. He established a clinic at Fairfield and Home Avenues in 1922. Around 1973, the Clinic moved across the street into a larger facility (since demolished). A photo of his home was posted December 6, 2013 on the Daniel Baker Facebook page.
Jack Dunifon
Local businessman and longtime Republican leader. Born April 13, 1922, in Decatur, he served in the Army Air Corp as First Air Comman dos. He served on Fort Wayne City Council for 16 years; State Legislature for two years; Allen County Commissioners for 12 years; and Allen County Council for 16 years. He was awarded the 'Sagamore of the Wabash' award. He was president and owner of Gasoline Equipment, Inc. He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, Mizpah Shrine, Scottish Rite, Masonic Lodge, Fort Wayne Historical Society, and American Legion Post 47. He died October 26, 2012 age 90 from his Dignity Memorial obituary.
Environmentalists founded ACRES LAND Trust. Jane 1929-2003 and Tom 1923-2004. "Jane H. Dustin, a passionate environmental advocate celebrated for her tenacity and her broad knowledge of water quality issues, died Friday at her home in Huntertown. She was 74. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Dustin and her husband, Tom, were involved in scores of local and national conservation campaigns, including opposing a federal plan to flood Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and the drive to create the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in the 1960s. Jane Dustin is also credited with helping to develop state regulations to protect Indiana's waterways and establish water quality standards for the state. The Dustins were also among the co-founders of Acres Inc., one of the most successful land preservation groups in the country." from December 1, 2003 Journal Gazette newspaper obituary. The Acres Land Trust. Their home became the Tom and Jane Dustin, Robert C. and Rosella C. Johnson and Whitehurst Nature Preserves. The Friends of Cedar Creek Founders have photos and tribute page to each. The Good Earth Blog has photos of the preserve.
Mentioned many times in this book is a Fort Wayne native and North Side High School graduate, Tom Duxbury. He was a central figure in many of the most important planetary missions NASA has flown. Also of distinction, he was Grand Marshal of the 2007 @ThreeRiversFest parade. https://t.co/TB2fbYH8R0
ARCH’s 2024 Fun & Free Lecture Series is back in ONE WEEEK!