A. F. (Albert Frederick) Hochwalt

Born in Dayton, Ohio, on December 24, 1869, Albert Frederick Hochwalt was the son of George and Theresa Hochwalt. A local biographical record says he was educated in Dayton’s parochial schools and graduated from Saint Mary’s Institute as a teenager.

He is remembered today chiefly through his dog book Dogs as Home Companions, a practical guide for everyday dog lovers that was published in the 1920s. The tone of the book suggests a writer interested in making animal care approachable and useful for people at home, whether they were experienced owners or just getting started.

Hochwalt died in Dayton on July 24, 1938, at the age of 68, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery there. While detailed literary biographies of him are scarce, the surviving record points to a writer with strong Dayton roots whose name endured through a warmly practical book for dog owners.