People of Allen County, Indiana

T Surnames

Tacumwah - Marie-Louisa Richardville

was the daughter of an Indian chief and the sister of two chiefs---Pacanne and Little Turtle. Tacumwah and Pacanne had the same father while Little Turtle and Tacumwah had the same mother. This meant she was an important Miami woman. ... Tacumwah married ... Joseph Richardville. Together they had four children including Jean-Baptiste Richardville (Peshewa, the future Chief Richardville). Joseph Richardville also had children by other women, but this wasn’t considered a problem. In 1773, after nearly a decade of marriage, all the Richardville children and Tacumwah were baptized as Roman Catholic. Tacumwah became Marie-Louisa. From Tacumwah- an 18th century People Magazine story August 28, 2012 by Carmen Doyle on The History Center blog. See a second blog Tacumwah: Chief Richardville’s mother August 30, 2012 a second article about Tacumwah by Carmen Doyle.

Taviano, Tina

For 25 years Taviano served on the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, she began her career as a confinement officer and moved her way up the ranks to become the director of training. Then in 2006, Taviano decided to run for Allen County sheriff as a Democrat against then-chief deputy Ken Fries. From Where are they now? Success follows former area newsmakers to their new locales by the Editorial page staff of The Journal Gazette newspaperpublished January 6, 2013.

Taylor, Eliza

Arrived from Buffalo, NY by sleigh in 1821, died at age 85. Sister of Laura Taylor Suttenfield. Married Samuel Hanna n 1822. Built a two-story log cabin across from her sister. Sam worked for his brother-in-law James Barnett, opening a trading post, with the first post office where Sam was a postmaster. Sam was an associate judge of Allen County’s Circuit Court and became one of the city’s leading citizens. They had 13 children, several of whom died in infancy. Read more In Celebration of Women's History Month: Fort Wayne Women by Nancy McCammon-Hansen published March 11, 2014 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Taylor, Joseph Joe

A January 31, 2018 by The History Center on Facebook stated:

Fort Wayne has a long tradition of producing talented voices and Addison Agen is our community’s latest great vocalist! Today we remember the lead vocalists of two famed 20th century musical groups with local roots.

Joe Taylor and the Redbirds: At the age of 15, Joe Taylor moved to Fort Wayne in 1936 and by 1948 had formed Joe Taylor and his Indiana Redbirds. The Redbirds performed throughout the country from 1948 until their retirement in 1998.

Nancy Lee and the Hilltoppers: Sam & Nancy DeVincent moved to Fort Wayne in 1945. In that year, Sam became the music director of WOWO and the couple founded Nancy Lee and the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers performed weekly on WOWO News/Talk 1190 AM & 107.5 FM's popular “Little Red Barn” program from 1945 until 1994. #sociallyhistory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph "Joe" Taylor - "The Cowboy Auctioneer" and of the Indiana Red Birds country western band passed away March 24, 2011.

Music great Joe Taylor dies Kevin Kilbane, March 26, 2011 in The News-Sentinel newspaper and Local country singer Joe Taylor dies Jeff Wiehe, March 24, 2011, in The Journal Gazette newspaper with both now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. 30 second music samples on Hometown Sounds, many photos on Cowboy Memories. Discussed July 26, 2015 and April 30, 2018 photo posted by a granddaughter includes a couple photos in comments on You know you've lived in Fort Wayne too long when... Private Facebook group.

A March 4, 2019 post by The History Center on Facebook stated:

Joe Taylor’s Indiana Red Birds were formed in 1948 and signed with the Red Bird Record Company in Fort Wayne. Although Taylor had performed solo on local radio for nearly a decade, he recruited area musicians to form a band. The band’s name was an acknowledgement of their Hoosier roots, the state bird, and their publishing company. The Red Birds were best known for group vocals, square dance calling, harmony, and bluegrass instrumentation. In 1950, the band secured a live show on WGL that would last for seventeen years. The band was a regular at Buck Lake Ranch in Angola, opening for stars such as Gene Autry, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash. The Red Birds even played the Grand Ole Opry at the height of their fame. Visit the History Center to learn more about the Indiana Red Birds in our new temporary display featuring these local musical icons. #sociallyhistory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor, Laura

Born in Boston, MA in 1795, died in 1886. She was taken captive by the British when she and her father, Israel, were on a trip to Mackinac. In Detroit, Laura met and eloped with William Suttenfield, arriving in Fort Wayne in 1814. She lived in the fort for a while where her first child Jane was born. In 1823, they built one of the first log houses in the village of Fort Wayne on an original plat of land at the corner of Columbia and Barr Streets. For many years they made their living with a tavern. Read more In Celebration of Women's History Month: Fort Wayne Women by Nancy McCammon-Hansen published March 11, 2014 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Tecumseh

Tecumseh and the Shawnee prophet including sketches of George Rogers Clark, Simon Kenton, William Henry Harrison, Cornstalk, Blackhoof, Bluejacket, the Shawnee Logan, and others famous in the frontier wars of Tecumsehs time by Eggleston, Edward, 1837-1902; Seelye, Elizabeth Eggleston, 1858-, Publication date 1878, on Archive.org. Another copy has map and paintings in cover.

