Fred Grossenbacher - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Frederick Grossenbacher was born in Switzerland, but came to America when a very small child. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Grossenbacher,settled in as farmers in several different Ohio locations.

Frederick recalled for the Defiance Crescent-News interview when he was 88 years old:

"Born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, on July 23, 1846, Fred Grossenbacher was about a year old when the Swiss family crossed the Atlantic and came to Upper Sandusky where the failure to close a deal on a farm caused the family to settle temporarily in Defiance before going to the Auglaize County site.

The crude cabin had neither doors or windows and at night, the howling of the wolves caused the family great uneasiness. The farm lay on the Defiance-Paulding County line with 20 acres in Defiance and 40 acres in Paulding County. The old barn on the Sam Stork farm is all that is left of this pioneer farmstead."

When Frederick, whose birth date was July 20, 1846,was barely sixteen, he enlisted in the Union Army. On August 19, 1862, he became a part of Company K of the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. What an adventure it must have been for this teenager to head out first to Covington, Kentucky, to train with his fellow soldiers! But it soon became very serious as the regiment marched east to Chancellorsville, Virginia, where they participated in a devastating battle, losing over 200 of their men.

But even worse was to come, as this company joined the second day of fighting at Gettysburg. According to this same article, 

"Grossenbacher's company started in this battle in an oats field, whirled their flank to Cemetery Hill near Culp's Hill and Spangler Springs, and in a finish to their part in the entire battle swung back into Virginia after General Robert E. Lee, following his stand at Heckersford, Md.

It was during the Battle of Gettysburg that Christ Behnfeldt of the North Ridge fell mortally wounded against Mr. Grossenbacher on the field of action. After the great battle, the company went to Folly's Island where they could hear a four pound shell fired at Fort Sumter every thirty minutes. So accurately were these shells timed that, at every fourth shot, the pickets were relieved.

After leaving Folly's Island, the company was constantly being moved to and fro across the Carolinas, fighting many sanguinary battles and skirmishes, the worst being in the vicinity of DeVoe's Neck where the volunteers were under steady gunfire for six weeks. It was at this place that one of the camp cooks, while carrying coffee to the men in line of battle, was struck by a solid shot which Mr. Grossenbacher says took off the cook's head, leaving but a wisp of his chin whiskers.

On another occasion, Mr. Grossenbacher relates that he and a partner were celebrating the advent of a much-needed supply of coffee by cooking it under fire. They held the pail on a long stick until the coffee was cooked. Just as Grossenbacher reached out for the container, along came a solid shot and the coffee was no more! Mr. Grossenbacher came very near to being court martialed as the company went back to Virginia by train and some happy chaps shot down one of the military telegraph wires. His captain saved the day for him by stating that he was in his company in a box car all night.

Many more months of campaigning through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and down on the St. John's River in Florida were in store for the young soldier before, at the age of 19, he could lay down his arms as an orderly made his way on horseback to another 'Lost' Battalion that had been without news of the outside world for sixty days. The war was over.

Finally on July 29, 1865, the youthful veteran was mustered out and came to his folks in northwestern Ohio where his first act was to purchase for his mother two pounds of green coffee.  He helped about the farm in the forest that seemed strangely silent after his years of battle and purchased the 80-acre homestead in Section 22 one year before he was married to Rose Ann Fridley of Defiance. This farm has been Mr. Grossenbacher's home for 58 years. It saw the birth of nine children, all of whom are deceased except for son Edward, with whom the pioneer resides."  Defiance Crescent-News, November 15, 1932

Fred Grossenbacher, Section 22, 80 acres

When Fred was discharged from the army, after two years, one month and twenty-one days of service, he was probably a very changed person when his parents next saw him. War had shown him many unpleasant things. He had voted for the first time as a Union soldier for Abraham Lincoln. After his marriage with Rose and the births of nine children, hardship came again when they lost five of their children in the space of five years. Rose, herself, died in 1903 at the age of 45, with two daughters, Emma and Estella, passing before her in 1902 and 1903. 

"Mrs. RoseAnn Grosenbacher was born August 30, 1857, departed this life January 25, 1903, aged 45 years 4 months and 25 days.  She leaves a husband and seven children living, two having preceded her to the spirit world.

Funeral services were held Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. at Oakland M.E. church of which she was a consistent member, conducted by Rev. Culp. The remains were laid to rest in the Taylor Cemetery."

