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

Chapter 8

 

Grandparents Irvin H. Dietle & Alma C. (Miller) Dietle

 

 

 

Mr. Irvin Dietle, his wife Alma (Miller) Dietle, and their children. Back row, L to R Luther, Roy, Irvin, Jr. Front row, L to R: Ralph, Irvin, Sr., Alma, Julia. This picture is from the early 50 s.

 

 

 

Grandfather Irvin Henry Dietle, son of Adam Dietle and Susan (Werner) Dietle, was born on April 6, 18991,14,73,83,122,252,257 in Greenville Twp.73,83,252,257 and died at age 8783,257 on Oct. 13, 19861,122,257 in Summit Twp.135 at his son Ralph s home. He was known as Grandpa or Grandpap Dietle to me. His wife was Alma Catharine Miller* , eldest daughter of Harvey Miller (b. Sept. 21, 18739,14,35,132,281,372, d. June 8, 19579,14,281) and his wife Belinda (Baer) Miller9,14 (b. May 28, 18759,14,35,290,372). She was born on Feb. 7, 19019,14,73,122,132,253,265 in Greenville Twp.73,253 and died of a stroke on Jan. 9, 197412b,80,122,265 after 49 years of marriage12b. The official cause of death was a cerebral vascular accident due to arteriosclerosis265. Irvin and Alma were married on June 15, 19249,14,132 at the bride s home9. They had a large ornate framed marriage certificate which hung on their bedroom wall when Dana and I were growing up. This certificate had a light blue background, white flowers with green leaves, and near the bottom a picture of Jesus within a circle.

 

The names of their children, in order of birth, are as follows:

 

Luther2.9,14 Lloyd9,14 Dietle2,9,14, born May 3, 19252,9,14,132, died Nov. 12, 19769,14,131a,

Julia2.9,14 Lavaughn9,14 Dietle2.9,14, born Oct. 13, 19262,9,14,132,

Irvin Dietle, Jr.2,9,14,131a,257*, born May 28, 19282,9,14,131a,132,

Roy2.9,14 Emerson9,14 Dietle2,9,14,257, born Jan. 3, 19322,9,14,131a,196, and

Ralph2.9,14 Eugene9,14 Dietle9,14, born July 18, 19442,9,14,132.

 

All of the children except Ralph were born at home; Ralph was born at Dr. Glass s Hospital325.

 

Like many of the Somerset County Dietle s, Grandpa was short in stature. His sons all grew up to be much taller than he was. Our father has always attributed his own height (6 ft.196) and size to the Miller blood flowing in his veins. According to dad, Grandma Dietle s family were all big people. Tradition has it that the original Miller immigrant (the father of the Peter Miller who married Elizabeth and Rebecca Gaver) was 6 6 tall and could cut and stack 6 cords of wood in a day 40.

 

 

Harvey Miller, father of Alma (Miller) Dietle

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

 

 

 

Belinda (Baer) Miller, mother of Alma (Miller) Dietle

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

 

 

Before Grandma and Grandpa married, she worked in a confectionery store at Somerset, PA9 and he taught school. He and his brother Harry also bought and ran a sawmill9,24. Harry, who was engaged to be married24, borrowed money from their father Adam to buy a farm from Ephriam and Mary (Dietle) Geiger10. (Mary was the daughter of our GG-Grandparents John Adam Dietle & Margaret (Ritter) Dietle12b and Ephriam Geiger was the brother of our Great-Grandmother Mary (Geiger) Korns.) Harry died intestate200 (without a will) in an accident at the sawmill77, and his parents Adam and Susan Dietle inherited his farm and its contents200. Grandpa then sold the sawmill24. He and Grandma bought Harry s farm for $2,900.00200, borrowing $1900.00 from Adam and Susan to do so389. The terms of the loan were $200.00 annually (with a final payment of $100.00) without interest, except in the event of deferred payments, which were to bear interest at 3%389. This purchase also included the stock, farm implements, and the household furniture200. One of Grandpa s pocket notebooks indicates what he paid for the personal property, and what the value of Harry s estate was, as follows336:

 

Appraisment at Harry Deatle (sic)

What I paid for personal property

 

Potatoes 125.00

Churn 1.00

Buggy Harness 2.00

grind stone 50

Kettle 3.00

Hogs 100.00

Sleigh 3.00

Spring wagon 5.00

1,000 Shingles 5.00

2 Pigs 10.00

Hand spray 2.00

Harness 10.00

Horses 40.00

Wagon 20.00

Hog ladders 2.00

Hay Rake 2.00

Hay 80.00

Straw 40.00

450.50

 

Appraisement at Harrys Death (new page)

 

Oats 90.00

Mower 20.00

Corn 15.00

80 chickens 40.00

1916 Model Ford 10.00

1921 Model Ford 20.00

3 Cows 90.00

3 young Cattle 60.00

345.00

450.50

51.00

What Irvin Bought 846.50

Farm 2100.00

Farm and Personal 2946.50

Mill 500.00

Lumber 210.00

Account Collectable 400.00

in Bank 232.77

4289.27

 

The deed for their purchase of the farm was made and recorded on April 8, 1927200*. A copy of the deed is included in Appendix B. This farm of 110 acres was in Larimer Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania200, and was one and one half miles east of the White Oak Church238. The house was quite old, as evidenced by the simple board construction of the upstairs doors, and the simple iron latches which were used instead of door-knobs. The attic was filled with interesting antiques, such as a dovetailed rocking cradle with heart shaped cut-outs that Irvin Dietle, Jr. now owns, an ancient rope bed which I now own, and assorted German books which I presume were left there by Ephriam Geiger or a previous family. The house and barn were directly at the base of a very steep hill which was used for pasture, and the cultivated fields were at the top of the hill. The hillside pasture behind the house, like many Somerset Co. pastures, was so steep that it was often joked that the cows had to have longer legs on one side in order to keep from rolling down the hill. When I was young, I found some interesting fossils of tiny marine-like creatures lying atop the ground in that pasture. Grandpa s barn still contained a horse-drawn buggy and sleigh when he held an auction to sell the house-hold contents and left-over farm equipment after Grandma died.

 

When Bud and Sis were born, Grandma and Grandpa Dietle were still living in Wittinburg in a rented home135. Dad recalls hearing that not long after Sis was born, they moved to the farm in Larimer Twp. where he was born and raised135. The move was accomplished by going across the fields in sleds135. Dad speculates that the roads may have been blown shut by snow at the time135. The fields would have been bordered by rail fences, which could have been easily parted for passage of the sled(s)135. Dad recalls that the road from the White Oak Church down to the farm often blew shut. The neighbors would get together on Saturdays and shovel it out so that they could get into town. Grandpa often had to walk to the Witt Schoolhouse to teach due to the roads being snowed shut. He would have to leave home before daylight, so he d take up a shotgun and away he would go, taking a shortcut through the woods. Grandpa himself made note of this in a pocket notebook he owned, as follows309:

 

Winter of 1939-40 Was an old fashioned winter The ground was covered with snow from Christmas until the first of april There were plenty of drifts and our road was closed for 3 months I brought the car home on the first day of April only had it home once since before Christmas There was no plowing done untill April. I taught Witt school and walked both ends about 6 miles a day.

 

 

 

 

The White Oak Mount Carmel Lutheran Church as it appeared in 1994. The left hand portion of the church is a recent addition that was carefully made to match the original architecture.

 

Grandpa and Grandma Dietle attended the White Oak Mount Carmel Lutheran Church in Somerset Co. during my lifetime, but are buried at the Greenville Lutheran Church along with many of Grandpa s ancestors. According to a large (12 x 16 ), colorfully decorated confirmation certificate which is in Dana s possession, Grandma was confirmed as a member of the Greenville Lutheran Church on July 23, 191659.

 

The reason they attended the White Oak church rather than the Greenville church was probably because it was much closer to their home in Larimer Twp.. They formally moved their membership to the White Oak Lutheran Church on March 24, 195772,132. Grandpa and Grandma were faithful church members, and Grandpa was the Sunday School Superintendent at Mt. Carmel for many years53.

