Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

September 1, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The History Center is pleased to announce our new initiative “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” From October 2021 to June 2022, this project will investigate and interpret the history of nine socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary displays and digital presentations. Community involvement is encouraged! To submit recommendations for our nine topics, please send us a message through our Facebook page. “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage” is being made possible through the support of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne and the Restart Grant Program.

September 28, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Throughout history, there have portions of the community that have been under-represented in our shared story. The History Center is pleased to announce our new initiative “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” From October 2021 to June 2022, this project will explore and interpret the history of nine socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary displays and digital presentations. The first display features the Fort Wayne Jewish community. The first documented Jewish visitor to the land of three rivers dates to 1764, with a trader known to the ages as “Mr. Levi.” The first Jewish resident of Fort Wayne was John Jacob Hayes, appointed by President James Monroe to serve as Indian Agent from 1820 to 1823. Jewish immigrants from Germany began to arrive in Fort Wayne around 1830. They worked as peddlers, merchants and craftsmen. By 1848, there was a sufficient number of Jews to form the first Jewish congregation in Indiana, The Society for Visiting the Sick and Burying the Dead. In 1861, the congregation changed its name to the Synagogue of Unity and Peace (Congregation Achduth Vesholom), affiliating with the Reform Movement in May 1874. As the city grew, the Jews prospered and, by 1880 lived in comfortable homes on the near west side of the city close to the Temple. During the 1890’s, Jews immigrated to Fort Wayne from Russia, Poland, Romania, and other Eastern European countries. These new Jewish immigrants formed the B’nai Israel and B’nai Jacob congregations. Come and see our temporary display, “Community of Faith: Celebrating Fort Wayne’s Jewish Heritage”, during the month of October. #sociallyhistory

November 1, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Our community has a long tradition of welcoming new immigrant groups, providing the foundation on which they can build a new home. Some of the most influential groups are those who came from geographical locations under the rule of the Ottoman Empire or formerly under its rule. These groups include, but are not limited to, the Lebanese-Syrians, Romanians, Macedonians, and Greeks. While there are many differences in the origins of these immigrant groups, they have three things in common: they were Christians of various Eastern and Orthodox denominations, their homelands were all under the rule of Islamic Law in the Ottoman Empire, and the first wave of immigrant groups that came from that region primarily arrived during the decline and after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries. #sociallyhistory

This is the November edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage,” which will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary displays and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

December 2, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Alsace-Lorraine is a historical region, now called Alsace-Moselle, located in France. It was created in 1871 by the German Empire after seizing the region from the Second French Empire in the Franco-Prussian War and Treaty of Frankfurt. When created in 1871, the region was named the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, as a new territory of the German Empire. Alsace-Lorraine was reverted to French ownership in 1918 as part of the Treaty of Versailles and Germany's defeat in World War I.

Historically, the region was the world’s leading producer of tinsel, until the end of World War I. In the 1830s, a group of French families immigrated to the United States from the province of Alsace-Lorraine and eventually settled about six miles north of Fort Wayne in what is today Washington Township, Allen County. The region was known by various names, including “New France,” “Académie,” and “St. Vincent’s.” The Alsatian immigrants to Fort Wayne have had significant impact on the community. They have left the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Academy, Centlivre Brewery and the Schanz Photography Studio. #sociallyhistory

This is the December edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage,” which will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary displays and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

January 7, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Irish immigrants played an important role in settling the Indiana frontier, since the beginning of the 19th century. Many of the earliest settlers were native-born Americans of Irish descent, scornful of the English and proudly considered themselves Irish. Of the early Irish immigrants to Fort Wayne, many called themselves “Scotch-Irish” - a phrase created to easily distinguish the Irish Protestants from the Irish Catholics. These Scotch-Irish were descendants of the settlers (planters) from the Plantation of Ulster in Ireland. The plantation system was a form of organized colonization of Ireland by the British government in the 1600s. These early Scots-Irish settlers came to the area voluntarily, seeking permanent settlements for themselves and their families, increased economic prospects, and an opportunity to assist in the growth of their Presbyterian faith. Native Irish immigration to Fort Wayne initially was slow, due to several reasons. They, unlike their Protestant Irish counterparts, were more connected to their native soil. The other reason was the decades of repression and disenfranchisement by the Penal Laws of Great Britain. Consequently, they looked upon their departure from Ireland not as a voluntary immigration, but as an involuntary exile by a repressive government. The Irish immigrants to Fort Wayne, whether Catholic or Protestant, were influential in the establishment and growth of our community. #sociallyhistory

