The Descendants of Johann Adam Dietel of 19th Century Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Chapter 6

 

Great-Grandparents Adam Dietle & Susan (Werner) Dietle

 

Our G-Grandfather was Adam Dietle, who was born in Greenville Twp., Somerset Co. PA2,12b on August 28, 1859 2,12b,71a,131b,298,315 and died on Dec. 27, 1930 2,46,71a,123,315 on the farm where he was born2,298 and where he resided all of his life298. Death occurred after about one year of failing health, but he was only bedfast for the last two weeks298. His wife was Susan Werner , who was born March108,131a,315 5315 or 6108,131a, 1864108,131a,315 in Somerset Co. 108 and died on July 27, 19322,108,123,131a,315 at the Wenzel Hospital267 in the Borough of Meyersdale 108, where she had been a patient for a week267. They are buried side by side in the Greenville Union Cemetery and share the same headstone315. Our Grandfather referred to this as the Greenville Lutheran and Reformed Church Cemetery 2.

 

George Werner, father of Susan (Werner) Dietle

 

 

Susan* was the daughter of George Werner71a,267 (b. Sept. 11, 1828131a, d. Feb. 1, 1899131a) and Elizabeth (Shroeder) Werner71a (d. March 30, 1876131a). The book The Werner Family reported the following on the life of George Werner 131a:

 

George Werner was born September 11, 1828, in Germany, where he was confirmed a member of the Reformed church at the age of fourteen years. He learned the weaving trade in early life. He spent three years in the German Army. In 1852 he married Elizabeth Shroeder of his native village.

In 1854, he with his parents and three brothers, came to the United States of America.

The following year he sent one hundred dollars to his wife, to make it possible for his wife, their daughter Anna Catharine and his wife s parents to come to America too. They went to house-keeping on the Emanuel Erkley farm in Summit Township, near what is now known as Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, which was then a place of less than a dozen houses.

They were listed among the original members of the Amity Reformed Church, Meyersdale, where Mr. Werner served as Deacon, Elder, Trustee, and otherwise when called upon for 39 years.

In 1865 he purchased a farm, where he raised his family of six girls and four boys. One girl died in infancy on March 24, 1876. Six days later his wife Elizabeth died.

Mr. Werner was in charge of a crew of workmen on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad when it was laid through Meyersdale in the early 70 s where he earned the money to pay off his farm.

In 1890 he married Minnie Markel. They had no children, but lived in great contentment until his death in February 1, 1899. His wife Minnie died in 1930. He and his two wives are buried in the Reformed Church Cemetery, Meyersdale .

 

 

 

Adam Dietle and his wife Susan (Werner) Dietle (enlarged from a small group photo.)

 

 

Adam Dietle was one of the most successful farmers of the day in Greenville Township2,12b,298, and known for being, busy, industrious, and generous2,12b. He was a lifelong298 member of the Greenville Lutheran Church 2,12b,298, and Susan was said to be a member of the Greenville Reformed Church267, and both are buried at the Greenville Union Cemetery there 46,57. His obituary noted It is said that he never spoke a harsh word to any of his family and none ever spoke an unkind word to him , and also mentioned that he was noted for his absolute honesty and prompt payment of debts298. The children of Adam and Susan, and their birth and death dates, were as follows:

 

Mary Elizabeth Dietle2*, b. Sept. 52,131a, 1888 131a,

d. March 26, 1899 12b,131a or 1889 2,70,71a or 188657 at the age of 8 months 21 days57,

Sadie2,12b, 71a,270 Naomi Dietle2,12b, 71a, b. March 212,12b,71a, 18902,12b,71a,315,

died Nov. 122,12b,71a, 1955 2,12b,71a,315,

John2,71a Milton71a Dietle,2,71a b. April 21, 1892, died Oct. 202,71a, 1950 2,71a,268,

Harry Dietle, b. June 16, 1894, died Nov. 5, 1926 2,12b,46,57,71a,200,315,

Simon2,71a Albert71a Dietle2,71a, b. Nov. 9, 18962,71a, died Dec. 5, 1954 2,71a,

Irvin Henry Dietle 12b,71a,252, b. April 6, 1899 2,12b,14,71a,252,257,

died Oct. 13, 1986 71b,135,257,

Clara Belle Dietle, born June 5, 1901 2,12b,131a,242,256, died Dec. 3, 1974 2,12b,242,256, and

Lloyd2,71a,291 Mahlon71a Dietle2,71a, born Dec. 22, 1903, died Nov. 11, 1931 2,71a.