See our Indians - Native American page.

  1. 6 Things You May Not Know About Tecumseh by Jesse Greenspan published October 4, 2013 on History.com.
  2. While his brother Tecumseh was assembling the greatest Indian confederation the U.S. would ever confront, the “Prophet” launched a fateful preemptive attack in Indiana Territory. Tecumseh and The Prophet at TippecanoePeter Cozzens, Winter 2021 Volume 66 Issue 1 of American Heritage magazine.

  3. August 20, 2017 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

    On August 20, 1810, Shawnee warrior Tecumseh met with Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison in Vincennes. Tecumseh spoke for a growing confederacy of American Indians. He denounced the 1809 Treaty at Fort Wayne in which the U.S. government continued their policy of taking Indian lands by treaties with village chiefs. Tecumseh told Harrison: Indian lands were common property and could not be sold without agreement of all Indian nations; the confederacy wanted to keep peace and their lands, but would defend their villages from U.S. advance.

    To read Tecumseh's full speech see Messages and letters of William Henry Harrison page 463

    Or to view the digitized manuscript from the Indiana Historical Society go to Tecumseh's Speech to Governor Harrison, 20 August 1810

  4. August 20, 2023 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook

    #OTD in 1810, Shawnee military and political leader Tecumseh addressed Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison in Vincennes. Through this address, Tecumseh hoped to persuade Harrison to both relinquish American claim to land acquired in the Treaty of Fort Wayne and to dissuade him from further encroachment upon Native people’s land, saying, “If you will not give up the land and do cross the boundary of your present settlement it will be very hard and produce great troubles among us.” Tecumseh had travelled to Vincennes from Prophetstown, just north of present-day Lafayette, with an escort of seventy-five warriors. Prophetstown leaders had not been informed of the negotiations of the Treaty of Fort Wayne, signed in 1809, and the treaty increased tensions between Prophetstown and the territorial government. According to historian Adam Jortner, the August 1810 summit “did not produce any changes in relations, but it did produce some of the most eloquent explanations and defenses of the Prophetstown position on land ownership.” Learn more about the Treaty of Fort Wayne here: Journal of the proceedings: Indian treaty, Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809 [read online at CurateND University of Notre Dame - see 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne section on our Indians - Native American page]

    The portrait of Tecumseh below was painted by Owen Staples, based on Benson Lossing's 1868 engraving.

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Television

Patty's Page - Television in Fort Wayne 1953 to 2018 posted May 29, 2021 by abitibibob on YouTube
Patty and guest co-host Terry Doran talk with former congressman Mark Souder about his new book "Television in Fort Wayne - 1953-2018." Included in this book is a history of public access television in Fort Wayne. Taped April 7, 2021 for Access Fort Wayne.

Former congressman Mark Souder writes book on first 65 years of TV in Fort Wayne posted Jul 13, 2022 by Daniel Beals on YouTube.
This story originally aired: Apr. 20, 2021 FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21) - Former congressman Mark Souder, and two retired news anchors partnered together to map out the timeline of television in 21Country. Souder says he’s always been savvy when it comes to using media to market. From his family’s country store, to campaigning as a congressman, he has a history of being behind, and in front of the camera. Souder’s known for some time, he wanted to research and present the timeline of TV - from its inventor who lived in Fort Wayne, to present day - but for a while, it was only a seed of an ambitious and challenging idea. But to make it a reality, he would recruit friends, and former legacy news anchors Melissa Long, of WPTA, and Heather Herron, of WANE.

21Country Extra: Interview with Mark Souder posted Apr 19, 2021 by Daniel Beals on YouTube.
Former congressman Mark Souder speaks with ABC21 on his time in television, as well as co-authoring "Television in Fort Wayne: 1953 to 2018" with former anchors Melissa Long and Heather Herron.

21Country Extra: Interview with Melissa Long posted Apr 19, 2021 by Daniel Beals on YouTube.
Former WPTA anchor Melissa Long speaks with ABC21 on her time in television, as well as co-authoring "Television in Fort Wayne: 1953 to 2018" with Heather Herron and Mark Souder.

