Friday, February 1, 2013

The Legacy of Washington DePauw



Washington DePauw was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist in whose honor the DePauw University was named. DePauw was born on January 4, 1822 in Salem, Indiana. His father was a lawyer and became a delegate to the Indiana Constitutional Convention.

DePauw became wealthy because of his investments in several business ventures such as glass, steel and grain, during the Civil War, DePauw provided government supplies. He was known as the richest man in Indiana at one time. However he did not forget to share his fortunes and provided for the creation of a Methodist university in 1881. When the Indiana Asbury University trustees learned about the provisions, they asked DePauw to divert the funds to Indiana Asbury University. This university was later renamed as DePauw University.

DePauw married three times. He had four children: a daughter through his first wife Sarah Ellen Fletcher and three sons through his second wife Katharine Newland. He did not have a child through his third wife Frances Leyden.

DePauw died in Chicago, Illinois on May 5, 1887.

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