USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 52
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militia met and drilled in all the spendor they could muster. Each company tried to exhibit the best discipline. Dietrich's battalion was al- ways largely attended, and was a very joyful oc- casion, the ladies in their bright attire adding to the brilliance of the scene. The day, however, usually wound up somewhat disastrously, as the disputes regarding the relative merits of those participating in the day's work were frequently settled by blows. Mr. Dietrich was also a distil- ler, and burned considerable apple-jack, the ruins of his old distillery still being visible in the mead- ow facing the house. He sold a "smaller," a drink of apple-jack, for two cents. He was a man of no little prominence and influence in his dis- trict, and while of mild disposition, and a kind heart, he was unbending in his convictions, and was very strict in the discipline of his children. He was smooth shaven, had black hair and good white teeth, and though small in stature was pos- sessed of great strength.
In 1806 Johann Jacob Dietrich married Chris- tina Peiffer (1786-1861), and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: (1) Daniel, born 1808, died 1872, married Anna Christman. (2) Samuel, born 1810, died 1898, married Sarah Heinly. (3) Henry, born 1812, married Anna Kline. (4) Jacob P., married Leah Greena- wald. (5) Gideon P., born 1815, died 1898, married Susan Moser. (6) Solomon P., born 1817, died 1901, married Anna Hein. He was a well known miller of Albany township. (7) Polly, born 1819, died 1900, married Charles Greenawald. (8) Sally, married Peter Kline. (9) Moses P., born 1824, died 1906, married Anna Dreibelbis, owned and conducted a grist mill on the Ontelaunee at Lenhartsville for many years. (10) Charles P., born Nov. II, 1826, formerly a well known citizen of Albany township, who now lives at Reading, married Kate Smith. (II) Caroline, born 1830, married Peter Krause, of Klinesville. He died in the ninetieth year of his age, in 1909. She died shortly afterward.
(III) Daniel Dietrich, eldest son of Johann Jacob, was born in Albany township, July 27, 1808, and died of smallpox at Reading, Aug. 30, 1872. He was first engaged in farming immedi- ately west of the borough of Kutztown, from there moving to Oley township, where he was en- gaged in farming for many years. On retiring from agricultural work, he moved to Reading, and there for ten years conducted a dairy, meeting with great success. In 1833 he married Anna Christman, born May 6, 1814, daughter of Peter Christman. She died Oct. 24, 1883. Both Dan- iel Dietrich and his wife are buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. They had a family of thirteen
sons, and we have record of the following: (1) James M., born Aug. 11, 1834, died in Ne- braska, Feb. 5, 1901, married Sarah Neiferd, of Iowa, and had seven children: Franklin, Daniel, John, Charles, Rebecca, Mary, and Amelia, and fourteen grandchildren. (2) Daniel P. (3) Charles C., born Oct. 20, 1837, lives at No. 923 Elm street, Reading. He married Sophia Gehret, who has been an invalid since 1898, and they have four children : Mary Ann; Cyrus ( 1862-1891) ; Alice; and Amanda. (4) Penrose, born 1838, married Wilhelmina Mary Buchanan, from the West, and has children: Anna Mary, William F., Edward C., Franklin A., Carrie M., Albert A., and Elmer J. (5) Alfred, married Beckie Fisher, and lives at No. 110 North Tenth street, Reading. No issue. (6) Francis F., born Jan. 6, 1841, married in 1872, Amanda Jane Zum- brun, of the West, and they live in Nebraska. Their children are: Alvin M., Truman O., Mary A., Emma M., Fianna S., George F., Valet- ta J., and Lloyd J. (7) Thomas T., born Feb. 29, 1848, married, and with his son, Fred W., lives in the West. (8) Alvin, of Yellow House, Berks county, married Catharine Miller, and has children : Oscar M., Alvin M., Elmer M., Ber- tha, Anna, Kathryn, and Mary. He also has four grandchildren. (9) Cyrus, died young. (10) Jacob, born 1850, died 1897, was unmar- ried. His remains rest in the Charles Evans cemetery at Reading.