21Country Extra: Interview with Heather Herron posted Apr 19, 2021 by Daniel Beals on YouTube.
Former WANE anchor Heather Herron speaks with ABC21 on her time in television, as well as co-authoring "Television in Fort Wayne: 1953 to 2018" with Melissa Long and Mark Souder.

  1. August 3, 2022 several photos of local children's televison shows were posted by The History Centeron Facebook.
  2. Several local names were discussed January 15, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Thieme, Theodore

Born on February 7, 1857, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, died August 11, 1949, was the second of ten children born to German immigrant parents Frederick John and Clara (née Weitzman) Thieme. Both of his parents were natives of the kingdom of Saxony, an independent German state. In August 1891 he helped organize the Wayne Knitting Mills with Henry C. Paul, president of the Old National Bank, as president; Charles S. Bash, vice president; William H. Dreier, treasurer; and Thieme, secretary-manager. Read more in Theodore Thieme -- Fort Wayne Industrialist by Nancy McCammon-Hansen published July 12, 2013, Thieme Drive Overlook by Tom Castaldi publlshed July 18, 2013 and Noble Olds and Theodore Thieme Homes by Tom Castaldi published November 6, 2014 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog. See a long article Theodore Frederick Thieme (1857-1949) on Immigrant Entrepreneurship German-American Business Biograhies.

A February 23, 2021 post by Fort Wayne Museum of Art on Facebook:

This distinguished gentleman, Theodore F. Thieme, is immortalized in bronze and has been part of the FWMoA collection since 1936 when artist Forrest Stark gave it to the Fort Wayne Art School &Museum.

Thieme (1857-1949), founder of the highly successful Fort Wayne company Wayne Knitting Mills, made hosiery for men, women, and children based on the expertise of German knitting that he absorbed as a child of German immigrants and frequent traveler back to Europe.

Toward the end of his career, he gave a substantial sum of $10,000, his art collection, and his home to establish the Fort Wayne Art School & Museum. His gift was made on the condition that the School and Museum would organize and adopt professional standards, which we did in 1921-22.

The bust is part of the exhibition "A Century of Making Meaning: 100 Years of Collecting", which will share with you selected artworks acquired from each decade of our history, changing each month with a new decade.

See 1888-1930s through March 7!

 

 

Thomas, Dave

Founder of Wendy's started bussing tables at 1947 Hobby House restaurant. Raised as a Master Mason in Sol. D. Bayless Lodge No. 359 Fort Wayne, Indiana. Although, he joined Scottish Rite in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, he received the 33rd degree in 1995 from the Southern Jurisdiction. From Dave Thomas Wendy's by Jim Campbell an IPFW Alumni on Pinterest. Where’s the Beef? Dave Thomas In Fort Wayne, Indiana by Yael Ksander published August 30, 2010 on Moment of Indiana History at indiana publicmedia.com. Discussed June 29, 2015 on Only Indiana Facebook page. Discussed February 11, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook. Dave Thomas and the History of Wendy's by Don Daszkowski updated November 28, 2016 on Liveabout.com.

April 16, 2018 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Did you know Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, was a resident of Fort Wayne? In 1947, Dave’s family moved to Fort Wayne. At fifteen, he worked at the local Hobby House restaurant. When his family moved, Dave decided to stay and drop out of school. He lived at the YMCA and worked full-time. In 1950, Dave joined the Army. After his service, Dave returned to Hobby House and helped owner Phil Clauss grow his chain into Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. He also met his wife, who worked at Hobby House. Dave became a colleague of Clauss and Colonel Sanders through the 1950s. In 1962, Clauss offered Dave an opportunity to revive his franchises in Columbus, Ohio. He did so successfully and became a millionaire when they were sold. This money helped him to found his own chain, Wendy’s. Today Wendy’s has over 6,500 locations. Featured are photos of the Fort Wayne Hobby House locations. The location of the Jefferson Hobby House is now fittingly the home of a Wendy’s. #sociallyhistory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas, Lyn Jacqueline

Born in 1929 Fort Wayne, she became a Hollywood Actress starring in Stage Struck, Three Came to Kill, Covered Wagon Raid, and The Missourians. Died August 26, 2004 in Riverside, California from Lyn Thomas on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. See Biography on IMDB.com, Lyn Thomas Holl on Variety.com, October 25, 2004 obituary from page 65 in Variety published in Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre Google ebook and photo on Five Fort Wayne Actresses Who Made it on the Big Screen by the The News-Sentinel newspaper.