 

Grandpa Irvin H. Dietle was a School Teacher and Farmer53. He went to Normal school in Meyersdale, and took correspondence courses from Penn State10. He also took classes from the Southwestern State Normal School, California, PA (My Alma Mater) during the term of 1923-24378. He received his permanent teaching standard certificate in 1934384, after having a partial certificate from 1923 to 1932385, and a non-permanent standard certificate from 1932-1934386 in the elementary curriculum385,386. He also had Teacher s Provisional Certificates for the years 1915 through 1919 which were awarded via examination; each certificate contains grades in 13 different categories 387. It is interesting to note that he was only 16 years and 3 months old when he received the 1915 provisional certificate. The name on the 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1923 certificates is spelled Deitle , while the 1915, 1916 and 1932 certificates have the spelling Dietle .

 

 

The Geiger School

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

 

 

At one time or another Grandpa taught all of his children53 in school. He also taught his daughter-in-law Lerene, and Bud and Lerene s daughter Judy Dietle72. Judy had him in the fourth grade, and reported that It was very difficult to call him Mr. Dietle instead of Grandfather 73. His daughter Julia had him for Grades 1, 2, 5 and 6, and recalls that she was afraid of him in the classroom101. His son Irvin Dietle, Jr. remembers calling him Mr. Dietle Daddy in school. Our father Roy E. Dietle was taught by him in Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the one room Geiger school53*. Dad has joked to me that he was once first in his class because he was the only student enrolled in his grade level. I can recall waving to Grandpa as he stood outside a one room school house (probably during recess) as our family drove by on the way to visit his home. He did most of his teaching in the Geiger, Pine Grove, Wittinburg, and Wit schools, but retired from the Meyersdale Joint Schools53,237 after 36318 years of service83 on June 6, 1962237. He was teaching 4th grade at the time of retirement373. His first teaching job was at Spruce Dale in 1917-18318, which was evidently in Greenville Twp.367. He also taught at the Pocahontas, Miller, and Somerset Twp. schools318.

 

 

This photo shows our Grandmother Alma (Miller) Dietle posing with her children. Left to right are Roy, Alma, Ralph, Luther, Julia, and Irvin Jr.

 

 

The Wittinburg School in Larimer Twp. where Grandpa taught was one of the last one room schools in Somerset County293. A newspaper article about it in its last year of operation (1958-1959318) describes Irvin Dietle as Principal, Grade Teacher, Janitor, and Handyman, with a class of 36 children in several grades293. Wittinburg was described in the same article as consisting of a few scattered homes and barns, Mrs. Walter Christner s store, and a gas station. A teaching observation report at Wittinburg in the previous school year (April, 11, 1958) mentioned that he had 6 grades in his classroom, and did A very nice job for such a wide range of grade placement 368.

 

As in today s society, the pay for being a Schoolteacher was not astronomical. Grandpa s contract of May, 1937 provided for a salary of $100 per month for 8 months of teaching in Larimer Twp. (less deductions for the Teacher s Retirement Fund), and had this extra provision written in: School to be Scrubbed Not less than Three times 369. By 1959, his teaching salary was $3,100 for a 9 month term370, which is equivalent to 344.44 per month worked.

 

Grandpa was a very hard worker53. For example, he walked about 4 miles each way to teach at the Witt school, then still did his morning and evening milking and other farm chores53. Grandma and Grandpa also kept a garden.

 

His son Irvin Dietle, Jr. recalls that he was thrifty, and a respected schoolteacher in the community, and was a hard worker who farmed with very little equipment130. For many tasks he had to make do with hand equipment, such as the grain cradle, the scythe, and the fork130. He did his milking by hand, and the corn was husked by hand130. The manure was hauled to the fields with a wagon or sled and spread by hand130. The barn was filled with loose hay, which was dug out with a fork in the winter to feed the cows130. He used horses on the farm to work the ground, pull wagons, sleds, logs, etc130. Irvin Jr. also recalls that Irvin, Sr. cut firewood and mine props, and in the winter walked to school to teach130. Aside from being a good provider, Irvin, Jr. also recalls his dad as a caring father who liked to take the family for sled and wagon rides on the weekends130.