(IV) Daniel P. Dietrich, the second oldest son of Daniel, was born in Albany township, June 12, 1836. He was educated in the schools of Albany and Greenwich townships, and when fourteen years of age was sent to Columbia county by his father to obtain an English education. While at this place he made his home with his uncle, Gideon Dietrich, and he attended school until eighteen years of age. He remained with his uncle eight years. At the age of twenty-two years he went to Montour county, and there in Derry township worked on a farm. In 1859 and 1860 he operated a farm for his father-in-law, Leonard Raub, and he later became foreman for a large lumber company in Cameron county, Pa., remaining there four years. He again worked at farming, following this occupation for ten years, when he removed to Richardson county, Neb., where he worked on a farm for three years. He then purchased a farm which he operated for nine years, and then bought 440 acres in Buffalo county, Neb., and 360 acres in Phillips county, Kan. These large farms he operated success- fully for sixteen years, selling them at a very large profit. He understood the nature of the western soil, and raised very large crops. He also en- gaged in stock raising, meeting with great suc-
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cess. He purchased his land at several dollars an acre, and commenced raising alfalfa, which greatly enhanced the value of the land, and his real estate speculations always were profitable. During the winter of 1898-99 Mr. Dietrich came East, and, becoming ill, decided to remain in the region of his nativity. Until the spring of 1907 he resided on South Third street, in Hamburg, and he then located in Reading, where he pur- chased a fine home at No. 1019 Franklin street, where he died in 1911. Mr. Dietrich has been twice married. In 1859 he married Catharine Raub, daughter of Leonard Raub, and to this union were born children as follows: Sarah, died aged twenty-two years; William L., lives at Sweetwater, Buffalo county, Neb .; Lucinda C., died in her fourth year; Emma R., married Wel- lington Moser, a native of Columbia county, and they now live at Turbotville, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania.
In 1900 Mr. Dietrich married (second) Lizzie Hoff, of Hamburg, daughter of John and Ellen (Gehris) Hoff, of Reading.
(II) Johann Michael Dietrich, the sixth child of Adam, the emigrant, was born April 6, 1775, and died near Klinesville, on his large farm in Greenwich township, now owned by Daniel J. Fraunfelder, June 19, 1861, aged eighty-six years, two months, thirteen days. He married Sophia Brunner, born in Greenwich, Nov. 8, 1779, died Sept. 23, 1863, aged eighty-three years, ten months, fifteen days. They are buried beside each other in the graveyard at Lenhartsville. They were devout Lutherans, and he was a foremost member of the Lenhartsville church, serving the congregation faithfully as an official many years. He helped to build the church in 1856 and gave liberally towards its erection. Michael Dietrich, as he was known, began farming on a large tract located midway between Lenhartsville and Vir- ginville, on the Ontelaunee. This farm is now owned by a Luckenbill. On April 14, 1814, he bought a 156-acre tract from George and Eva Heinly, located in Greenwich, one mile east of Klinesville. Here he built a big stone house and greatly improved the land. On Aug. 15, 1853, he sold this farm to his son, Michael, for $3,600. Michael Dietrich and wife remained on this farm until they died. Some of their children were born at this place.
After the father's death, Michael Dietrich, Jr., lived on the farm, and on April 17, 1867, sold it to his son, Eli, for $6,660. Eli Dietrich, in 1882, traded the farm to Henry Fraunfelder, for a 1 17-acre farm in Maxatawny, located to the right of the main road leading from Eagle Point to Kutztown. Here Eli has since lived and pros-
pered. The "Dietrich Farm," near Klinesville, as it is still known locally, is one of the best farms in the township, and is bounded by lands of other Dietrichs.