 

All of the above-named children except Mary Elizabeth Dietle are also listed in the family tree which Grandpa helped me make circa 1968 3. Mary Elizabeth is buried at the Greenville Union Cemetery 57.

 

The Somerset Co. deed index 95 lists the following real estate transactions which involved Adam and/or Susan:

 

Grantor John Dietle to Grantee Adam Dietle on Dec. 13, 1897 in Greenville Twp.

Grantor Jacob Steinle to Grantee Adam Dietle on July 2, 1894 in Greenville

Grantor Adam & Susan Dietle to Grantee H. J. Ebbecka on Dec. 9, 1889 in Meyersdale

Grantor Adam & Susan Deitle to Grantee al Benford Tille on Jan. 27, 1890 in Meyersdale

Grantor Adam Dietle to Grantee ux William Dietle on April 26, 1898 in Greenville

Grantor Susan Dietle to Grantee al H.C. & John Werner on Jan. 17, 1901

Grantor Adam Dietle to Grantee ux Irvin H. Dietle on April 9, 1927 in Larimer Twp.

Grantor Adam Dietle to Grantee ux Alma C. Dietle on April 9, 1927 in Larimer Twp.

Grantor Adam Dietle to Grantee ux Lloyd M. Dietle on Nov. 8, 1927 in Greenville Twp.

Grantor Adam Dietle to Grantee ux Anna M. Dietle on Nov. 8, 1927 in Greenville Twp.

Grantor Simon A. Dietle to Grantee Susan Dietle on Dec. 30, 1931 in Greenville Twp.

Grantor Susan Dietle to Grantee Simon & Ruth Deitle on Dec. 30, 1931 in Greenville

 

The 1900 census 25 shows the family of Adam Deitle (sic) along with two hired hands; this information is abstracted as follows:

 

Head of Family: Deitle, Adam, white, born August 1859, age 45, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, County: Somerset, M.C.D. Greenville Twp.

 

Deitle, Susan, wife, b. March 1864, age 51, Birthplace: PA

Deitle, Sadie, dau, b. Mar. 1890, age 10, Birthplace: PA

Deitle, John, son, b. April 1892, age 8, Birthplace: PA

Deitle, Harry, son, b. June 1894, age 5, Birthplace: PA

Deitle, Simon, son, b. Nov. 1896, age 3, Birthplace: PA

Deitle, Irvin, son, b. April 1899, age 1, Birthplace: PA

Crissinger, Wm., Se, b. July 1884, age 15, Birthplace: PA

Stouby, Henry, Se, b. Mar. 1857, age 42, Birthplace: Germany

 

The 1910 census from Greenville Twp. 51 gives Adam s surname spelling as Dietle and lists all of his children as still living at his home, and indicates that Adam was a farmer and owned his farm free and clear. The 1910 census indicates that the parents of Adam s wife Susan were both born in Germany, but it erroneously (we believe) lists Adam s parents as having been born in PA 51.

 

By the time of the 1920 census (Greenville Twp.), only Irvin, Clara and Lloyd are listed as living at home; Irvin as a public school teacher and Lloyd as a farmer 54. The 1920 census indicates that Adam and Susan were born in PA, that Adam s father was born in Bavaria and his mother was born in Germany, and that Susan s parents were born in Germany 54.

 

 

 

This is an old photo of the farm house of Adam Dietle. The house still looked much the same in 1993, but by then it did have an addition on the right hand side.

(Courtesy of Ralph Dietle from Irvin Dietle, Sr. papers)

 

This postcard style photo (which I have enlarged at right) was handed down to one of Nicholas Dieddle s descendants who wishes to remain anonymous. The photo is labeled Adam Deitle , but we are not sure if it is the original immigrant or his grandson, our G-Grandfather. The face has obvious similarities to the face of our G-Grandfather which is shown on page 2.

 

Another view of Adam Dietle s house. This photo was taken in 1993, when David Jackson was living there. Note the old foundation in the foreground. (Courtesy Irvin Dietle, Jr.)