 

Irvin H. Dietle s daughter-in-law Lerene remembers him as a man of few, but stern words, with a shy grin72. His daughter Julia recalls that he was a very loving, but stern, father101; Dad also recalls that he was very strict when it came to disciplining his children. I recall that his manner had something of the air of a Patriarch, which of course he was to all of us. His daughter Julia recalls that he made you realize the value of a dollar 101; a statement which I believe all of his children would endorse heartily.

 

Grandpa enjoyed rabbit hunting, and I have fond memories of hunting with him and my father behind an eager and talented though aged beagle named Butch. Grandad also played the violin, and could recite long verses of poetry from memory, even in his latter years. When Grandpa visited Bud and Lerene, sometimes he and Bud played the violin, while Lerene played the piano and the rest of the family gathered around the piano to sing72. Lerene remembers that It was inspiring and a very happy time for us all 72. In a high school report that was made circa 1969, Irvin s Grand-daughter Judy Dietle wrote that some of Grandpa s favorite hobbies were making maple syrup, hunting, and fishing 73. I recall that he and/or Ralph made maple syrup in a big black kettle.

 

Grandma was a quiet, kindly soft-spoken person. She kept a very clean house, and was a very good cook53,101 and homemaker101. One of her traits which dad recalls is that she was very careful not to intentionally hurt other people s feelings53. Her daughter-in-law Lerene expressed this as She was a lovely lady who never said anything bad about anyone 72. Her daughter Julia expressed the same sentiment by writing that she never gossiped about anyone . Grandma Dietle enjoyed quilting and crocheting101, and each of her grandchildren inherited one of her quilts70. She was very loving and hard-working, and did without many things for the sake of her children101.

 

Irvin, Jr. remembers his mother as a caring woman, and a great homemaker130. He recalls that she was a hard worker, and went many years without electricity130. It wasn t installed until 194024,238, at which time they had 33 lights* and 16 receptacles in the residence and outbuilding(s)238. She had to carry wood for the cook stove, then carry out the ashes130. For cooling food she used the stone spring house and her pantry. She papered all the rooms in the house, and washed clothes in the summer house with a gas powered washer130. She canned much of the meat, vegetables and fruit which they ate, and she also picked wild berries and canned them130. Irvin, Jr. also fondly remembers that his mother was a source of encouragement when the children were sad130.

 

 

The home of Irvin Dietle, Sr. Note the full length porch, the steep hill in back, and the summer house on the left. This farm house was also once the home of Ephriam Geiger.

 

 

On Dec. 1, 1969 Grandpa & Grandpa sold the farm to a land development company named The Flintlock Corporation383 which was buying up adjoining property to make a Community Resort named Callimont which was incorporated as the borough of Callimont285. He sold the farm on the condition that he and Grandma could remain living in the house for as long as they wanted to382,383, and use the summer house, garage, spring house, and the land immediately surrounding the house382. They received $16,000 for the farm382. They did stay at the farm after selling it, but Grandpa eventually went to live with his son Ralph Dietle near Meyersdale after Grandma died. He released the right to live on the farm on June 7, 1974383. Grandpa remained healthy, mobile and alert up until the time of his sudden death at an advanced age. Both grandparents are buried at the Greenville Union Cemetery.

 

Callimont was not successful, and the property was sold to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for use as State Game Lands. The house and all of the out-buildings on Grandpa Dietle s farm were torn down by the Game Commission, but the fields were still in cultivation the last time I was there, which was in the summer of 1994. It is difficult to accept the fact that the house which held so much love is no longer there, but I appreciate the fact that the farm is now public property, and the family can go back and visit the grounds anytime.

