Family:Daniel Falls and Margaret Gormley (1)

Daniel was a member of the old volunteer fire department and engineer of the Vigilant company's fire engine, the first steam fire engine ever used in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was a partner in the firm of Bowser, Prentiss & Falls Foundry at Harrison and Columbia Streets.

He was a member of Wayne Lodge No. 23, F. & A.M. and a charter member of Fort Wayne Lodge No. 14 I.O.O.F.

"DANIEL M. FALLS - The firm of Bowser, Prentis & Falls has controlled a successful business in the installing of machinery and in its line has held precedence as one of the most important concerns of the kind in Northern Indiana. The late Daniel M. Falls was employed by the firm for a number of years before he became a member thereof and played an influential part in the development of the business. This firm had the distinction of having installed the machinery used at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and Mr. Falls was in charge of this important work in the city of Philadelphia. He continued as a member of the firm and as one of the prominent and honorable business men of Fort Wayne until his death, which occurred December 16, 1916. Mr. Falls was born in Pennsylvania, July 3, 1832, and thus was more than eighty years of age at the time of his death. He was a son of Thomas and Barbara (Staufer) Falls, both natives of Germany. The father was a cabinetmaker and came to Fort Wayne in 1843, both he and his wife having passed the remainder of their lives in Allen County and of their nine children the subject of this memoir was the last to survive. As a youth Daniel M. Falls learned the trade of blacksmith, but after having been employed at this trade about two years he became associated with the firm in which eventually he purchased an interest and with which he continued his connection until his death. For some time he was engaged also in the rendering business, but he retired from that field of enterprise in 1905. His old home, in which his death occurred, was erected by him in 1863, and there he continued his residence during the long intervening years. Mr. Falls married Margaret Gormely, a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and they became the parents of four children--Charles M., George E., Olive(r) M. and Etta F. The three first name are deceased and Etta F. is the wife of Calvin E. Rieman, who is factory manager of the S. M. Foster Shirtwaist Company. Mr. and Mrs. Rieman have one child, Carrie K. Mrs. Falls passed to the life eternal, February 22, 1916, and her husband survived her by less than a year, so that in death they were not long divided. Both were earnest communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church, and Mr. Falls was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, besides having been a charter member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows." [The Pictorial History of Fort Wayne, Indiana, B. J. Griswold, Chicago, 1917, pg. 170]

Margaret was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

She was 75 years and 1 day old when she died.

Margaret's obituary reads, "Mrs. Daniel M. Falls, one of the most widely known women of the city, died yesterday morning at 10 o'clock at the residence, 535 West Wayne street, at the age of 73 years. Mrs. Falls, who had been in good health, suffered a slight attack of grip a week ago Sunday and her condition gradually became worse until the end. Mrs. Falls was born in Bridgeport, Conn., January 22, 1838, and had lived in Fort Wayne all of her married life, for fifty-seven years. She was a woman of sterling character and was loved by all who knew her. The deceased had been affiliated with the Episcopal church since girlhood and was a member of the Trinity church. The surviving relatives are the husband, one daughter, Mrs. Calvin Reiman of this city; three grandchildren. A daughter, Olive Falls, died a year alo and two sons, George and Charles, preceded her in death many years. The husband is Daniel M. Falls. Kindly omit flowers." [Journal Gazette, Wednesday 23 February 1916, pg. 2]

At the time of his death, he was 84 years old and was living with his daughter, Mrs. Calvin K. Rieman at 535 West Wayne Street. He died of pneumonia.

Daniel's obituary reads, "DANIEL MARION FALLS VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA - Pioneer Business Man Who Lived in Fort Wayne Seventy-Three Years. Daniel M. Falls, one of Fort Wayne's pioneer residents and business men, passed away shortly after 7 o'clock last night at the family residence, 535 West Wayne Street. Death was due to pneumonia and followed an illness of two weeks' duration. "Mr. Falls was born in Pennsylvania and came to Fort wayne seventy-three years ago. He learned the machinists' trade and later became a partner in the firm of Bowser, Prentiss & Falls, who for many years were operating the foundry at Harrison and Columbia streets. Mr. Falls was a member of the old volunteer fire department and engineer of the Vigilant company's fire engine, the first steam fire engine ever used in Fort Wayne. The decesed was a member of Wayne lodge No. 25, F. and A.M., and a charter member of Fort Wayne lodge No. 14, I.O.O.F. Mr. Falls retired from active business life ten years ago, and since that time had been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Calvin K. Rieman. "Surviving, besides the daughter, are three grandchildren - Charles H. Falls, Olivette Falls and Mrs. Blanche Shanley, all three of New York. Mrs. Falls preceded her husband in death ten months ago. She died on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1914." [Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Saturday 23 Dec 1916, pg. 11]

They are both buried in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana.