DITMARS, Richard Verbrycke

DEATH CALLS R. V. DITMARS

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End Comes to Civil War Veteran and Pioneer Merchant

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Richard V. Ditmars, veteran of the Civil War and pioneer merchant of Franklin, died at 10:30 o’clock Thurs­day night at his home on West Madison Street, following a lingering illness which developed late in April. Mr. Ditmars’ condition became critical frequently during July and August but early this week he apparently was improving. He had tremendous vitality and was rational until the end.

Mr. Ditmars was the son of Garrett and Sarah Verbryck Ditmars. He was born December 8, 1834 in Warren County, Ohio. His parent moved to Johnson County in 1835 and he settled on a farm seven miles west of Franklin, where they spend the remainder of their lives. Mr. Ditmars attended the Hope­well Academy and when just a young man went to Kansas, where he built the first log houses of a town which he helped to establish and which he named Iola. It has since become one of the largest cities of the state.

During the holiday of 1860 Mr. Ditmars returned to Johnson County for a visit. The war broke out shortly afterwards and in the spring of 1861 he volunteered for service in Company F of the Seventh Indiana Regiment. After being in active service for nine months he was severely wounded, his left leg becoming broken by a shell. He was in a Washington hospital for four months and then was honorable [sic] dis­charged. He returned to Franklin and was employed as a clerk in the John L. Jones store. Later he formed a partnership with Mr. Jones which continued for two years. He sold out and attended a business college in Indianapolis for several months, later returning here and establishing a dry goods store. He continued in the business for almost fifty years. He built up a large trade and was one of the county’s leading merchants. He sold his store to the Wile-Casady company in the fall of 1914.

However, Mr. Ditmars was even better known throughout this and adjoining counties for his activity in church affairs. He frequently conducted evangelistic meetings in Brown County and contributed to the support of se­veral college students who were pre­paring themselves for the ministry or for educational work. He had been an elder in the Franklin Presbyterian Church for almost forty years and was regarded as one of the community’s strongest Christian leaders. Mr. Ditmars was a past commander of the G. A. R. and served as patriotic instructor for the schools of Johnson County for many years.

Mr. Ditmars was twice married. His first wife was Alice Barnett, the only daughter of Dr. Robert Barnett of Greenfield. Of three children born to them only one, who is now Mrs. Oran Province, survived the mother, who died in July, 1887. On December 28, 1892, Mr. Ditmars married Mary Mather of Indianapolis, who survives him and who has been constantly in attendance at his bedside since his illness developed. Besides his widow and daughter, Mr. Ditmars also leaves a sister, Mrs. Rebecca Donnell of Min­neapolis, Minn., and a brother, Cor­nelius Ditmars of Hopewell, who is in his 93rd year.

Maurice Ditmars, a nephew, who has lived with Mr. and Mrs. Ditmars for the last eighteen years arrived home just fifteen minutes after Mr. Ditmars’ death. He has been working in Detroit this summer.

The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home in charge of the Rev. R. P. Johns. The Rev. E. A. VanNuys of Goshen, is expected to arrive tonight or Saturday morning and will assist in the services. Friends may call any time after 5 o’clock this evening but are requested to omit flowers.

Link to Richard Verbrydke Ditmar’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady