Francis Maxmillian Dametz


Frank Julius DAMETZ

Frank Julius DAMETZ
     Better known as Frank or F. J. Dametz.
     Frank Dametz was born and raised in Prussia, Germany.  He was one of several children, the son of a farmer.  The family lived in Zeitz but farmed a few acres outside of town a few miles.  After Frank had served the required time in the army he came to the United States to make a new life for himself.  He came to Washington County, Kansas and lived for a time there with an uncle, Frank Dametz.  After coming to Rooks County he bought a relinquishment on a homestead of 160 acres in Corning Township described as SE1/4-29-9.  The Land Patent, bearing the seal of the general land office, and signed by William McKinley, December 1, 1898, indicates it is recorded in Vol. 66, on page 377, and was recorded November 10, 1900.
     A year, or two, or three, after coming to the states, Mr. Dametz married Lydia Ann Hoskins on May 14, 1885 at Stockton, Kansas.  Lydia Ann, the fourth child of Joel and Marjorie Pearson Hoskins, was born January 2, 1854 at Salem, Iowa.
     Their first home was a dugout.  Their children were born in a dugout.  At the time of their marriage Lydia Ann also owned a piece of ground she had homesteaded.  It was what we know as the Ralph Howatt Place now.  They later sold this place.
     At one time Mr. Dametz bought a piece of property in Plainville, at a tax sale, and built a house on it.  But the family did not live there long until they moved back to the farm.  After a time they moved to Abilene, Kansas, and then later to League City, Texas.  After living in League City for sixteen years or so they moved to Plainville in 1928 where they lived until the time of their deaths.
     Frank Dametz was born February 15, 1855.  He died May 9, 1945, Hadley Memorial Hospital, Hays, Kansas.  Lydia Ann died March 25, 1932 at home in Plainville, Kansas.  They were each buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Corning Township.  Their children were Iva Everett, Clara May, Robert Julius, who died at the age of thee years, and an infant who died at birth.
     Iva E. Dametz was married November 6, 1907 to Francis Lee Davis Jones (better known as Frank Jones).  Frank Jones, with his mother, came from southwest Missouri, and was also a farmer.  Frank was born June 29, 1873.  He died October 17, 1944.  Iva E. was born April 25, 1887 in Corning Township, Rooks County, Kansas.  She died March 8, 1971 in Nampa, Idaho.  Frank Jones and his mother are buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Corning Township.  Frank and Iva have two grandsons (great-grandsons of F. J. Dametz) who still live in Kansas.  They are Francis Duane Toepfer, and Paul Dwight Toepfer.  One lives in Lawrence, Kansas, and the other lives in Solomon, Kansas.
    Clara May Dametz was born June 27, 1895 in Corning Township.  She was married March 18, 1915 to Lawrence Russell Newlin at League City, Texas.  The date of her death is July 21, 1967.  She died at the Hadley Memorial Hospital, Hays, Kansas.  She was also buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Corning Township.  Russel Newlin was born September 9, 1891.  He came from Howard County, Indiana, and was the son of Thomas E. and Caroline Emma (Hoover) Newlin.  Russel is eighty-eight years old, and is living in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Russel and Clara Newlin have three children (grandchildren to F. J. Dametz) who yet live in Kansas.  They are Reba Byrnes, who also lives in Hutchinson; Wayne E. Newlin, who lives at Lebo; and Nada Underwood who lives in Great Bend.  Submitted by Reba M. Byrnes.

The William Wade Hinshaw Kansas Quaker Meeting REcords Monthly Meetings A-E vol I, M-R vol III:
DEMETZ
4-8-1893    Frank J, rec. on req.
7-26-1913  Frank & w, rlr
5-10-1890  Lydia Ann, rec on req.
DAMETZ
?                Frank, cm
?                Franz J. b 11-15-1855
                  Lydia Ann  b 1-2-1854
7-26-1913  Franz J, L A, Clara, drd
?                Lydia A, cm, overseer.

BIRTH: Birth record of St. Michaels Church in Zeitz, Saxony, Prussia.  child: Julius Franz Dametz; Father: Gustav Robert Dametz; Mother: Wilhelmine Henriette Siegel; Witnesses: Friederike Siegel, Wilhelmine Dietsesch, Henriette Melzer