John Sengstacke, standing, and Robert Abbott, circa 1935

John Sengstacke and Robert Abbott

Abbott's nephew, John H. Sengstacke, took over the Defender after the death of his uncle in 1940. He went on to establish the Michigan Chronicle and other news publications. He also founded what is now called the National Newspaper Publishers Association. (Source: Abbott-Sengstacke Family Papers, Box 27, Photo 2086, Harsh Research Collection, Chicago Public Library)