CARD OF THANKS - We also desire to thank the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of our dear wife and mother and the beautiful singing rendered by the choir and also the kind words spoken by the minister. F. GROSSENBACHER and children"

Left alone to raise seven children, Fred lost William in 1908 and Matilda in 1909. In the 1910 census, Fred, age 63, had at home Florence 20, Myrtle, 18 and Laura, 14. Myrtle and Laura died in 1912. Florence died in 1927, and by the time Fred, himself, died in 1938 at the age of 92, he only had son, Edward, left.

"FREDERICK GROSSENBACHER, GETTYSBURG VETERAN DIES

Fredrick Grossenbacher, who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and was next to the last surviving member of Bishop Post, G.A.R. died today at 6:30 a.m. at the home of a son, Edward Grossenbacher, Auglaize township, Paulding County. He was 92 years old.

Mr. Grossenbacher, well known here because of his Civil War record and participation in many patriotic celebrations, had been bedfast since suffering a stroke of paralysis five weeks ago.

His death leaves John Myers, Davidson Street, as the last survivor of Bishop Post.

ATTENDED REUNION    

Mr. Grossenbacher attended the reunion last summer on the historic battlefield at Gettysburg.  He served in the war with the Army of the Potomac. His unit was Co. K, 107th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted when he was 16 years old.

The body will be taken from the Morris Brothers funeral home here to the son's home Thursday afternoon. Services will be conducted there Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and in the Bethel Christian Church, Arthur, at 2 p.m. Rev. Fremont McCague will officiate. The Taylor Cemetery south of here along state route 66 in Defiance County will be the place of burial.

BORN IN SWITZERLAND        

Mr. Grossenbacher was born in Canterbury, Switzerland, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth House-Grossenbacher.  He came to America when just a youth and settled in this section of the country. During his active years, he was a farmer.

Besides the son, Edward, he leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Knoop, Arthur; eight grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Six daughters and a son preceded him in death."

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Farmer School Orchestra 1925

 

"ORGANIZE ORCHESTRA FOR

FARMER SCHOOL

Albert Bayes Heads 17 Musicians

Under the Leadership of 

Prof. W. L. Gibbs.

Farmer Center, August 27 -

The school orchestra made up of

pupils from grade and high school

with two of the teachers has been

organized.

Members of the orchestra to date are:

Miss Lelah Lord, teacher

Florence Lord

Pauline and Burline Burley

Lenore Arnold

Audra Hatfield

Esther Beerbower

Nannie Lee Rush

Lucille Stuckman

Howard Stuckman, teacher

Albert Bayes

Stanley Mason

Hugh Ridenour

Edmond Lord

Paul and Ells Beerbower and

Dale Rice

Albert Bayes is president of the organization and Miss Lord, secretary and treasurer; Prof W. L. Gibbs of Bryan, leader and instructor.

                                        Mellowphone

The first meeting for practice will be held at the home of Audra Hatfield on Thursday evening, Sept. 3, when others may join.  Instruments entered are: violins,

cornets, saxophones, clarinets, mellowphone, traps (drums) and a set of bells.  Miss Burley will act as pianist."

Defiance Crescent-News, August 27, 1925, p. 4

The Tyler Hanging in Williams County

 

In this post about Hugh Manon, we learned that Hugh Manon, Jr. kept a timeline of events in his life based on the Tyler hanging, but what did he mean?  The Bryan Press of April 13, 1848, helped solve this mystery through its page one story on the hanging of Tyler.

Mr. Tyler was described as a bad man with a "most forbidding countenance" who was traveling around Williams County pretending to be a fortune teller. With him, he had a "poor, half-witted fellow" named Heckathorn. The two were in the West Unity area in the summer of 1847, going house to house offering to tell the fortunes of those they met.  

On one particular day, they stopped at the home of the Scamps where Mr. Scamp told them in no uncertain terms that Tyler's services "were never needed or wanted."  Mr. Tyler took offense to the rebuff, probably delivered in a straightforward, gruff manner, and promised Mr. Scamp that he would regret that decision.

A little later, on a Sunday afternoon, Tyler came across a little Scamp boy, thought to be five or six years old, and he and Heckathorn lured him into the woods, probably with the promise of candy. The family noticed the boy missing, but unable to find him, they sounded the alarm to the neighbors and friends who searched for several days with no luck. The whole county became involved emotionally, at least, in this loss of a child. 

Eventually, "the dead body of the little boy

was found in the hollow of a standing tree, with leaves and bark pushed around him to hide the body. Mr. Scamp, of course, suspected the devilish Mr. Tyler, and a search ensued. Tyler was found and denied any part in the incident.

Tyler and Heckathorn were both arrested and imprisoned, with the trial scheduled for Bryan.  It was difficult to find jurors as everyone was so incensed by the crime and could hardly be impartial in their judgement. But finally a jury was set and Heckathorn was found guilty, but was determined to be an imbecile, so he was to be imprisoned for life.

For Mr. Tyler, the die was cast and he was sentenced to be hung. The Bryan Press continued the story:

"He was executed immediately east of the then jail upon a gallows erected for the purpose, he talking, laughing and joking with the men who erected the gallows, believing as before stated, that it was all a joke. A few days before the execution, the Sheriff, as required by law, erected a board structure around the gallows; but the night before he was to be hanged, a number of the neighbors of Mr. Scamp and others, came to Bryan and demolished this structure in short order, being determined to see the old wretch, as they called him, hung. This, of course, gave the people a full view of the execution; and as there were, doubtless more people in Bryan upon that day, not withstanding the inclement weather and bad going, it being the month of January 1849, upon any previous occasion.

At the solicitation of the Sheriff, I put the shroud upon the culprit, bidding him stand up while I accomplished it - followed him upon the scaffold, sang a hymn, Rev. Salter of Evansport, Defiance County, acting as chaplain, then stepped 'down and out.'

This was my first and last experience in this direction, my mind having undergone a change as to the rightfulness of capital punishment.

The Sheriff, as was his duty, touched the trigger, the drop fell, but the rope, not being properly adjusted, the victim struggled so much that it was concluded best to raise the trap and try it again. This was done, and he still thought and was now assured in his own mind that it was still a joke - a pretty rough joke, as I would have thought.

The rope was readjusted, the spring touched, the trap fell, and he was very soon in eternity - but few persons feeling any sympathy for him. He died as 'the fool died,' without, as far as was apparent, any repentance for the commission of the horrible deed, or any regrets at the result of a misspent life."

*In the 1850 census, the only Scamp family in Williams County consisted of Peter and Ann Scamp and their son, John, 4, near West Unity.

Old School Document from Tiffin Township

 

""

"An Interesting Old Document" - an article from the Defiance Crescent-News, October 27, 1924.

"There was shown the writer a few days ago - an interesting old document in the shape of a quarterly school report of District 2 in Tiffin township for the period ending on the 11th day of March 1848.

The report, made over 76 years ago, mentions the following scholars and their ages as having attended.

The names are in the report as given below:

Sarah Kintich, aged 8 years

George Kintich, aged 10 years

Mary A. Kintich, aged 12 years

William Hall, aged 11 years

Carolina Shepmore, aged 11 years

Christina Shepmore, aged 9 years

Jesse Hall, aged 13 years

Jacob Hall, aged 13 years

Nancy E. Grimes, aged 11 years

Mary Jane Harvey, aged 9 years

Christina Peterson, aged 11 years

Elizabeth Rath, aged 19 years

Mary Rath, aged 16 years

Christopher Deaton (probably Dieden, aged 7 years

Allen Martin, aged 16 years

Mary A. Martin, aged 10 years

Eliza J. Martin, aged 7 years

Isaac Kintich, aged 15 years

Cyrus Kintich, aged 14 years

Mary Winters, aged 6 years

George Hall, aged 17 years

Jacob Hal, aged 16 years

Oliver Hall, aged 10 years

Adam Hall, aged 6 years

William Hall, aged 7 years

Christina B. Garber, aged 11 years

Thomas J. Garber, aged 7 years

Augustus VanBraum, aged 8 years

Anna VanBraun, aged 8 years

Louisa VanBraun, aged 7 years

Anthony Neufer, aged 13 years

Anna Neufer, age 12 years

Margaret Neufer, aged 8 years

At the bottom of the report, which is in the possession of Dr. R.R. Cameron, which is in almost as perfect a condition as it was the day it was written, is found the following footnote reproduced verbatim:

"Quarterly report of George Grier, teacher in District No. 2 of Tiffin township, Defiance county, ending the 11th day of March 1848, the while (whole) number of enrolled for the quarter was 18 males and 17 females. The branches taught were Orthography*, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English, Grammar and Geography. The average number of daily attendance was 22.  George Grier, Teacher., March 11, 1848."

*Orthography = Spelling

     

Abijah Baker Woodruff - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Abijah Baker Woodruff (aka A. B. or Baker) was a Defiance citizen for about a decade following his Civil War service. Born in Columbiana County on June 7, 1842, he actually was on the Civil War registration of Middleton, Wood County, Ohio, when he was 21. 

He enlisted on August 28, 1862, as a Private in Company L, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for a three year term. His actual service record is an enigma as it only claims he was sent out from Camp Chase, Columbus on September 12, 1862. This was following the capture of his unit by Captain John Hunt Morgan in Kentucky. The prisoners were detained and sent back to Columbus where they were eventually exchanged and sent out again.