 

When Grandpa bought the farm and contents from Harry s estate, it included a Pennsylvania long rifle made by the J.H. Johnston Great Western Gun Works of Pittsburgh, PA. This gun, which has a cherry half-stock, brass furniture, and an extraordinarily long (36 11/16 in.) hexagonal barrel of roughly.36 caliber, had belonged to Ephriam Geiger, who reputedly used it to kill pigs and beef11. Grandpap Dietle never fired this gun11. He kept it under a dresser in the bedroom which our family always stayed in when we visited. This rifle stimulated my curiosity as a boy. When I was yet too small to lift the rifle, Dad would get it out from under the dresser, then hold the front end while I held the stock to my shoulder. It had a very deeply curved butt-plate, and Dad always used to joke that the gun killed at one end and crippled at the other . Dad and Mom purchased this rifle from Grandpap Dietle and gave it to me as a college graduation present. It was accompanied by the original powder horn and a two compartment leather accessory bag which was tanned with the hair on. The rifle is not in working order; in fact it is quite worn out from many years of hard use, but it still makes a nice memento of the old home place. I also have an antique cherry night-stand with dovetailed drawers which was from the same room; I bought it at the auction which Grandpap had when he moved away. I also bought a rope bed which was kept in the attic. Uncle Ralph & Aunt Marg bought Grandma s antique hutch at the auction, and use it in their kitchen. Pat and June bought the antique cradle, and dad bought a Stevens .32 rimfire rifle which at one time was used on the farm for slaughtering. Most of the household was sold at the auction; Grandpa thought that it was fairest if the children bought the items which they really wanted. A part of the contents of the sale, as recorded in Grandpa s hand, were as follows130:

 

tupper ware

Old table

Old Kitchen stool

laundry cart

Meat saw

Old Pie pans

Meat grinder

old crocks

jars, 1858 & green

2 shoe stands and lasts

2 wooden tubs

2 Barrels

butter Churn

Butcher planks

2 Iron kettles (butcher)

Grain Cradle

Old cream separator (sic)

garden tools

Chains

Lard can s

corn dryer

Oil stove

wash tub

maytag washer

wash basin

Old antique table (Round)

1 wood ironing board

1 new ironing board

Mug tree

Butter mold

easter grass

Antique curling iron

strawberry boxes

rolling pin

straight razors

painting supplies

large pans

Cleaning utensils (mop, broom, etc.)

Sweeper Old eureka

Antique Iron Holder or rest

wash bowl & pitcher

Old pitcher - Blue

coal oil lamps

scales - Modern

strip cup

quilt Material

light fixtures

Antique suitcase

trundle bed

2 R.C.A. Victor record player s One works & one doesn t

Vases

light Bulbs

thermos Bottle

oyster can 1 gal.

curtain rods

funnel & colander

tongs

canister set

planters

quilt patches

Old suitcase

Wicker Basket -(clothes)

rolls of rug rags

pillows (bed)

garment bag

toss pillow

lawn chairs

cattle Marker Tattoo

cane

dust cloths

1 game board

rugs

Old antique cradle

1 Hobby horse

organ stool

Quilt Frames

upright sweeper

old pans

Old stands

Old radio cabinet

Chairs

Old antique fruit dish

Hot water Bottle

T.V. light

picture - crewel work

1 Box nick nacks

Antique mirrow (sic) & comb

hangers - Bundle of 12

fancy work

Kitchen curtains

Old comfort(er)

2 Bedspreads

2 candle rings

Old Box jewelry

crochet thread

foam ice chest

Hassock

Antique iron (Alcohol Iron) ( one piece handle) flat iron

Old dresser set Box

Map on stand

window screens lot of them

venelater (sic)

card table

Living Room

living room suit

General Electric black & white TV

2 old Rocker

Recliner chair-ottman

floor light

pole light

TV light

4 TV trays

phone chair

card table

magazine rack

clock & sconces

nick nack shelf

throw rugs

living room rug

vaces (sic)

drapes

ash trays

sewing machine (old singer)

mirrows (sic)

Super C Tractor

Hay wagon

trailer for tractor

10 ft dump hay rake

1 string sleigh bells

1 wood frame harrow

2 wheel barrows

ropes & pullys

Lawn mower (good)