Thomas, Martha

Describes her work with NAACP since her grandfather, parents, two brothers and four sisters moved to Fort Wayne from Marion, Alabama in December 1952. At 86, leading a historic life by Steve Warden published September 15, 2013 in the The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Thomas, Mary Frame

In the 1850s Women's Sufferage begins leading to 70 years before the August 18, 1920 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. One of the early leaders of that battle in Indiana was Mary Frame Thomas, a brave Quaker activist who lived in Fort Wayne from 1849 to 1856. After she and her family moved to Richmond, Indiana, in 1856, Thomas became one of the leaders of the growing women's rights movement. And on Jan. 6, 1859, Thomas was the first woman to address the Indiana legislature, presenting a petition for the right of women to vote. She died in 1888 never getting the right to cast a vote. From Stand up, be counted Ballot's implications are too awesome to ignore published November 3, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine

Thomas, Dr. Mary F. 1816-1888

Born in Maryland to Quaker parents who were strong abolitionists, Mary and her two sisters grew up believing in the value of all people. She practiced medicine for two years in Fort Wayne before moving to Richmod where she remained the rest of her life. See Thomas, Dr. Mary F. 1816-1888at mrlinfo.org Morrisson-Reeves Library, Richmond, Indiana.

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Thomson, Sandy

Weather Specialist on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15until fall 2010. Sign off video discussion March 30, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

Tinsley, April Marie

Was born in 1980, then on Good Friday April 1, 1988 the 8 year old left her family's home on Fort Wayne's south side to go to a friend's house. The girl with the mop of blond hair and a slight, almost wry, smile never returned. Her body was discovered three days later by a jogger in a DeKalb County, Indiana ditch. April's Garden at the corner of Hoagland and Masterson avenues was created in her memory. Season 1, Episode 4 The Deadly Playdatetelevision show became viewable online anytime June 23, 2020. It First Aired: June 16, 2020 on The Genetic Detective television show on the ABC telvision network. See TV Guide description of the episode.

30 years later: Fort Wayne girl's killing remains unsolved WANE NewsChannel 15 published on April 4, 2018 on YouTube

59 year old John D. Miller was arrested and confessed to the April Tinsley murder on July 15, 2018. Then on December 7, 2018 Accused Tinsley killer John D. Miller pleads guilty with video by WANE Staff Reports posted December 07, 2018 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.

DNA results from popular genetic tests used to crack a 30-year-old cold murder case  on Today.com

Arrest made in 1988 slaying of Indiana girl CBS News published July 16, 2018 on YouTube.

  1. April Marie Tinsley Facebook page and In Remembrance Facebook page and April's Garden Facebook Group page.
  2. April's Garden Maintenance Fund GoFundMe page.
  3. April Marie Tinsley Find A Grave memorial page
  4. Cold Case Heats Up Help Solve 1988 Murder, Part 1 published April 8, 2009, Hitting the Airwaves Help Solve Cold Case, Part 2, published April 14, 2009, and In Search of a Killer Help Solve Cold Case, Part 3 published May 19, 2009 in the archives of The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  5. Forensic DNA analysis produces image of cold-case killer - UPDATED published May 2, 2016 on Crime Watch Daily with Christ Hansen.
  6. Police release updated rendering of suspected Tinsley killer April Marie Tinsley was abducted April 1, 1988 from her south-central Fort Wayne neighborhood by WANE Staff Reports published May 3, 2016 on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
  7. Discussion February 5, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
  8. Mom holds out hope for justice Tips still come in on 30-year-old slaying by Matthew LeBlanc published April 1, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
  9. 30 years later: Fort Wayne girl's killing remains unsolved video above was published April 4, 2018 by CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15.
  10. Friends and family gather to remember April Marie Tinsley photos posted April 5, 2018 of 30 year later by Fort Wayne Police Department on Facebook.
  11. The April Marie Tinsley case: a timeline of the Fort Wayne girl’s 1988 kidnapping and killing published April 5, 2018 on The News-Sentinel newspaper.
  12. 30 years later in Fort Wayne: Where is April Marie Tinsley’s killer? with photos published April 5, 2018 on The News-Sentinel newspaper.
  13. John D. Miller arraigned with Tinsley supporters feet away by CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15 posted July 15, 2018 now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

  14. July 15, 2018 post by CeCe Moore - Genetic Genealogist on Facebook:

    Another arrest today thanks to genetic genealogy. Importantly, there is a confession this time.

    The News-Sentinel newspaper article: UPDATED: Grabill man arrested on murder, other charges in 30-year-old April Tinsley murder case which contains a timeline of the murder and significant events such as the DNA Connection in the investigation.

    October 7, 2017 the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana sponsored a "Day with Cece Moore" who explained genetic genealogy testing at the  Allen County Public Library see  Facebook Photos .

