Duesterberg Funeral Home photographs
Collection — Folder: SP140
Identifier: SP140
Scope and Contents
This collection includes black-and-white photographs from Duesterberg Funeral Home in Vincennes, Indiana ranging from circa 1860 to circa 1915 regarding the Duesterberg family, their funeral home, and its hearses.
Dates
- Majority of material found in circa 1860-circa 1915
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Henry Bernard Duesterberg was born on December 9, 1842 to Catholic German immigrants Gerhard H. (1811–1894) and Mary Caroline (Beckman) Duesterberg (1815–1897) in Vincennes, Indiana. He had 8 siblings, including Caroline, Mary, John M., Gerhard H., Jr., Julia, Peter Leonard, Elizabeth, and Lawrence. Duesterberg began learning the trade of cabinet-making from his father at age 15. The trade extended to making coffins, which led to the Duesterbergs starting the Duesterberg Funeral Home and engaging in undertaking. Duesterberg married Elizabeth Memmering on July 30, 1867 and they had 8 children: Henry H. (1868–1907), Mary Elizabeth (1870–1947), Anna Catherine (1872–1924), Herman John (1874–1938), Bernard J. (1877–1924), Elizabeth "Bess" (1880–1966), Ferdinand Francis (1880–1966), and Josephine (1887–1972). In 1883, he was elected county treasurer as a Democrat and reelected in 1885. Duesterberg resigned from the office after finding more than $10,000 missing. He was tried for embezzling, but acquitted by a jury on May 14, 1887. In a case in Knox County Court later that year, it was decided he would have to repay the deficit, an amount of $10,468.81, plus interest. Duesterberg died on May 11, 1919 and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Vincennes.
Herman John Duesterberg (1874-1938), son of Henry B. and Elizabeth Duesterberg, became director of the family funeral home after his father. He married Anna Nolan (1879–1959) in 1902 and they had 3 children: John H. (1903-1989), Joseph Leonard (1905-1966), and Esther M. (1909-1992). After he retired, his son John became the funeral director. Duesterberg died on June 6, 1938 and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
"An Alleged Embezzeler Acquitted." Indianapolis Journal, May 15, 1887, 10. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1850 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"Court Cullings." Seymour Daily Democrat (IN), December 12, 1887, 3. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Findagrave.com. "Henry Bernard Duesterberg." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113192711/henry-bernard-duesterberg.
Findagrave.com. "John H. Duesterberg." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158521463/john-h-duesterberg.
"Herman J. Duesterberg." Obituary." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 8, 1938, 3. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
"Minor Notes." Indianapolis Journal, October 27, 1887, 2. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
"Veteran Undertaker Died at Vincennes." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), May 14, 1919, 13. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Herman John Duesterberg (1874-1938), son of Henry B. and Elizabeth Duesterberg, became director of the family funeral home after his father. He married Anna Nolan (1879–1959) in 1902 and they had 3 children: John H. (1903-1989), Joseph Leonard (1905-1966), and Esther M. (1909-1992). After he retired, his son John became the funeral director. Duesterberg died on June 6, 1938 and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
"An Alleged Embezzeler Acquitted." Indianapolis Journal, May 15, 1887, 10. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1850 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Henry B. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Herman J. Duesterberg." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed December 1, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"Court Cullings." Seymour Daily Democrat (IN), December 12, 1887, 3. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Findagrave.com. "Henry Bernard Duesterberg." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113192711/henry-bernard-duesterberg.
Findagrave.com. "John H. Duesterberg." Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158521463/john-h-duesterberg.
"Herman J. Duesterberg." Obituary." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 8, 1938, 3. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
"Minor Notes." Indianapolis Journal, October 27, 1887, 2. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
"Veteran Undertaker Died at Vincennes." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), May 14, 1919, 13. Accessed December 1, 2021. Newspapers.com.
Historical Note
Duesterberg Funeral Home was established by cabinetmaker Gerhard H. Duesterberg in the mid-1800s. His son Henry Bernard Duesterberg worked with him from age 15. The first Duesterberg Undertaking Parlor was located on Vigo Street between 5th and 6th streets in Vincennes, Indiana. Henry B. Duesterberg's sons, Herman J. and Bernard J., also worked for the family business.
In 1924, John H. Duesterberg, grandson of Henry B. and son of Herman J. Duesterberg, joined the funeral home and in 1935, became the owner of the family business. He ran the funeral home until 1976 and sold it to Donald Fredrick and his brother. In 1979, the company's name was changed to Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home, which still operates in Vincennes today. It is the second oldest funeral home in Indiana.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home. "Our Heritage." Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home website. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.duesterbergfredrick.com/about-us/our-heritage.
In 1924, John H. Duesterberg, grandson of Henry B. and son of Herman J. Duesterberg, joined the funeral home and in 1935, became the owner of the family business. He ran the funeral home until 1976 and sold it to Donald Fredrick and his brother. In 1979, the company's name was changed to Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home, which still operates in Vincennes today. It is the second oldest funeral home in Indiana.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home. "Our Heritage." Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home website. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.duesterbergfredrick.com/about-us/our-heritage.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2021/12/01 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2021/12/01 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- Duesterberg Funeral Home photographs
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