This is the January edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage,” which will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary displays and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

February 1, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The first known Black residents came to the Land of the Three Rivers with the American forts as slaves, servants, soldiers and laborers. During the 19th century, both free Black settlers and fugitive slaves sought refuge in Indiana as the first established families began to form an enduring community in Fort Wayne from the 1830s through the 1850s. These first permanent Black residents founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne in 1849. By the turn of the last century, Black residents worked in industry, semi-skilled professions, domestic positions, and they owned and operated their own businesses. As a result of the need for socio-economic support, the Phyllis Wheatley Social Center (later the Urban League) was founded in 1920, with the goal of furthering social causes, creating youth programs and education, and assisting those in need. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was invited to Fort Wayne to speak at the Scottish Rite Auditorium. The activities surrounding the event were the most publicly visible efforts to promote Civil Rights in Fort Wayne up to that point. As Fort Wayne’s Black community grew throughout the latter half of the 20th century, its leaders had ensured the end of de facto school segregation, made inroads into local government and politics, and obtained better employment opportunities. During that time, a wave of Black professionals moved into more influential leadership roles and higher paying executive positions, a trend that continues into the early 21st century. Although Black residents of Fort Wayne have been presented with better opportunities than their forebears, they continue to face challenges based on the color of their skin and not the content of their character. #sociallyhistory

This is the February edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” These and other images and artifacts from "Timeline of Progress: Black Americans in Fort Wayne" are on display at the History Center through the end of March. "Fabric of the Fort" will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary exhibits and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

February 8, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

In response to the overwhelming popularity of this month’s edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage,” the organization is pleased to share additional images from "Timeline of Progress: Black Americans in Fort Wayne." Please see the History Center’s post from February 1, 2022 for the first set of images and a complete description of the exhibition. All of the images from these two posts, along with additional images and artifacts from “Black Americans in Fort Wayne,” are on display at the museum through the end of March. "Fabric of the Fort" will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary exhibits and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022. #sociallyhistory

March 3, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Woman have influenced Fort Wayne since its founding, but many of the city’s leading ladies have been lost in history or have been overshadowed by the accomplishments of men. Women have been molding the city of Fort Wayne since day one, and have been instrumental forces in such areas as early trade, social work, politics, medicine, innovations, and so much more. The women of Fort Wayne did not have an easy rise and had to face challenges such as gender discrimination, voting rights, equal rights, and workplace equality. Over the last 200 years women have had to fight for their place at the forefront of Fort Wayne’s history, and many of these women’s contributions have been overlooked. Our history is full of women who defied gender norms, who made careers in male dominated fields, who dedicated their lives to Fort Wayne’s community, and who paved the path for local women today to thrive and prosper. Women “ahead of their time” have shaped Fort Wayne’s rich history, and it’s time they are brought into the light. #sociallyhistory

This is the March edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” These and other images and artifacts from "Groundbreaking Women: How Women Shaped Fort Wayne’s History" are on display at the History Center through the end of April. "Fabric of the Fort" will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary exhibits and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

March 29, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Cubans such as baseball player Isabel Alvarez came to Fort Wayne prior to the 1960s, but the majority fled the Castro Regime between the 1960s and 1990s. Children were the first to arrive as part of a humanitarian effort led by Catholic Charities called “Operation Pedro Pan.” In July 1961, 23 teenage boys were sent to live at Saint Vincent Villa, Fort Wayne, they attended Central Catholic High School. Father Carlos Rozas (later a Diocesan Vicar) and Felipe Estevez (Bishop of St. Augustine) were among these young men. Dr. Graciela Beecher left Cuba that same year to work as a professor at Saint Francis College. She spent the remainder of her life in Fort Wayne advocating for Cuban-Americans. Later immigrants included the Rodriguez family (Caliente Cuban Café), who fled Cuba in 1999. By 2000, the city’s Cuban population had grown by 25 percent. #sociallyhistory