Sophia Brunner, wife of Johann Michael Diet- rich, was a devout Christian. She read her Bible daily and taught her children the love of the Master. She liked to collect relics, and had many old dishes, coins, etc. The children of Michael and Sophia Dietrich were as follows: (1) Maria Barbara (Polly), born Jan. 2, 1799, died June II, 1877, married Christian Braucher. (2) Mi- chael, born May 12, 1801, died July 14, 1880, married Hannah Will. They had these children : Catharyn, Mary, Willoughby, Caroline, Benne- ville, Abby, Anna Caroline, and Eli. (3) Daniel is mentioned later. (4) Lydia, (1805-1863), married Daniel Stump. (5) Betsy, married John Kistler. (6) Hannah (1808-1886), married Samuel Kunkel. (7) Sallie (1810-1895), mar- ried Jonas Weisner. (8) Catharine, married Nathan Kistler. (9) Heinrich ("Harry").
(IV) Benneville Dietrich was born in Green- wich township, June 15, 1836, son of (III) Mi- chael, Jr., son of (II) Johann Michael, son of (I) Adam, the emigrant. He was reared to farm life in his native township. In 1868 he came to Albany township, where he purchased the farm of ninety-five acres on Pine creek, now owned by Mrs. Braucher. This farm he cultivated some twenty-four years, operating at the same time a saw-mill. Benneville Dietrich was a veteran of the Civil War, going forth to do battle under the flag in Company K, 179th Pa. V. I. With his family he belonged to New Bethel Lutheran and Reformed (Corner) church. He is de- scribed as of sturdy build, and wore his red beard long and flowing. He married Matilda, daugh- ter of Christian Braucher. Mrs. Dietrich was born March 22, 1835, and died Feb. 13, 1907, aged seventy-one years, eleven months, twenty- two days. To her were born six children, noted as follows: Mary, married Clayton Smith, of Sellersville, Pa .; William L., of Sittlers, Schuyl- kill county, married Emma Smith, who died in 1907, the mother of Jennie, Mamie, Annie and Sallie (twins), Irene, and Frank; Daniel O., of Watkins, N. Y., married Esther Robinson, and they have Samuel, Oliver and Clayton; Charles W .; Sarah Jane, born 1871, died when less than a year old; Jonathan F., a blacksmith at Tama- qua, P., married Clara Ely (no issue). The fa- ther of this family died July 26, 1887, at the comparatively early age of fifty-one years.
(V) Charles W. Dietrich was born March 22, 1868, in Albany township, and died there in the fall of 1909. He passed his life to the time of his majority on the home farm, acquiring such
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education as the country schools afforded. Upon attaining his majority, he served the farmers about the neighborhood for five years, and then took up residence on his present farm in 1894. The farm had been owned by his father-in-law, David S. Kamp, and consists of seventy-nine acres, twenty- nine of which is woodland. To this Mr. Diet- rich has added a tract of 136 acres of wooded land adjacent. One of the particularly strong points of this farm is the excellent and abundant water supply. Mr. Dietrich built a barn in 1889, and in 1896 a substantial frame farm house. These, together with other minor improvements, have greatly increased the value of the farm. General farming is carried on by Mr. Dietrich and with a success which always attends earnest and persistent agricultural effort in Berks county. He is an influential member of the Democratic party in his locality, and has at different times served as delegate to county conventions. He is now serving as registry assessor of the district, having been elected at the spring election of 1909. In a social way he affiliates with Washington Camp, No. 288, P. O. S. of A., at Steinsville ; and the independent Order of Americans, Lodge No. 544, at Kempton. He and his family are members of the New Bethel (Corner) church, which Mr. Dietrich has served three terms as deacon.
Mr. Dietrich married, Oct. 10, 1891, Amanda E. Kamp, only child of David S. and Fianna (Berk) Kamp, of Albany township. Their chil- dren are: Ida N., who graduated from the pub- lic schools of Albany at the age of twelve; Oscar J .; Mabel F .; and Edna M.
