Son of John De Kay and [Mary] Elizabeth Ellsworth De Kay.
American entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, "Sausage King" of Mexico under the famous brand "Popo", playwright, author, and eccentric socialite. Aside from his social activities, interest in multiple businesses, and attempts as a playwright, John De Kay also authored over twenty books on a variety of topics, including finance, women's rights, the labor movement, politics, Mexican history, and World War I.
Born in Iowa, he began his career in ranching and newspaper publishing in South Dakota, but by 1910 had achieved international business prominence as president of the Mexican National Packing Company which he had founded in 1902. He amassed and lost a number of fortunes, and pursued by charges of fraud for various financial deals, spent many years dodging extradition proceedings across Europe.
In 1914 his play "Judas", starring Sarah Bernhardt, was produced at the London Coliseum. (It had been banned after a single performance in the U.S.)
Married first, Anna May Walton, July 15, 1897, in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Children:
1. John Walton, b. 10 May 1898, d. 17 Jan 1972; m. Edna Sophia Isabella Lagerlöf.
2. Anna Walton (later changed to Jeanne Anna), b. 22 Jul 1899, d. Dec. 30, 1919.
3. Elizabeth Walton, b. 15 Nov 1900, d. 28 Sep 1991; m. first, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Lange; m. second, Samuel Miller Keplinger; m. third, John F. Cochran.
Married second, Dorothy Evelyn Knox, b. 1 Apr 1891 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; d. 6 Nov 1983 in San Pedro, California.
Children:
4. Enguerran, b. 1916, d. 1921 in Berlin, Germany.
5. Eileen Nora, b. 17 Aug 1918 in Lucerne, Switzerland, d. 18 Oct 2010; m. William Alderson, Jr., 1947.
6. Donald Ellsworth, b. 18 Jun 1920 in Geltow bei Potsdam, Germany, d. 26 Apr 2010; m. Mary Ann McEvilly (1922-1990); two children.
From the Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 8 Oct 1938:
DEATH CLAIMS JOHN W. DEKAY
John W. De Kay, early newspaper publisher in the Black Hills, died Tuesday at Takoma Park, Md., at the age of 68, according to word received here yesterday. De Kay, who attained considerable success writing books and plays, founded the Whitewood Plaindealer many years ago, and later had interests in other Hills publications. He left the Black Hills sometime before 1900, older residents of the region recall.
Funeral services were held Friday at Falls Church, Va. De Kay went to the east in June from Wilmington, Calif., to visit his brother, H.E. De Kay, Ashburn, Va., and decided to stay to finish writing a book.
He was born in New Hampton, Iowa, traveled widely, amassed fortunes in oil, mining and other enterprises, and wrote 20 books and numerous plays. Among his plays was "Judas", in which Sarah Bernhardt was starred. At the time of his death he had a $11,000,000 claim against the Mexican government for confiscated property. He was a member of the Algonquin Club of Boston and the National Arts and Lawyers' Clubs in New York.
American entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, "Sausage King" of Mexico under the famous brand "Popo", playwright, author, and eccentric socialite. Aside from his social activities, interest in multiple businesses, and attempts as a playwright, John De Kay also authored over twenty books on a variety of topics, including finance, women's rights, the labor movement, politics, Mexican history, and World War I.
Born in Iowa, he began his career in ranching and newspaper publishing in South Dakota, but by 1910 had achieved international business prominence as president of the Mexican National Packing Company which he had founded in 1902. He amassed and lost a number of fortunes, and pursued by charges of fraud for various financial deals, spent many years dodging extradition proceedings across Europe.
In 1914 his play "Judas", starring Sarah Bernhardt, was produced at the London Coliseum. (It had been banned after a single performance in the U.S.)
