As the Dayton Rotary Club prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, members are taking a closer look at the people who helped start it all.
In researching the club’s 20 charter members, Rotarians have uncovered some interesting connections — including the fact that two of the original members shared the same name: Louis Friedman.
One was known as Louis S. Friedman, while the other went simply by Louis Friedman. The two men were cousins, both born in Hungary, who eventually made their way to Dayton.
Louis Friedman, born on Christmas Day in 1870, immigrated to the United States at age 17 in 1887. He later settled in Dayton in 1895, where he opened the town’s first mercantile store with an initial investment of $5,000. For many years, Friedman’s Store was the largest retail establishment in Dayton.
He married Anna Pearl Kaplan in 1901, and the couple had seven children. One of their daughters, Rebecca, studied at the Juilliard School in New York City before returning to Dayton, where she became well known for teaching music and piano.
Friedman was widely respected in the community and known for his generosity. Despite his Jewish heritage, it is often noted that he donated hymnals to the First Methodist Church of Dayton during the early 1930s, at the start of the Great Depression.
Later in life, Friedman moved into real estate and found success in Houston, where his family eventually relocated full time. He became a U.S. citizen in 1941 and remained grateful for the opportunities the country had provided. He died on Dec. 21, 1947, and is buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Houston.
His cousin, Louis S. Friedman, followed a similar path.
Born in Hungary on Jan. 21, 1893, he came to the United States as a child in 1899. He later sought U.S. citizenship in 1918 so he could serve in World War I.
In 1919, he married Esther Klein, whose family owned Klein’s Hardware and General Store in Dayton. The couple had four children. Louis S. was active in the community, serving on the Dayton Independent School District Board and taking part in local efforts.
Although he registered for the draft during World War II, he was unable to serve due to his age. He died on Nov. 28, 1943.
Rotarians say learning more about the charter members has helped bring the club’s history to life as the anniversary approaches.
“A special thank you goes to Mrs. Caroline Wadzeck,” said Rotarian Dr. Jessica Johnson, who has been leading the research effort. “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 and curator at the Old School Museum.