The 3rd Ohio Cavalry went on to fight in Tennessee in the Battle of Stones River, A page by page search of the 1890 veterans census did not turn up A.B,, Baker, or Abijah Woodruff, but luckily, his record at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Sandusky noted his discharge on March 4, 1863 at Nashville, Tennessee, on a surgeon's certificate of discharge. This disability noted on the Home record was rheumatism.

He married Katie Levering Jones on April 19, 1868, in Holland, Lucas County, Ohio. The couple settled in Alliance, Stark County by the 1870 Federal Census. Abijah Woodruff was 27 and a fireman at a pottery company, while Katie L. was 24. 

By 1880, the couple had reached Defiance and they had a home on Broadway Street. A. B., 34, worked in a produce house, while Katie, 30, kept house. They had one son, Frank, 9 years old, who was born in Michigan. This couple stayed on the move!

A reference to Mr. A. B. Woodruff in the Defiance County Express on November 11, 1880, noted that he "makes an excellent policeman." In 1885, a few city financial reports in the newspapers listed him as police with a salary of $10 a month. In 1887, he represented the Bishop Post at an event, but by August, 1890, he had a new, perhaps more prestigious job waiting for him.

The Defiance Democrat reported on August 21, 1890, that "Mrs. A. B. Woodruff went to Columbus on Monday to join her husband who has assumed his position as a guard in the penitentiary. His superior officers speak highly of Mr. Woodruff."

By 1894, he was in Sandusky and admitted to the Soldiers Home on January 2 of that year, living in Cottage D. According to their records, his previous residence was Columbus and his wife was still there, living at 657 Broad Street. He received a pension of $12.00 a month.

In 1899, the Democrat reported A. B. Woodruff's brief return to Defiance on July 13:

"A. B. Woodruff, who is visiting here from the state soldiers' home at Sandusky, gave a talk in which he eulogized the Sandusky Home." 

From the 1900 and 1910 censuses, Abijah and Katie were settled in Perkins Twp, Erie County. A land transfer in 1903 to Kate established her prescence there, and an obituary stated that she lived in Homeville during the time A. B. was at the home. 

In 1920, A. B., listed at home in the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Sandusky, did not find it  smooth going.

The Sandusky Register reported on January 1, 1921:

"Comrade Baker Woodruff, Co. L, O.V.C., who has been in the hospital for several months, suddenly became violently insane in Ward D. Friday morning about 3 o'clock and proceeded to break everything within reach.

He first started by placing his cot upright against the door and then smashed the glass in a large double window. A large mirror above the mantel was his next object of attack, which shared the same fate. 

During all this time, he kept up an incessant yelling which could be heard in every ward. Entrance to his room was finally secured. He was subdued and quieted somewhat, but his condition is still unchanged."

January 4 -" Comrade Baker Woodruff, who suddenly became violently insane a few days ago and smashed everything in sight in his room, is reported as being more quiet, but still far from a sane comrade."

Abijah Baker Woodruff died on January 21, 1921, at the home. The paper reported that he had been there since 1894, perhaps with freedom to travel at first since he came to Defiance in 1899 and again in 1909. His wife resided there or nearby.

His obituary from the Sandusky Star Journal, January 18, 1921:

"SOLDIERS HOME.  BAKER WOODRUFF DIED IN HOSPITAL

Veteran Was Continuous Member Since 1894; From Columbus

Baker Woodruff, 78, and one of the oldest members of this Home in point of continuous membership, passed away in the hospital Monday night. He came here from Columbus Jan. 2, 1894, and was never discharged.

Mrs. Baker, who survives him, has resided in Homeville much of that time. Comrade Woodruff served in Co. L, 3rd O.V. Cav. and for a time was sergeant of police here. A brother recently resigned as sergeant of Cottage F."

From the Sandusky Register, January 19, 1921, p. 11:

"Baker Woodruff, Co. L, Third O.V.C., aged 78, died at 5 a.m. Tuesday. He is survived by his wife who resides at W. Millgrove, Wood Co., O., and a brother, Comrade Everette D. Woodruff, of Cottage M. The deceased had for several years been mentally deranged. He was admitted Jan. 2, 1894. Burial will be in Fostoria."

In the Federal Census of 1920, Katie, 74, was living alone in Perkins Twp, Erie County, in a home that was owned free of mortgage. Although the obituary stated that she was in Wood County at the time of A.B.'s death, that is somewhat questionable.