(III) Daniel Dietrich, son of Johann Michael, was born in Greenwich township, one mile north- east of Klinesville, Jan. 2, 1803, and died March 22, 1884. He and his wife are buried in the cemetery at the United Brethren church in Til- den township. He was educated in the pay schools of his native township, and was trained to farming, remaining at home until his marriage, in 1828, after which he located in Albany town- ship, on a farm belonging to his father. There he lived for three years. In 1834 he located in Bern (now Centre) township, where he purchased a farm of 121 acres from the Kauffmans. This was extremely fertile land, and was located along Irish creek, about two miles west of Centreport, and the cultivation of this farm engrossed his at- tention until his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and he was a man of high repute and of great influence in his district. In his earlier life he was a Lutheran member of Belleman's church, serving as an official, but later he became active in Salem United Brethren church of Tilden township. He was liberal in his contributions
toward religious and charitable objects. At the time of his death his estate was valued at $32,000.
In 1828 Mr. Dietrich married Salome Fisher, born Sept. 29, 1808,, daughter of Philip and - (Weaver) Fisher, of Windsor township, and she died July 10, 1878. They had children, as fol- lows: Levi F. is mentioned below; Daniel F. is mentioned below; Henry died, aged sixteen years; Samuel, died unmarried; Eliza, married Isaac Rhoads and lives at Shoemakersville.
(IV) Levi F. Dietrich, son of Daniel and Sa- lome, was born in Windsor township, July 23, 1832, and was educated in the common schools of his district, and at White Hall Academy, in Cum- berland county, Pa. " He taught school in Centre township three terms. In 1855 he became a practical farmer, and has attained considerable success in that line. His home farm consists of 165 acres of the best land in the township (Cen- tre) and is kept in excellent condition; the build- ings and general condition of the farm and live stock could not be improved upon. He also owns a farm of 103 acres elsewhere in the township, and this he has rented. About 1897 he sold a half inter- est in the old Centre township Dietrich homestead to his brother, Daniel F. Mr. Dietrich has ever been prominently identified with the progressive movements of the district. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as school director seven years and as assessor nine years. In 1884 he was elected prothonotary of Berks county, serving most efficiently from Jan. 1, 1885, until Jan. I, 1888. He and his family are faithful members of Belleman's Lutheran church, where Mr. Diet- rich has served as a deacon for many years. On Nov. 10, 1854, he married Louisa Moser, and they have ten children: (1) Henrietta, mar- ried George B. Miller, of Hamburg, who for seven years was a leader in the Democratic party, and who for three years was register of wills. (2) Salome, married William E. Gruber, a carriage manufacturer of Mt. Pleasant, Berks county: (3) Howard M., lives at Bernville. (4) Valeria, married James H. Hollenbach, cabinet-maker and undertaker at Bernville. (5) Emma, married Jeremiah Heckman, hosiery manufacturer at Shoe- makersville. (6) Levi H., is a prosperous farmer in Centre township. (7) Nelson C., lives in Cen- tre township. (8) Wilson P., lives in Centre township. (9) Irwin R., resides in Philadelphia. (10) Horace, is a farmer in Centre township.
(IV) Daniel F. Dietrich, son of Daniel and Salome, was born Sept. 6, 1834, and is now a prominent citizen of Reading. He attended pay schools four winters and then the public schools of his district, later for three months a boarding- school at Amityville, and lastly the Freeland Sem- inary, at the Trappe, in Montgomery county.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Until he was twenty-four years of age he assisted his father on the home farm. At that time he was married and began for himself on one of his fa- ther's farms in Centre township, where he remain- ed four years, and then moved to a farm in Exeter township, near Jacksonwald, belonging to his father-in-law. For one year he lived there as a tenant and then purchased the farm, cultivating it four years. In 1868 he moved to Reading, where the previous year (Nov. 7, 1867) he had bought out the mercantile firm of Leinbach & Brother, then located at No. 325 Penn street. Mr. Dietrich formed a partnership with Peter A. Althouse, under the firm name of Dietrich & Althouse, general merchants and merchant tailors, and this lasted eighteen months, when Elijah Ammon took the place of Mr. Althouse, and for twelve years the firm of Dietrich & Ammon had one of the largest and best known stores in the city and county. Mr. Dietrich continued the extensive business alone from 1882 until his re- tirement in 1902, when he was succeeded by his eldest son, Elmer W. The Dietrich store at No. 325 Penn has been a well-known stand since 1868.
