Dumont Lotz papers

The Lotz family was one of the oldest pioneer families in the Jay and Delaware County area, and family patriarchs such as Orlando Lotz, Jacob E. Lotz, Dumont Lotz, and John Lotz were prominent in local politics and government. Jacob was the son of Abraham and Nancy (Carpenter) Lotz, and served as the sheriff of Jay County. Jacob and Keturah had five children: Florence, Dumont, Minnehaha "Minnie," Myrtle, and Robert Bismarck "Markie" (Florence and Markie passed away as children).

(Cecil) Dumont Lotz was born at Portland, Indiana, on October 27, 1862. His father, Mr. Jacob E. Lotz, was a successful farmer and stock raiser in that section of the state, and was at one time Sheriff of Jay County. The young man spent his early years on the farm, and attended the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio.

He then taught school for about four years, and was a student at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, but did not engage in the practice of medicine. His health being somewhat impaired, Professor Lotz engaged in travel throughout the western country for some time, and on his return he entered Purdue University, from which institution he graduated in 1889, with the degree of B. S., and in 1890 took the advanced degrees of M. S. and A. C. He was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at the university, working from 1889 - 1891. During his connection with Purdue did a large amount of valuable work on food adulterations for the United States Government.

He was elected chemist to the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (1892-1893), a government position connected with the Oregon Agricultural College, and was also State Chemist of Oregon for three years, and was located at Corvallis, Oregon. Finding his health again impaired, Professor Lotz traveled extensively through Old Mexico and Central America, thoroughly exploring the old Aztec and Toltec ruins.

Professor Lotz was a diligent and enthusiastic archaeologist, and made many valuable discoveries of ancient relics in Mexico, Central America, Alaska and other sections of the country, and pursued an extensive course of chemical research for his own uses and purposes. He returned home to Indiana in 1895 and was elected teacher of science in the South Bend High School, and served in that position until 1898, when he was elected principal of DeSoto High School near Muncie, Indiana.

Lotz enrolled at Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1901, taking courses in the fall of 1901 and spring of 1902. The Indiana University Registrar does not have a record of any major course of study or degree granted. While the Muncie Evening Press reported (September 4, 1930) that he had served as professor of chemistry at the Indiana University School of Medicine, this could not be confirmed with certainty. Lotz later taught chemistry at Royerton High School in Muncie, Indiana (the current Delta High School consolidated Royerton, Eaton, and DeSoto high schools in 1967).

Lotz married Nannie (Nancy)(nee Bloss) Lotz in 1894. She was the daughter of John McKnight Bloss, Superindtendent of Public Instruction of Indiana (1880-1882) and president of the Oregon Agricultural College (1892-1896, now Oregon State). Together Dumont and Nannie had four children: Helen, Margaret, Dorothy, and John.

Lotz passed away on September 4, 1930, from an apparent suicide. The Associated Press reported at the time that "Dumont Lotz, 65 [correction: 67], of Muncie, at one time a widely known educator, set fire to his home at Royerton, near here [Muncie, IN], today and was burned to death. Mrs. Lotz was seriously burned. John, 23, a son, also suffered injuries. Lotz was said to have become demented as a result of an extended illness."

Dumont's son, John, held many public office positions in Delaware County, including Hamilton Township trustee, Delaware County assessor, and bailiff of Delaware County Superior Court 4. He married Helen D. Rozelle in 1937 and they had two daughters, Lynda and Nancy. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 87.

Citations: Anderson and Cooley, compilers. "South Bend and the Men who Have Made it: Historical, Descriptive, Biographical." South Bend, IN: Tribune Printing Company, 1901. p 159-160. /www.archive.org/stream/southbendmenwhoh00ande/southbendmenwhoh00ande_djvu.txt>

MSS 347, Lotz Family papers, Ball State University Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries. /lib.bsu.edu/archives/findingaids/MSS347.pdf>

"History of Delta High School." /dhs.delcomschools.org/for_parents/contact_school/about_us>

AP. "Burns Self to Death." Manchester Evening Herald, South Manchester, CT, Sept. 5, 1930. /www.manchesterhistory.org/News/Manchester%20Evening%20Hearld_1930-09-05.pdf>