Dayton Rotary Club is gaining further insight into its founding members as preparations advance for the upcoming 100th Anniversary Celebration. The club has uncovered interesting facts about the 20 Charter Members, many of whom had multiple connections within the original Dayton Rotary community. Did you know that there were two Louis Friedmans among the original Charter Members? One was known as Louis S. Friedman, and the other simply as Louis Friedman.
The two Louis Friedmans were actually cousins, both born in Hungary and both settling in Dayton, Texas.
Louis (without the S) Friedman was born on Christmas Day in 1870. At the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States in 1887 through Ellis Island. In 1895, he relocated to Dayton and founded Dayton’s first mercantile store with an initial investment of only $5,000. Friedman’s Store was the largest retail establishment in Dayton for many years. In 1901, Louis married Anna Pearl Kaplan, and together they had seven children. One of their daughters was highly musically talented and was sent to the Juilliard School in New York City for training. Their daughter, Rebecca, who was well known in the community, returned to Dayton to teach music and piano to many residents. Louis Friedman was well respected and loved in the community, known for his generous spirit. He was a philanthropist who donated generously to both Dayton and Liberty communities. It is often recounted that, despite his Jewish heritage, Friedman contributed all the Methodist hymnals to the First Methodist Church of Dayton during the early 1930s, at the onset of the Great Depression. His family later purchased a second home in Houston, and Louis embarked on a second career in real estate, where he achieved significant success. For many years, Louis and his family divided their time between Dayton and Houston until he eventually sold the Dayton property and moved permanently to Houston. In 1941, Louis Friedman became a U.S. citizen. He loved this country and felt grateful for the opportunities provided to him and his family. Louis Friedman passed away on December 21, 1947, and is buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Houston.
Louis S. Friedman, a relative of the other Louis, followed a similar path in life. He was born in Hungary on January 21, 1893, making him the younger of the two Louis. Nearly 12 years after Louis immigrated to the United States, Louis S. arrived in America in 1899 as a child. He petitioned for U.S. citizenship in 1918 to serve in World War I, which he did. On March 23, 1919, Louis S. married Esther Klein, whose family owned Klein’s Hardware and General Store in Dayton. They had four children. Louis S. served on the Dayton Independent School District Board and was actively involved in the Dayton community. Like his cousin Louis, he was very proud to be an American citizen. Although he registered for the draft during World War II, he was unable to serve due to his age (47 years old). He passed away shortly thereafter on November 28, 1943.
The Dayton Rotary Club has enjoyed learning about the Charter Members—both their connections with fellow Charter Members and their ties to the Dayton community. Rotarian Dr. Jessica Johnson, who has been conducting research for the 100th Anniversary, stated, "A special thank you goes to Mrs. Caroline Wadzeck. She has played a key role in helping the club gather information about all of the Charter Members. We truly appreciate her efforts as we reflect on our historic journey in preparation for our upcoming celebration." Wadzeck, a former Dayton Mayor, also serves as an officer of the Dayton Historical Society and is a docent along with being one of the curators at the local Old School Museum.