Washington C. DePauw

Washington C. DePauw was a prominent 19th-century American industrialist and philanthropist whose substantial financial contributions led to the renaming of Indiana Asbury University to DePauw University in his honor. His business empire, centered on glass manufacturing and other ventures, made him one of the wealthiest individuals in Indiana during the Gilded Age. DePauw's philanthropy extended beyond higher education to include significant support for Methodist causes and civic institutions in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana.

Early life and education

Washington Charles DePauw was born on January 4, 1822, in Salem, Indiana, to Charles DePauw and Martha (Ketcham) DePauw. His family had deep roots in the region, with his grandfather, also named Charles DePauw, having served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He received his early education in local schools before moving to New Albany, Indiana, a major commercial center on the Ohio River. In New Albany, he began his business career working in his father's mercantile and banking operations, gaining crucial experience in finance and commerce that would underpin his future industrial endeavors.

Business career

DePauw's business career was marked by diversification and strategic expansion, primarily in the manufacturing sector. He founded the American Plate Glass Works in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which became one of the largest and most successful glass factories in the United States at the time. He also held significant interests in the Wabash Railroad and owned extensive coal mines in Illinois, which supplied fuel for his industrial operations. His business acumen extended to banking, where he served as president of the New Albany National Bank, and he was a director of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railway. These interconnected ventures in transportation, raw materials, and manufacturing solidified his status as a leading industrialist in the Midwestern United States.

Philanthropy and DePauw University

DePauw is most enduringly remembered for his transformative philanthropy, particularly toward Indiana Asbury University in Greencastle, Indiana. In 1881, following a series of major financial gifts totaling approximately $600,000 to rescue the struggling Methodist institution from debt, the university's board of trustees voted to rename the school DePauw University in his honor. His support was not limited to the university's general endowment; he also funded the construction of DePauw College for Women (later known as the Women's College) and contributed to other campus buildings. His philanthropic vision extended to his community, where he donated the DePauw House to the New Albany YMCA and provided funding for the DePauw Methodist Episcopal Church.

Later life and death

In his later years, Washington C. DePauw maintained an active role in managing his business interests and philanthropic commitments. He split his time between his residences in New Albany, Indiana, and New York City, where he oversaw his financial affairs. He died suddenly of pneumonia on May 5, 1887, while at his home in New York City. His body was returned to Indiana, and he was interred in Fairview Cemetery in New Albany. His legacy is perpetuated primarily through DePauw University, which grew into a nationally recognized liberal arts institution, and through the continued operation of charitable foundations bearing his name.

Category:1822 births Category:1887 deaths Category:American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:People from New Albany, Indiana Category:DePauw University