This is the April edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” These and other images and artifacts from "Seeking Refuge: Cuban Immigrants in the Summit City" are on display at the History Center through the end of May. "Fabric of the Fort" will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary exhibits and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

May 4, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

In the final quarter of the 20th century, our region’s Asian population experienced tremendous growth because of events occurring on the opposite side of the globe. Beginning in 1975, thousands of refugees began to pour into Fort Wayne from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar). These refugees were fleeing from persecution, imprisonment, and death for their political or religious beliefs. Although the community of Asian refugees in Fort Wayne was smaller than others in the United States, it was considered one of the most organized refugee cities. Thanks to organizations such as Catholic Charities, thousands of Vietnamese, Laotian, and Burmese peoples were able to relocate to Fort Wayne in hopes of starting a new life. Catholic Charities provided orientation sessions for Fort Wayne families who had agreed to be sponsors for the incoming refugees, in addition to helping find temporary housing such as the third floor of the old Central Catholic High School. The classrooms and the home economics classrooms acted as small apartments and kitchens for the refugees to live in while they found work or planned travel elsewhere. Many of the refugees stayed in Fort Wayne and rebuilt their lives by opening businesses such as the Laotian Grocery store on South Calhoun Street or Saigon Restaurant which is still a Fort Wayne staple for Vietnamese food. Many refugees soon became citizens and the culture they brought and continue to bring to Fort Wayne today is instrumental in making this city vibrant. #sociallyhistory

This is the May edition of the History Center’s new initiative, “Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage.” These and other images and artifacts from “Friendship and Freedom: Asian Heritage in Fort Wayne" are on display at the History Center through the end of May. "Fabric of the Fort" will explore and interpret the history of nine traditionally under-represented socio-cultural groups from our collective past through a series of nine monthly temporary exhibits and digital presentations from October 2021 to June 2022.

June 1, 2022 post by The History Center on Facebook:

From the 1970s to the 1990s, Indiana’s LGBTQ+ community capitalized on national momentum that began with the 1969 Stonewall Riots. LGBTQ+ organizations and businesses opened, and new local publications provided a community forum. In 1977, Indiana decriminalized same-sex sexual activity. Indiana’s first LGBTQ+ gatherings took place in the 1970s and PRIDE events emerged as early as the 1980s. As the AIDS epidemic swept through the community, local support organizations such as the AIDS Task Force were founded. More recent civil rights victories include protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation for Fort Wayne city employees (2001), same-sex statewide right to adoption (2006), and statewide right to marriage (2014). Visit the History Center now to view Resilient Pride: Fort Wayne’s LGBTQ+ Voices, the final exhibit in our Fabric of the Fort: Our Tapestry of Human Heritage series. #sociallyhistory

1. A History of the Allen County Bar and Courts 1824-2019, subtitled A Light in the Forest, published by the Allen County Bar Foundation. A major find in the research was discovering the old original 1824 Circuit Court docket books at the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library. These large heavy books described what happened each day of court. They were handwritten and difficult to read. From the docket books I learned the names of our first lawyers and judges and what legal business was available. Copied from NEWS-SENTINEL GUEST COLUMN: Allen County courts history dates back 195 years by Don Doxsee published September 21, 2019 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. More information with photos is in the History is in session Courthouse,occupants getbook treatment article published May 12, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
2. Always Carl: Letters from the heart and heartland, 1929-1931 by Amy McVay Abbott. Letters gifted by her aunt love letters written 90 years ago by her grandfather, Carl Enz, to her grandmother, LeNore, that began during their “courting” in fall 1929 and end right before they were married in spring of 1931. Discussed in Letters chronicle love Granddaughter puts handwritten notes in self-published book by Terri Richardson published September 10, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
3. The Autobiography of an Ordinary Man : from Letters to my Daughter by Edward Franklin Sonday, (1896-1984). He shares stories about growing up, living and working in Fort Wayne. He writes about his experiences in FTW during WWI, the Great Depression, WWII and a lot about the 41 years that he worked at GE.
4. Myself When Young by Karl Detzer, published in 1980, written in 1968 has stories about his childhood in Fort Wayne, in particular the central part of the city. 

January 5, 2024 post by Business People Magazine on Facebook:

We remember business people and leaders we lost in 2023. It is our sincere desire to pay respect to these individuals who made a difference in the business community. If we missed anyone, we apologize.

In Memoriam

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