Mr. Dietrich is a director and large stock- holder of the Reading Real Estate Exchange, with offices at No. 612 Washington street. Be- fore he became a member of the real estate com- pany he built nineteen houses in the city. He owns the Dietrich farm of 160 acres in Centre township. Since 1864 he has been the owner of the farm on which he formely lived in Exeter township. He has made his residence since 1868 at No. 203 South Fourth street. While engaged in farming he took a fancy to fine horses and cattle, his herd of Holsteins being the finest in the county.
In politics Mr. Dietrich is a Democrat. While living in Exeter township he served as school di- rector. In 1897 he was a candidate for register of wills, and had ninety-seven delegates in the convention. In 1888 he was a delegate to the state convention, and at the same time his brother was a delegate to the same convention from the country. He and his family are faithful members of the First Reformed church in Reading, and he has served for more than a quarter of a cen- tury as elder. He is prominent in the Classis of the Reformed Chuch of Eastern Pennsylvania, serving frequently as a delegate and in various other important capacities.
On Nov. 6, 1858, Mr. Dietrich married Cath- erine A. Althouse, daughter of Henry and Mary (Kissinger ) Althouse, of Bern township. They had children: (1) Clara A., married William A. Heilig, of Cleveland, Ohio. (2) Ida, married Joseph W. Holmes, a coal merchant at Reading.
(3) Irvin, died in infancy. (4) Elmer W., suc- ceeded his father in business; he married Laura Ermentrout. (5) D. Wellington, is unmarried and is president of the Seaboard Milling Com- pany, West Reading. (6) Harry W., manager of Seaboard Milling Company, married Ella Showalter.
(III) Heinrich Dietrich, son of Johann Mi- chael and grandson of Adam, the emigrant, was born in Greenwich township, Berks county, April 16, 1816, and died suddenly of apoplexy near New Smithville, in Maxatawny township, on May 27, 1901, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. He is buried at Grimville by the side of his wife, Judith (nee Kutz), a daughter of the late Joseph Kutz, [See Kutz History] who lived on the Sa- cony, near Kutztown, and was nearly one hund- red years old when he died. Heinrich Dietrich was reared upon the farm, and after he became of age rode on horseback to Ohio, where he lived two years and worked upon a farm. In 1842 he married and for some years was a farmer at Kohler's Hill, in Greenwich. Here one of his horses which had been bitten by a mad dog, had hydrophobia, which caused a great sensation in the district. Later Heinrich Dietrich bought a large farm located in Maxatawny township, across the line of Greenwich, and along Weisen- berg township, Lehigh county. This farm he operated for many years. He also operated a clover-mill located on this place, in the Mill Creek valley. Early in the seventies he retired to a 40-acre tract lying adjacent to his large farm, which he sold to his son-in-law, Henry Fenster- macher. Here he lived until, becoming too old, he was requested by his daughter, Isabella, wife of Henry Fenstermacher, to make his home with them. This he did, and' died there, ripe in years, a highly esteemed man. Heinrich Dietrich was better known as "Harry Dietrich." He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and throughout his lifetime a constant reader. He is remembered with profound reverence by his many grandchildren. He read the Bible often. He was a man of strong convictions and a strict disciplin- arian in the family. He had one favorite ejacu- lation, "By Judas." He was never heard to use God's name in vain. He was tall, about six feet in height, and erect in his bearing until he was seventy-five years old, when he became very stooped and walked with a cane, but he was well preserved, had good teeth, eyes and ears, and re- tained all his faculties to the last. His thick hair was black until he was sixty-five years old. Al- together he was a man of fine appearance. He was a pleasant talker and loved company. On his eighty-fifth birthday his children, grandchildren