    May 8, 2018 the Parabon Labs website announced Parabon® Announces Snapshot® Genetic Genealogy Service for Law Enforcement including the statement: The company's new genetic genealogy (GG) unit is led by CeCe Moore, a pioneer in the field, best known for her work on the PBS television series Finding Your Roots.

  15. ON THE CASE WITH PAULA ZAHN a national television show has a 42 minute video called Notes from a Killer SEASON 17 • EPISODE 1 When a young girl disappears off a quiet suburban street, it marks the beginning of a terrifying game of cat and mouse between police and her abductor. Premiered July 15, 2018 on the Investigation Discovery TV channel.
  16. April Marie Tinsley archives at The News-Sentinel newspaper
  17. Type of DNA genealogy research used in April Marie Tinsley case described as possible ‘game-changer’ in cold cases by Kevin Kilbane published July 16, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. This lengthy interview with CeCe Moore - Genetic Genealogist discusses Genetic Genealogy, Law Enforcement, Value of GedMatch, Genealogy Benefit along with comments from Sarah Allen genealogy librarian who leads the monthly DNA and Genealogy Interest Group at the Genealogy Center. The article briefly mentions a "Day With Cece Moore" October 7, 2017 that filled the 3 Meeting Rooms at the Allen County Public Library. The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana has nearly 100 photos of the seminars on their Facebook page.
  18. Many national stories:
    1. Child-killer taunted investigators for 30 years with disturbing notes. DNA ends the mystery of who did it, police say by Eric Levenson and profile by Eric Levenson and Amanda Watts, on CNN.
    2. DNA Leads to Arrest in 8-Year Old April Tinsley's 1988 Murder DNA evidence allegedly links an Indiana man to the murder 30 years ago of April Tinsley. DNA evidence allegedly links an Indiana man to the murder 30 years ago of April Tinsley. By Monica Rodriguez on Fortune.com.
  19. April's mom wants death penalty 'I'm going to be pushing the button' by Matthew Leblanc published July 18, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
  20. April's memory still lives on for many and Detectives on Tinsley case happy with arrest Genealogy website able to finish 3 decades of work by Matthew LeBlanc published July 22, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
  21. Inside the genetic genealogy being used to solve crimes Steve Kroft reports on how a new tool that uses a mixture of DNA analysis and family genealogy has been helping law enforcement crack cold cases when he interviewed Cece Moore October 21, 2018 on the television show 60 Minutes. The April Tinsley case was mentioned around the 10:20 mark in the first video and another 5 minute video posted online.
  22. Could your DNA help solve a cold case? Most of those implicated by DNA are 3rd and 4th cousins that we don't even know. Published by 60 Minutes on October 21, 2018 Genetic genealogy, a new frontier in criminology, uses DNA to crack cold cases. Would you have a problem if yours were used?
  23. CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15has many April Tinsley stories.
  24. ABC WPTA21.com TV station has many April Tinsley stories.
  25. Parabon Snapshot posted this statement December 10, 2018 on Facebook and December 15, 2018 on Twitter: The Tinsley case is a special one to us here at @Parabon. It was the first case to which we applied the Snapshot technology back in mid-2014, Steve Armentrout said. Genetic Genealogy was used to ID the suspect in the case, and on Friday, he plead guilty.
  26. DNA detective Technique that aided in identifying April Tinsley's killer gains wider acceptance`Opinion published May 19, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
  27. May 26, 2020 The Genetic Detective TV show on ABC featuring Cece Moore. Cece is on Facebook as CeCe Moore - Genetic Genealogist: facebook.com/CeCeMooreDNA/ and Twitter: twitter.com/CeCeLMoore and the TV show has a Facebook page. An email was sent to subscribers stating: EPISODE 5: “April Tinsley, 1988” - The killer of eight-year-old April Tinsley has been taunting police for decades in Fort Wayne, Ind., leaving notes and threats with perfectly good DNA samples, but not enough DNA to catch him, until now. Interviews featured in the episode include April’s mother Janet Tinsley and cousin Kristina Snyder, Fort Wayne Police Department’s Detective Brian Martin and retired Detective Danny Jackson, coroner Chris Meihls, retired forensic scientist Linda McDonald, reporter Jamie Duffy and Parabon NanoLabs Founder Steve Armentrout and Director of Bioinformatics Ellen Greytak. The show was broadcast Tuesday June 16, 2020 as Season 1, Episode 4 The Deadly Playdate Promo information was posted on the ABC Shows page as The Genetic Detective . See June 16, 2020 Facebook post of promo video by ACGSI and Tinsley case airs today on national TV by Matthew LeBlanc published June 16, 2020 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
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Tipton, John

An Early Road: Fort Wayne to Tiptonsport about John Tipton in early 1800s by Tom Castaldi published March 8, 2016 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.