Married first, Anna May Walton, July 15, 1897, in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Children:
1. John Walton, b. 10 May 1898, d. 17 Jan 1972; m. Edna Sophia Isabella Lagerlöf.
2. Anna Walton (later changed to Jeanne Anna), b. 22 Jul 1899, d. Dec. 30, 1919.
3. Elizabeth Walton, b. 15 Nov 1900, d. 28 Sep 1991; m. first, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Lange; m. second, Samuel Miller Keplinger; m. third, John F. Cochran.
Married second, Dorothy Evelyn Knox, b. 1 Apr 1891 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; d. 6 Nov 1983 in San Pedro, California.
Children:
4. Enguerran, b. 1916, d. 1921 in Berlin, Germany.
5. Eileen Nora, b. 17 Aug 1918 in Lucerne, Switzerland, d. 18 Oct 2010; m. William Alderson, Jr., 1947.
6. Donald Ellsworth, b. 18 Jun 1920 in Geltow bei Potsdam, Germany, d. 26 Apr 2010; m. Mary Ann McEvilly (1922-1990); two children.
From the Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 8 Oct 1938:
DEATH CLAIMS JOHN W. DEKAY
John W. De Kay, early newspaper publisher in the Black Hills, died Tuesday at Takoma Park, Md., at the age of 68, according to word received here yesterday. De Kay, who attained considerable success writing books and plays, founded the Whitewood Plaindealer many years ago, and later had interests in other Hills publications. He left the Black Hills sometime before 1900, older residents of the region recall.
Funeral services were held Friday at Falls Church, Va. De Kay went to the east in June from Wilmington, Calif., to visit his brother, H.E. De Kay, Ashburn, Va., and decided to stay to finish writing a book.
He was born in New Hampton, Iowa, traveled widely, amassed fortunes in oil, mining and other enterprises, and wrote 20 books and numerous plays. Among his plays was "Judas", in which Sarah Bernhardt was starred. At the time of his death he had a $11,000,000 claim against the Mexican government for confiscated property. He was a member of the Algonquin Club of Boston and the National Arts and Lawyers' Clubs in New York.
Son of John De Kay and [Mary] Elizabeth Ellsworth De Kay.
American entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, "Sausage King" of Mexico under the famous brand "Popo", playwright, author, and eccentric socialite. Aside from his social activities, interest in multiple businesses, and attempts as a playwright, John De Kay also authored over twenty books on a variety of topics, including finance, women's rights, the labor movement, politics, Mexican history, and World War I.
Born in Iowa, he began his career in ranching and newspaper publishing in South Dakota, but by 1910 had achieved international business prominence as president of the Mexican National Packing Company which he had founded in 1902. He amassed and lost a number of fortunes, and pursued by charges of fraud for various financial deals, spent many years dodging extradition proceedings across Europe.
In 1914 his play "Judas", starring Sarah Bernhardt, was produced at the London Coliseum. (It had been banned after a single performance in the U.S.)
Married first, Anna May Walton, July 15, 1897, in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Children:
1. John Walton, b. 10 May 1898, d. 17 Jan 1972; m. Edna Sophia Isabella Lagerlöf.
2. Anna Walton (later changed to Jeanne Anna), b. 22 Jul 1899, d. Dec. 30, 1919.
3. Elizabeth Walton, b. 15 Nov 1900, d. 28 Sep 1991; m. first, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Lange; m. second, Samuel Miller Keplinger; m. third, John F. Cochran.
Married second, Dorothy Evelyn Knox, b. 1 Apr 1891 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; d. 6 Nov 1983 in San Pedro, California.
Children:
4. Enguerran, b. 1916, d. 1921 in Berlin, Germany.
5. Eileen Nora, b. 17 Aug 1918 in Lucerne, Switzerland, d. 18 Oct 2010; m. William Alderson, Jr., 1947.
6. Donald Ellsworth, b. 18 Jun 1920 in Geltow bei Potsdam, Germany, d. 26 Apr 2010; m. Mary Ann McEvilly (1922-1990); two children.
From the Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 8 Oct 1938:
DEATH CLAIMS JOHN W. DEKAY
John W. De Kay, early newspaper publisher in the Black Hills, died Tuesday at Takoma Park, Md., at the age of 68, according to word received here yesterday. De Kay, who attained considerable success writing books and plays, founded the Whitewood Plaindealer many years ago, and later had interests in other Hills publications. He left the Black Hills sometime before 1900, older residents of the region recall.
Funeral services were held Friday at Falls Church, Va. De Kay went to the east in June from Wilmington, Calif., to visit his brother, H.E. De Kay, Ashburn, Va., and decided to stay to finish writing a book.
He was born in New Hampton, Iowa, traveled widely, amassed fortunes in oil, mining and other enterprises, and wrote 20 books and numerous plays. Among his plays was "Judas", in which Sarah Bernhardt was starred. At the time of his death he had a $11,000,000 claim against the Mexican government for confiscated property. He was a member of the Algonquin Club of Boston and the National Arts and Lawyers' Clubs in New York.
American entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, "Sausage King" of Mexico under the famous brand "Popo", playwright, author, and eccentric socialite. Aside from his social activities, interest in multiple businesses, and attempts as a playwright, John De Kay also authored over twenty books on a variety of topics, including finance, women's rights, the labor movement, politics, Mexican history, and World War I.
Born in Iowa, he began his career in ranching and newspaper publishing in South Dakota, but by 1910 had achieved international business prominence as president of the Mexican National Packing Company which he had founded in 1902. He amassed and lost a number of fortunes, and pursued by charges of fraud for various financial deals, spent many years dodging extradition proceedings across Europe.
In 1914 his play "Judas", starring Sarah Bernhardt, was produced at the London Coliseum. (It had been banned after a single performance in the U.S.)
Married first, Anna May Walton, July 15, 1897, in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Children:
1. John Walton, b. 10 May 1898, d. 17 Jan 1972; m. Edna Sophia Isabella Lagerlöf.
2. Anna Walton (later changed to Jeanne Anna), b. 22 Jul 1899, d. Dec. 30, 1919.
3. Elizabeth Walton, b. 15 Nov 1900, d. 28 Sep 1991; m. first, Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Lange; m. second, Samuel Miller Keplinger; m. third, John F. Cochran.
Married second, Dorothy Evelyn Knox, b. 1 Apr 1891 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; d. 6 Nov 1983 in San Pedro, California.
Children:
4. Enguerran, b. 1916, d. 1921 in Berlin, Germany.
5. Eileen Nora, b. 17 Aug 1918 in Lucerne, Switzerland, d. 18 Oct 2010; m. William Alderson, Jr., 1947.
6. Donald Ellsworth, b. 18 Jun 1920 in Geltow bei Potsdam, Germany, d. 26 Apr 2010; m. Mary Ann McEvilly (1922-1990); two children.
From the Deadwood (SD) Pioneer-Times, 8 Oct 1938:
DEATH CLAIMS JOHN W. DEKAY
John W. De Kay, early newspaper publisher in the Black Hills, died Tuesday at Takoma Park, Md., at the age of 68, according to word received here yesterday. De Kay, who attained considerable success writing books and plays, founded the Whitewood Plaindealer many years ago, and later had interests in other Hills publications. He left the Black Hills sometime before 1900, older residents of the region recall.
Funeral services were held Friday at Falls Church, Va. De Kay went to the east in June from Wilmington, Calif., to visit his brother, H.E. De Kay, Ashburn, Va., and decided to stay to finish writing a book.
He was born in New Hampton, Iowa, traveled widely, amassed fortunes in oil, mining and other enterprises, and wrote 20 books and numerous plays. Among his plays was "Judas", in which Sarah Bernhardt was starred. At the time of his death he had a $11,000,000 claim against the Mexican government for confiscated property. He was a member of the Algonquin Club of Boston and the National Arts and Lawyers' Clubs in New York.
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