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and great-grandchildren held a birthday party in his honor. They had an elaborate dinner, and he was given the seat of honor at the table, and with happy tears streaming down his cheeks praised God for this pleasant event. He told the gathering that this was his last birthday on earth, and his prediction proved true. In the late after- noon of the last Monday in May, following his birthday celebration, his spirit took its flight. His wife, Judith, had preceded him in death about twenty.five years. The following were their chil- dren: William J. (1843-1876) ; Susan, born April 7, 1845, died unmarried in 1910; Isabelle, married Henry Fenstermacher; Henry A., born Feb. 6, 1850, married Sallie Buchman, and they live in Upper Macungie township, (they have Franklin, Louisa, and Emma) ; Hettie E., born July 14, 1853, married Amos Loch; Alfred (1855-1856) ; Emma, born Aug. 1, 1857, mar- ried Amos Loch ; Annie M. ( 1860-1882) ; Sarah, born 1862, is the widow of Sylvester Weil.
(IV) William J. Dietrich, son of Heinrich, was born in Greenwich township, Berks county, Dec. 9, 1843, and died at Hamburg, from ty- phoid pneumonia, July 19, 1876, in the thirty- third year of his age. He was reared upon his father's farm and in his youth attended the public schools with regularity. He had a bright mind and was a student. He was made administrator of an estate before he was thirty years old, and was helpful in many ways in his community. He owned a small farm one-quarter of a mile from where his father lived, located in Greenwich township, now owned by Lewis Behler. This he operated until the latter part of 1874, when it was sold and he moved to Hamburg where his death occurred. He worked in the ore mines in Maxatawny township in 1873 and 1874, during the spring and fall. At Hamburg he followed huckstering and butchering, and for a short time worked in the rolling-mill, which is now aban- doned. He and his family were devout Lutherans and constant in their attendance at worship. On July II, 1868, he married Susanna F. Seaman, youngest daughter of Jonathan Seaman, a foremost citizen of Tilden township. She was born Dec. 24, 1844, and died suddenly of apo- plexy Sunday night, June 4, 1899, in her fifty-fifth year. Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich are buried in the Dietrich family plot at Hamburg. Mrs. Dietrich was a woman of noble character and high intelli- gence. She was a pious woman and her death was one of victory. Being left a widow with six children, the youngest a posthumous son, she reared them in the fear and admonition of God, and early in life she hired her sons upon the farm and taught them the value of industry and the necessity of an education.
William J. and Susanna F. Dietrich had the following children : (1) Lizzie C. (1868-1881). (2) Agnes V., born Feb. 1, 1870, married G. J. Heintzelman, of Allentown. He is associated with Col. Harry C. Trexler, in the manufactur- ing of headings and staves, at Sonestown, and White Haven, Pa. They have a daughter, Carrie May, and a son, Henry Clay. (3) Se- villa J., (1871-1872). (4) Oscar H. (5) David J. (6) William J. (7) Alfred M.
Oscar Henry Dietrich, the oldest son of Wil- liam J. and Susanna (Seaman) Dietrich, is the head of the Dietrich Motor Car Company, of Allentown. He was born July 23, 1872, in Weisenberg township; Lehigh county; was edu- cated in the public schools, the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, and in the Ameri- can Commercial School, at Allentown. After- ward he followed a mechanical pursuit for five years, during which time he invented a wooden handle bar stem, and this he later manufactured at Allentown. In 1895 he engaged in the bicycle business at No. 142 North Seventh street, Allen- town, and continued in this business until 1905, but as early as 1900 he also added automobile repairing, and in 1903, he took the agency of the famous Cadillac and Franklin cars.
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