Toenges, Frederick William

In 1878 Frederick William Toenges immigrated from Germany where he had worked as a shoe cobbler. He settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana and continued working as a cobbler. Frederick soon recognized that retailing would be more rewarding and in 1891 established a shoe store at 1127 Maumee Avenue. In 1891 he married and he and his wife Elise had 10 children. Two of his sons, John and Arthur, joined theirfather in the business. Grandfather Frederick died in 1930 and John and Arthur carried on the business. In 1942 Arthur’s son Fred W. Toenges, began working in the store after school and on week-ends even though he was only 14 years old. In 1946, John died and Fred W. became a full time employee after graduating from High School. Copied from Our History on their website: toengesshoes.com. Fred's youngest son, 4th generation, Ross Toenges, 52, manages the Fred Toenges Shoes and Pedorthics store at 2415 Hobson Road in Fort Wayne and another store in Muncie. Family putting feet first for 125 years by Vivian Sade published October 22, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Toepfer, Mitzi

74, died March 13, 2015, started working at McMillen Park Ice Arena in 1962. Husband Harold Toepfer, son Bill (Rhonda) Berg of Fort Wayne; daughters, Jamie (Gary) Hall of South Bend, Ind. and Susan Matteson Thomas of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Melanie and Ryan Matteson, Julia Hall, Brooke and Graham Thomas; brother, Orion (Mary Jane) Toepfer of Wabash, Ind.; and sisters, Carol Beck of Manhattan Beach, Calif. and Ruth Nix of West Bloomfield, Michigan. Copied from Long-time McMillen Park Ice Arena manager Toepfer has died She was also USA Hockey and Silver Sticks official by Blake Sebring published March 13, 2015 in The News-Sentinel newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. See her March 16, 2015 D.O. McComb and Sons obituary.

Tolbert, Lance

The 4th born of six musically talented children in Fort Wayne, a son of Juanita and Rev. James Tolbert. His mother Juanita (Anderson) Tolbert January 23, 1950 ~ October 14, 2017 Carmichael Funeral Service obituary no longer online listed her children: Lamont (Susan) of Phoenix, AZ; Tyrone (Nakia) of Indianapolis, IN; Douglas of Fort Wayne, IN; Lance of Los Angeles, CA; Kenneth (Jachell) of Fort Wayne, IN; and Eric (Stacy) of Columbus, OH. Her Juanita Tolbert Legacy.com says very little.See also Educator, youth advocate, spiritual leader Juanita Tolbert passes on by Frost Editor published October 20, 2017 on Frost Illustrated now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

April 12, 2018 Lance announced that he won an RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America, Certified Gold plaque as a songwriter for his work on the Britney Spears album entitled BritneyJean. Posted April 12, 2018 on Twitter linking to his April 12, 2018 Instagram account which has a photo of him with his award show below and more information.

A post shared by theLanceTolbert (@thelancetolbert) on

His brother Lamont plays keyboard, Tyrone plays keyboard, Douglas drums, Kenneth keyboards and drums, and Eric key boards and drums. A South Side High School graduate Lance earned music-related bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana University. Lance plays bass guitar and keyboard with superstar musical legends including Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, will.i.am, Backstreet Boys, Cee Lo Green, Mary J. Blige, Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Madonna, Jon Bon Jovi, and Bob Dylan. From On stage with the stars published August 15, 2013 on INfortwayne.com sponsored by Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. Lance Tolbert around the world by Frost Illustrated Staff published January 24, 2014 on Frost Illustrated now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. For current activities see his AllMusic credits, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Lance Tolbert Ultrasone Fanpage now on Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

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Tomlin, Lily

Gained fame in two-and-a-half seasons in the Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, 1968-1973, television show. Born in Detroit, Michigan, her father Guy found a job as a toolmaker in a local Fort Wayne factory. They were poor farmers who moved from Kentucky in the 1930s. Copied from The lady's still a laugh-in by Sarah Hampson published September 15, 2001 in the Los Angeles, California Globe and Mail.

Tone, Fred

1941-December 29, 2015, born in San Antonio, Texas, Fred was a teacher, coach and principal at Bishop Dwenger High School for 42 years, retiring in 2010. For more read Dwenger stalwart Fred Tone, 70, dies after cancer fight by Chris Goff published December 30, 2015 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Surviving were his wife of 48 years, Sandy; sons, John F. Jr(Karin) of Fort Wayne, IN and Jason M. (Cheri) of Suffolk, VA; grandchildren, Jackson, Emma, Payton, Wilson, Parker & Allison; brothers, Thomas B. Tone and Michael S. Tone both of Fort Wayne, IN; sister, Marsha A. Gibson of Fort Wayne, IN. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas B. and Eleanor Tone. From his December 30, 2015 D.O. McComb and Sons obituary.

