Seventh Generation

102. George Engelbert DEJACO¹⁴² was born on May 27, 1895 in Newport, Kentucky at 942 Saratoga Street. He was baptized on June 2, 1895 in Newport, Kentucky at Saint Stephen Catholic Church by Rev. Joseph Merschmann. His godparents were George Thoeny and Agnes Thoeny. In 1915 he is a painter and fresco painter at the age of 20 in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky. He was a co-founder of a painting and interior decorating business, DeJaco Brothers Company, Inc. in about 1919. He became president of the enterprise in 1927. They later opened a retail paint and hardware store at 103 Sixth Street in Dayton, KY., and later at 908 Monmouth Street in Newport, KY. The firm's advertisements stated that they were painters and decorators, specializing in "house painting, graining, glazing, cleaning, hardwood finishing, interior decorating, enameling, and gilding."

The DeJaco Brothers Company was awarded contracts to paint and decorate the interiors of several churches in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. These included: the Church of the Good Shepherd in Frankfort, Kentucky; the Church of the Annunciation in Paris, Kentucky; Corpus Christi Church in Newport, Kentucky (1919); Saint Francis Xavier Church in Falmouth, Kentucky; Saint Patrick Church in Mount Sterling, Kentucky; Saint Joseph Church in Camp Springs, Kentucky; Immaculate Conception Church in Newport, Kentucky; Saints Peter and Paul Church in Reading, Ohio; Saint Michael Church in Ripley, Ohio; Saint Joseph Church in Ironton, Ohio; Saint John Church in Johns Hill, Kentucky; Saint Joseph Church in Cold Springs, Kentucky; Newport Baptist Church; York Street. Congregational Church; Saint Joseph Orphanage Chapel in Cold Springs, Kentucky; Saint Ann Church in Cincinnati, Ohio; Saint Joseph Church in Winchester, Kentucky; Saint Bernard Church in Dayton, Kentucky; Dayton, Ohio; Blessed Sacrament Church in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky; Saint Phillip Church in Melbourne, Kentucky; Newport Methodist Church; Saint James Church in Brookville, Kentucky; Mission in Lynch, Kentucky (1926); Saint John Evangelist Church in Newport (1928); Saint Andrew Episcopal Church in Fort Thomas, Kentucky (1928); Saint Mary Church in Alexandria, Kentucky (1934); the Immaculate Conception mission at Stepstone, Kentucky (1935); Saint Mark Lutheran Church in Newport, Kentucky (1936); Presbyterian Church on Overton Street in Newport (1937); Hopeful Lutheran Church in Florence, Kentucky (1937); Saints Peter & Paul Church in Twelve Mile, Kentucky (1938); Highland Methodist Church in Fort Thomas, Kentucky (1938); Saint Joseph Church in Cold Springs, Kentucky (1939); Holy Family Church in Ashland, Kentucky (1940); Saint Anthony Church in Forest Park, Kentucky (1941); and Saint Francis de Sales Church in Newport, Kentucky (1941). Finally just prior to its 1960 Centennial celebration, the remaining DeJaco Brothers (Fred DeJaco, George DeJaco, and Edward DeJaco) renovated the interior of St. Mary Church in Alexandria; their brother Fr. Frank DeJaco was pastor at the Parish for both the 75th Jubilee and the Centennial.

He served in the military about 1918 in Europe as a United States Army Private during World War I. He lived in Newport, Kentucky at 927 Monroe Street after 1925. Other places of residency in Kentucky include: 1209 South Avenue in Newport (1921-22); 1040 Washington Avenue in Newport (1923-24); 927 Monroe Street in Newport (1925- ); and 9 Jefferson Avenue in Alexandria, Kentucky. He was a member of Saint Stephen Parish for many years and is said to have been a member of their choir.

He died on September 6, 1968 in Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky. From his obituary in the Kentucky Post: DEJACO, GEORGE A., beloved husband of Mrs. Lena DeJaco (nee Bechtold), and dear father of Mrs. Loretta Tenhundfeld, John, Carl, and Herbert Decker, and dear grandfather of 16 grandchildren; dear brother of Rev. Francis DeJaco, and Mr. Edward DeJaco; Friday, Sept. 6, 1968; residence, Box 111-A R.R.#1, Alexandria. Prayers Monday, September 9th, at 9:15 A.M. from the Alexandria Funeral Home, 325 Washington Avenue, Alexandria, Kentucky. Requiem High Mass at Saint Mary Catholic Church at 9:30 A.M. Friends may call from 3 to 9 P.M. on Sunday evening. Holy Name Society will meet at 8 P.M. to pray the Rosary. He was buried on September 9, 1968 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky at St. Stephen Cemetery.

George Engelbert DEJACO and Marguarite PRIESTLE DeJaco were married on April 12, 1923 in Newport, Kentucky at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. Their witnesses were Anthony DeJaco, Carl Gamel, Bertha Niedhaed, and Ester Mueller.

They appeared in the census in 1930. Name: George DeJaco - Home in 1930: 927 Monroe Street, Newport, Campbell, Kentucky; Age: 34; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1896; BirthPlace: Kentucky; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouses's Name: Margaret; Race: White; Occupation: Painting Contractor; Military Service: Household Members: George De Jaco 34; Margaret De Jaco 29; Loretta De Jaco 1 8/12. Marguarite PRIESTLE DeJaco¹⁴³ (daughter of John PRIESTLE and Louise CHALK Priestle) was born on October 14, 1900 in Twelve Mile, Campbell County, Kentucky. She was baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul Church.

She died on August 24, 1936. From her obituary in the Kentucky Post: MRS. MARGARET DEJACO - Solemn Requiem High Mass will be sung Thursday at Saint Stephen Church, Newport, at 9 am. for Mrs. Margaret DeJaco, 35, of 927 Monroe Street, Newport, who died Monday at her home. Rev Louis DeJaco and Rev Francis DeJaco, brothers-in-law of Mrs. DeJaco, will read the mass. John J. Radel, funeral directors, are in charge. Burial will be in Saint Stephen Cemetery. Besides her husband, George DeJaco, of the DeJaco Brothers Paint Co., Newport, she leaves a daughter Loretta; three brothers, Frank and Peter Priestle, both of Newport; and Andrew Priestle of Price Hill; two sisters, Mrs. Adolph Neidhardt and Mrs. Edward Dietrich, both of Newport, and her step father, Albert Moniac of Newport. She was a member of the Saint Ann's Ladies Society of Saint Stephen Church. She was buried on August 27, 1936.

George Engelbert DEJACO and Marguarite PRIESTLE DeJaco had the following children:

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Loretta DEJACO Tenhundfeld.

George Engelbert DEJACO and Helen Elizabeth (Lena) BECHTOLD Decker DeJaco were married on January 28, 1961 in Metairie, Louisiana at Saint Mary Magdalen Church.

Helen Elizabeth (Lena) BECHTOLD Decker DeJaco¹⁴⁴ was born in 1892. She died on July 10, 1987. From her obituary in the Kentucky Post: LENA DEJACO, 95, formerly of Claryville, died Friday at Lakeside Place, Highland Heights. She was a retired seamstress for the Globe Tailoring Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Survivors include sons, John Decker of Alexandria; Herbert Decker of Melbourne, Florida; and Carl Decker of Forest Park Ohio; a sister, Eva Maschinot of Cherry Grove, Ohio; a brother, Alonzo Bechtold of Newport; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Saint Mary Cemetery, Alexandria. Alexandria Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.