Hand garden tractor

extension ladder

Kitchen

old kettle

stainless - 8 & 6 complete (pot & pan set?)

stove (gas) Maytag

dryer G.E.

refrigerator GE

china cupboard (ant)

Kitchen cabinet (ant)

White metal utility cupboards

utility cart

table 7 8 modern chairs

step stool

freezer GE (new)

set dishes (10 complete)

pans

pressure cooker

small appliances (good used)

Sears electric oven

toaster

knife

2 mixers

iron

pop corn popper

ice cream freezer

Sears sweeper

Waring blender

kitchen clocks

IIII - Bed-springs & matress

1 antique stand

1 Library table

1 Plank Bottom chair

1 swivel desk chair

1 picnic basket

1 washstand

1 typewriter

1 metal & fiberboard wardrobe

pictures 7 frames

1 mirrow (sic) for bathroom dresser

Box of arrangements & what nots

plastic drapes

picnic jug

Old wood box (antique)

Heating pad

Old Brownie camera

Old books

electric blanket

afgan - new & used

flag

Old clock

 

Irvin H. Dietle s children and grandchildren have many fond memories of the farm, and came from far and wide to visit at Thanksgiving and Christmas-time. Thanksgiving dinner was one of my favorite events, because Grandma, her daughter, and her daughter-in-laws were all excellent cooks, and put on a memorable holiday spread. I can still taste Grandma s gravy to this very day, and can recall the sense of love and fellowship which surrounded us at the table. Often times, in lieu of, or in addition to the meal-time prayer, Grandpa would lead us in singing a hymn; a pleasant tradition which I try to uphold at Thanksgiving in my own home.

 

For as far back as I can remember the first Monday in December was always the opening day of buck season, which Uncle Irvin, Uncle Ralph and Dad (and eventually myself, when I became old enough) participated in religiously at Grandpa s farm. The weekend before the big day was usually taken up with small-game hunting, big-game scouting, stand selection, and checking the zero on our deer rifle sights. I recall one time after a long and tiring Opening Day at Grandpap s, someone asked dad Did you see anything ? He replied, I saw 13, but 12 got away. If I recall correctly, dad was the only one of the family who got a buck on that particular day. This was in 196970. In the fall of 1994, dad told me that he had harvested 40 deer in his lifetime135.

 

 

Larimer Township Background Information

 

Larimer township, where our Grandfather Irvin Dietle settled, was created from parts of Greenville and Northampton townships in 185463,375. This township of 20 square miles375 was named for General William Larimer63,375 Jr.63 one time President of the Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad63,375. Larimer Township s rugged terrain is covered by shale, and isn t really very good for farming63, but the chief occupations have long been farming and lumber63,375. A visit to Grandpa s old farm in 1994 revealed that the topsoil in the ridge fields was of poor quality, consisting in part of shale stone.

 

The main communities in Larimer Twp. are the small towns of Wittenburg, Deal and Sand Patch375. Wittenburg, which is in the central part of Larimer Township375, got it s name from being built on property which was originally owned by John Witt375. Wittenburg was at one time a stage coach stop on the old plank toll road, which is now Route 160375. The first store in Wittenburg was opened by a Mr. Frichter375 or Fichtner63 circa 185263,375.

 

Deal is located at the spot where Daniel Lepley built a grist mill in 185063,375. The mill burned down when it was only two years old63,375. It was powered by water from Flaugherty creek375. Edwin Deal rebuilt the mill63,375, and eventually the town was named after him375. Edwin Deal also had several sawmills375. Both the Western Maryland and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads came through Deal, and there was a Western Maryland station there at one time375. Wittenburg was the business center of the township before the coming of the railroads, which drew some of the business to Sand Patch63.

 

Sand Patch, which is in the southwest part of Larimer Township375, was founded in 1872. A building built by the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad was the first to be constructed, followed shortly by a Post Office375. For many years Sand Patch was a shipping point for lumber products375and at one time Sand Patch had a store, a hotel, and a woolen factory375.

 

 

Alma C. Miller

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

 

 

Irvin Henry Dietle

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

Alma Miller working at a confectionary store

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