Tourkow, Leah

March 21, 1923 - June 16, 2014, radio disc jockey for 63 years, one of eight people credited with saving public radio in Fort Wayne in the late 1970s, daughter of Jacob Schwartz and Esther Kretzman Schwartz, husband Frederick, sons Ralph and Josh (Donna) Tourkow, daughter Deborah Sheray, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, brother Ralph Schwartz. See her June 17, 2014 obituary at Klaehn, Fahl, Melton Funeral Home and Jazz radio fixture Leah Tourkow dies at age 91 by Jeff Wiehe published June 19, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

Turnley, David and Peter

David C. Turnley davidcturnley.com, www.facebook.com/david.turnley.5, and brother Peter www.peterturnley.com, www.facebook.com/peterturnleyofficial, were born June 22, 1955 in Fort Wayne to Dr. William Loyd Turnley (orthodontist) and Elizabeth Ann Turnley (née Protsman who taught piano).

  1. February 6, 2016 post by Peter Turnley on Facebook:

    It's been a beautiful ride! David Turnley and Peter Turnley, with our great grandmother. Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1956

    Shared January 28, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

  2. High School graduate, professional photographer, author, see City native chronicles history in Cuba Photographer in the right place, right time for visit by Obama by Rosa Salter Rodriquez published March 26, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

  3. September 19, 2016 post by Peter Turnley on Facebook:

    Where are we headed-McClellan Street, 1972. This image, made on a street in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and the cover of a book by David and Peter Turnley, seems to speak this many years later to a sense of mystery, and foreboding questioning of reality, that seems so current in this present and rather ominous moment. © Peter Turnley, McClellan Street, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1972.

    This was shared January 28, 2017 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

  4. McClellan Street photos from the website peterturnley.com was discussed July 14, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
  5. CNN posted a video of images Photographer reflects on what he saw at Lviv train station taken by Peter Turnley stating: Photographer Peter Turnley describes what he saw at the train station in Lviv, Ukraine as thousands of refugees flee the country. Peter Turnley posted his photos taken during the Russia invasion of Ukraine on his facebook page including a photo of March 13, 2022 on Facebook: The Turnley's in Ukraine. (David, left, Peter, right).
  6. David C. Turnley and Peter Turnley Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia articles.

  7. March 15, 2022 post by Peter Turnley on Facebook:

    ABC-please see an interview with my hometown television channel. ‘I care about their existence. I care about their life.’ A photographer who grew up in Fort Wayne documents humanity during the war in Ukraine by ABC WPTA21.com TV station.

  8. September 11, 2022 by Peter Turnley on Facebook with 50 photographs:

    September 11, 2001-A portfolio and a story of a day I, and we, will never forget. By Peter Turnley

    Peter Turnley

    New York

    Sept. 11, 2011

    © Photographs by Peter Turnley, New York, Sept. 11, 2001 I do not authorize or give permission for any photograph or words of mine published here to be used or published in any form or venue outside of being shared on Facebook. 

    Also on our September 11, 2001 timeline.

  9. January 2, 2023 post by Peter Turnley on Facebook:

    My high school days, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1971.

    When I was a sophomore in high school, I tore a ligament in my left knee playing linebacker in football. While in the hospital, my parents brought be a book by Henri Cartier-Bresson, "The Face of Asia". Laying in my hospital bed, I was blown away by how this gentleman's vision informed me that there were so many majestic moments in daily life that I was walking around not noticing.

    Once out of the hospital, I bought a camera-I was 16 years old. I began to walk daily after school in the streets of my home town, Ft. Wayne, Indiana-a mid sized classic industrial city with lots of manufacturing serving the Detroit auto industry.

    It was at this early time in my life that with a camera I found a voice-I found a way to talk-and occasionally I had the feeling I could offer a voice to people whose voices were too often not heard very loudly.

    This photograph was made at "Link's Soul Arena" where I often hung out on Friday nights-a great dance club at a time when the fashions of my youth were very tied to "Shaft" and "Superfly".

    I look back always on this time in my life with great fondness. And while I loved football-it is possibly a football injury that helped me find my path in life.

    With love.

    © Peter Turnley, Ft.Wayne, Indiana, 1971.

