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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

The name, Dutchover, is of peculiar significance on account of its origin. In 1842, a youth, by the name of Anton Diedrick, in Antwerp, Belgium, happened to be the sole witness of a cold-blooded murder. The murderers, fearing exposure, drugged and shanghaied Diedrick; and when he awoke, be found himself virtually a prisoner on board a tramp windjammer-a sailing vessel carrying nondescript cargoes from one port to another. For three years he remained a prisoner on board of this boat, and during that time he sailed the high seas and made many ports. Eventually, the wind jammer reached the port of Galveston, and there Anton Diedrich: was allowed to go ashore.

The struggle between the United States and Mexico had just begun; all the able-bodied men, who could fight, were being urged to enlist in the army. Impelled by curiosity and wondering at the strange commotion around him, Anton Diedrick one day found himself near a recruiting station. Suddenly a man in a blue uniform grabbed him by the arm and began talking to him rapidly in English-of which Diedrick understood not one word Before the dazed youth could make out the situation, he was pulled into the recruiting station and called upon to give his name. Not understanding the question asked him, naturally he made no answer. Whereupon the recruiting officer exclaimed, "Aw, he's Dutch all over. We'll name him Dutchallover !" In this manner he became an American soldier and answered to the name of Diedrick Dutchallover.

As time passed, after serving with merit in the Mexican War, the name of Dutchallover became too cumbersome, and the second syllable was therefore stricken from the name - leaving Dutchover. In after years when Diedrick Dutchover applied for pension papers, as a Mexican War veteran, he had considerable trouble in establishing the co-identity of Anton Diedrick, Diedrick Dutchallover, and Diedrick Dutchover.


Source : Raht, Carlysle Graham. : The romance of Davis Mountains and Big Bend country : a history; El Paso: Rahtbooks Co., c1919, 414 pgs.
 

dutchover

ANTON DIEDRICK (Dutchover) : In 1842 young Anton Diedrick was walking the streets of his native Antwerp when he unwittingly witnessed a murder. The killers, fearing exposure, had Anton shanghaied onto the first outgoing vessel. For several years he was kept a virtual prisoner aboard ship until in Galveston he got his chance to go ashore. The task of finding food and a job was complicated because he spoke only Flemish. A pair of soldiers recruiting for Mexican War service attempted to convince Diedrick that he only had to make his mark and he would be fed and cared for. When asked his name he responded blankly. At last one said in exasperation, "Aw, he's Dutch all over. We'll call him that." Thus he was listed on the roll as Diedrick Dutchallover. The name was still too cumbersome, so the "all" was dropped, leaving Dutchover.

After the Mexican War Diedrick lived in San Antonio for a time. He gained experience as a frontier scout and was one of the first whitesettlersof La Limpia. In 1850 was approached by Big Foot Wallace to serve as shotgun guard on the first stage run from San Antonio to El Paso. He continued working as a guard for two more years for the stage line and married Refugia Salcedo. When not serving as guard he operated a small sheep ranch in Limpia Canyon. Later he acquired cattle, and after Fort Davis was established in 1854 he frequently sold milk at the post. 

Indian attack was a constant threat, and when the 8th Infantry left in 1861 Diedrick took refuge in the fort to await the expected Confederate troops. There were not enough soldiers to man the post permanently; so, when the Confederates evacuated, they left Diedrick in charge.

Soon after the troops departed Chief Nicolas and 250 Apaches swooped down on Fort Davis, intent on ransacking the place. Diedrick, with his family and four Americans, had no time to escape, but hid fearfully on a rooftop. After 48 hours, the Indians grew tired of looting and had begun to scatter. One of the Americans was dying and could not be moved.' so on the third night he was left in hiding, and Diedrick led the others toward Presidio 92 miles away. Four days later the exhausted party reached safety.

When Federal troops returned in 1867 Diedrick was employed as an army contractor to haul timber from Sawmill Canyon for use in rebuilding the fort. Even with a heavy guard he would frequently lose oxen at night to the Apaches. Diedrick spent the rest of his days near Fort Davis and was still there when the last soldiers left in 1891. The Dutchover name remains prominent in far west Texas, where numerous descendants live today.

Dutchover and family

Sources : The Belgian Texans and Old Fort Davis