FROM CARRIAGES TO CARS J.Dallas Dort

SMITH/DORT
JOSIAH DALLAS DORT, nephew of 3rd great grandfather Titus Dort, Jr.
(click here) to see a musical slideshow
correction: the snazzy publicity photo on slideshow cover features a group in a new Dort model car, but Dallas is not behind the wheel as stated

Family history is often passed down through the generations in stories and family records, but some is unexpectedly  uncovered while researching other people.  For instance, I did not know of our connection to the 'rich and somewhat-famous' Dallas, until I expanded the family tree of our common ancestor, Titus Dort, Sr.  We know that Titus Jr. was was a successful brick manufacturer in early Dearborn until 1851 (and brother Josiah -Dallas' dad- worked there with him before moving to the Flint area). Titus Jr. was also an impressive political figure in the early days of Michigan's statehood.  But his nephew Josiah Dallas,

Dallas Dort

known as Dallas, also earned his own recognition in the carriage/automobile industry.

Going back a generation to Titus Dort, Sr., father of Titus (our ancestor) and Josiah (Dallas's father), we find that the family name had been Dart or Darte prior to this time.  Nobody seems to know why the spelling was changed sometime between 1790 and 1800, but it would remain Dort in our family from that time on. 

One unconfirmed (and, likely, embellished) story passed down through the family asserts that my 2nd great-grandfather Andrew Jackson Dort (Dallas' cousin) discouraged neighbor Henry Ford from wooing one of his daughters; chasing him off his front porch with a shotgun.   (Ford would later buy the Dort farm, acreage that later became part of Ford's Greenfield Village.) Mom also fondly remembers a horse-drawn carriage ride with her Uncle Billy (Great Grandma Mae's brother).  Who knows, maybe it was a Durant-Dort carriage! 

Statues of  Dallas Dort (r) and business partner William Durant; Carriage Town Historic Neighborhood, Flint

The family line looks like this:

Richard Darte (1609 - 1630) married Phillipa Spearke 
Born and died in Churston Ferrers, Devon, ENGLAND   

Richard Dart (1635 - 1724) the IMMIGRANT (circa 1652); married Bethia Calkins

Born in Churston Ferrers, Devon, ENGLAND; died in New London CONNECTICUT

Daniel Dart (1666 - 1738)  married Elizabeth Douglas

Born and died in Waterford,  New London, CONNECTICUT

Daniel Darte (1691 - 1771) married Jemima Shayler (daughter of Haddam, CT founder)

Born in Waterford, New London, CONNECTICUT, died in Bolton, Tolland, CONNECTICUT

Jonathan Dart (1732 - 1799)  married Lucy Whitney

Born and died in Bolton, Tolland, CONNECTICUT

Timothy Dort/Dart (1756 - 1814) married Margaret Taylor

Born in Bolton, Tolland, CONNECTICUT; died in Gilsum, Cheshire, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Titus Dort (1777 - 1844)  married Charlotte Clarke

Born in Gilsum, NEW HAMPSHIRE; died in Jerome, Union, OHIO

Titus Dort (1806 - 1879)  married  Diademia Thomas

Born in Bridgeport, VERMONT; died in Dearborn, Wayne, MICHIGAN 

Andrew Jackson Dort (1831 - 1905)  married Lydia Secord Windsor

Born and died in Dearborn, MICHIGAN

Mae Louise Dort (1874 - 1964) married Daniel Grame Post

Born in Dearborn, MICHIGAN; died in Inkster, MICHIGAN 

Ona Dort Post (1897 - 1978) married Leon Vern Smith

Born in Ypsilanti, MICHIGAN; died in Marquette, MICHIGAN