  10. January 3, 2023 discussion of a photo by Peter Turnley showing Parrish's Barbershop, Main Street, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1972 and discussed January 3, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

  11. March 18, 2023 post by David Turnley on Facebook:

    McClellan Street

    I am proud to share some of my work I had the privilege to make on McClellan Street, at age 17, between 1972-73, where my twin brother Peter Turnley and I photographed for two years on this working class, inner city street in our hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, that was published as a book in by Indiana University Press in 2007. I am proud of this collaboration with Peter Turnley, and the lives of the people on McClellan Street that we had the privilege to know and photograph and who stay in my heart.

    ©photographs David Turnley, 1-8

    ©photographs Peter Turnley, 9, of me with Susie Garcia, and 10, the cover of the book.

    He posted a similar group of photos July 12, 2023 and an 8-minute video July 12, 2023 on Facebook.

Turpin, Ronald

In June 2012 is vice president – head of finance at Lincoln Financial Network, the Retail Sales Division of Lincoln Financial.

Community and leadership involvement: Immediate past board chair, United Way of Allen County; board chairman, Leadership Fort Wayne; board member for Indiana Association of United Ways; board member for Kate’s Kart, a non-profit organization that raises money to distribute free books to children in nearly 20 northeast Indiana hospitals ; board member, Tower Financial Corp. and Tower Bank; trustee for Malpas Trust, which was established to provide scholarships for high-potential students, based on need, attending DePauw University in Green Castle; University of Saint Francis Business School mentor; board member, Indiana 4-H Foundation; member of the Knowledge Management Task Force for the Indiana CPA Society.

Most recent accomplishment: Awarded “Volunteer of the Year” by Indiana Association of United Ways; The award, based on his serving in various volunteer capacities for the organization, was presented in February at a banquet in Indianapolis. Turpin has been a United Way volunteer since 1998. Integrity makes a leader Lincoln Financial Network VP Ron Turpin believes in giving back Journal Gazette newspaper June 18, 2012

Twain, Mark - Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Better known by his pen name Mark Twain, came to Fort Wayne for a lecture at Hamilton's Hall. He wrote a letter from Fort Wayne To Olivia L. Langdon  2 January 1869 • Fort Wayne, Ind. available on the Mark Twain Project with related newspaper articles which shows 13 results using Fort Wayne in Search. He refers to his future wife as Livy. Mark Twain under Marriage and Children on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [January 2013] states: Throughout 1868, Twain and Olivia Langdon ( Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia) corresponded but she rejected his first marriage proposal. Two months later, they were engaged. In February 1870, Twain and Langdon were married in Elmira, New York.

Clemens missed a December 29, 1868 appointment in Fort Wayne and forgot to let Olivia know in advance he was coming to Fort Wayne. The telegraph was the method used in this time period for long distance communication.

The Fort Wayne Democrat and Gazette newspapers had stories about the Mark Twain lecture at Hamilton's Hall.

The Democrat called Clemens’s lecture in Hamilton’s Hall, for the local Library and Lecture Association, “one of the finest, of the character, that it has ever been our pleasure to listen to. The artistic style in which the lecturer mingled the sublime and the ridiculous, the pathetic and the humorous, we have never heard excelled. We thank Mr. Clemens, and the Association who afforded us the opportunity, for the exquisite pleasure we enjoyed in listening to his faultless entertainment. The entire absence of all vulgarism, which all the latter day sons of Momus seem to think so indispensable to wit[,] constituted a marked feature in Mr. Clemens’ lecture”  (“The Lecture Course,” 4 Jan 69, 4).

The Gazette remarked that the lecture “kept the audience in alternate states of laughter and close attention. It was a kind of literary hash, (not in the least like boarding house hash), made up of the very best materials. ... It was a string of pearls from which the string had been lost. ... In any event it was a very amusing and interesting lecture; containing passages of great beauty and eloquence, mixed with a spice of wit which was irresistable... and pleasing by its novelty as well as by its intrinsic merit” (“The Lecture,” 4 Jan 69, 4).

February 5, 1885 Last evening Mr. Samuel L. Clemens the humorous writer, known all over the world as "Mark Twain," and Mr. George W. Cable, the novelist and magazine writer, appeared at the Academy of Music in a novel entertainment.  from articles in the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette and Daily Sentinel with copies of the articles at the Library of Virginia.

A January 4, 2023 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook stated: On January 4, 1869, author and humorist Mark Twain visited Indianapolis to perform a reading of his "The American Vandal Abroad." According to the Indianapolis Daily Sentinel, attendees could procure their tickets at Bonham's Music Store for the lecture held at Metropolitan Hall. Twain returned to Indianapolis in 1872, reading from his new work "Roughing It" at the YMCA's Association Hall. Learn more at: “The Best of the Season:” Mark Twain’s Indiana Lectures by Justin Clark November 28, 2016 on Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Programblog which does not mention Fort Wayne.

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