                   

                                 Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria, Ohio

Katie L. Woodruff died in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,and is in the death records there. At 81, she died on April 13, 1926, at 604 N. LeClaire Avenue, the home of her son, Frank, who was the informant on the death record. Her body was taken back to Fostoria, Ohio, to be buried with her husband of over fifty years.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Hugh Manon, Old Settler of Williams Center

 

We're venturing just a bit outside of Defiance County to honor one of the oldest settlers of the area. Later, some of his descendants did venture across the county line, and the author of the piece, found in the Bryan Press of October 22, 1914, was a Farmer area fellow.

Hugh Manon, 88, Last Old Settler

W. S. Tomlinson Writes of Days When Williams Center Was Metropolis of the County"

Men go back to some historical event to establish dates, while women remember them by the birth of their children. Hugh Manon remembered the date when he came to Williams Center as being the year before Tyler was hung.* This was 66 years ago and many of you will wonder why he came to settle down in that quaint old town, but you must remember that at one time Williams Center was a flourishing village, and I can recall a time when there were four general stores, two groceries, three tailor shops, three blacksmith, two wagon, two furniture, three shoe, one harness, a tine, and I do not recall how many carpenter shops, for at that time everything was a shop and besides that, there was a large sawmill and an Ashery* where Mr. Manon worked for many years.

In those days every town had an ashery where the ashes from the timber burnt on the new lands were converted into peals and sent to the eastern cities to pay for goods, and many a day, when I was playing around the corners, I have seen Mr. Manon unloading ashes, filling leaches, pumping water with the old chain pumps for half a day at a time, wetting down the leaches.

Then boiling the lye down into salts in large iron kettles and finally ending up with pearls in the pearling oven, ready to be placed in large barrels to be shipped to New York city where father went twice a year to buy goods on tick* which were sold in like manner.

*The Tyler hanging - the next post will be dedicated to this as it's a long story.

* An ashery converted the hardwood ashes obtained when farmers burned the wood and cleared their land. When soaked, lye would leach for soap. Further leaching would create potash and pearl ash.  These were used in glass making, gunpowder, leather tanning, paper and other things.

*on tick - on credit

At one time, all of the Manons lived in Williams Center and Uncle John, who afterwards clerked for father, ran a tailor shop and kept the post office. (These were brothers of Hugh.)  Jacob settled on a farm in the northwest part of the county and Jerry (Jeremiah) and a Mr. Bitner, brother-in-law, and the old folks went back to their old home near Gettysburg, Pa. where they were during that battle, and Mr. Bitner had to contribute the flour from his mill to the Confederacy.  One daughter, Rebecca, remained here and married James Fisher, and died in Bryan a short time ago. Samuel Burtsfield, who had a shoe shop in Bryan for so many years, came here with them and, for a time, ran a shoe shop for father at Williams Center.

I can recall when a man could speak with pride and say he was from Williams Center, the metropolis of Williams county, and it is not a bad place yet, only the railroads let it set out in the cold, and the men who used to loaf around the stores nights and bad weather in the days before Tyler was hung and tell stories that happened in their old eastern homes have all passed to their long homes, as far as I can tell.

Martin Struble and Jacob Rager of Bryan, Dwight Stoddard of Wauseon, John A. Garver of Des Moines, Jacob Lane of Edgerton and Wm. Yeagley of Farmer, all are old residents of Williams Center and vicinity, but I believe these men did not have homes here until after Tyler was hung.

One thing can be said of Mr. Manon that cannot be said of many of us, he had the knack of getting along with men without making them enemies and I never heard any person speak unkindly of Uncle Hugh. He was an honest, hard-working law-abiding citizen and saved enough out of his wages to buy a farm near where he began housekeeping 66 years ago and besides raised a large family of children.

Two of his sons, John and George, a German Baptist preacher of considerable note, have nice farms in Kansas. Wesley also owns a farm near Melbern and Jerry on the old farm, as well as the two daughters now living, were all present at the funeral. Mrs. Manon died in the 60s*and their oldest daughter, Kate, a few years later, and thus ends the life of one of the nicest old men I ever knew."  W. S. Tomlinson

                                Williams Center Cemetery

Note:

Hugh's father, also Hugh Manon, a War of 1812 veteran, and his wife, Margaret moved back to Gettysburg, it would seem. This Hugh Manon Jr. married Lydia Bender in 1848 in Franklin, Pennsylvania and they had seven children, but Lydia died in 1866, at about the age of 38, leaving Hugh to raise the children, which he did, never remarrying.

The children were Kate, John, George, Wesley, Sarah, Lillie, and Jeremiah. John, George, and Sarah went to Kansas to settle. Katie died young in 1875 at the age of 27. Wesley settled in the vicinity, died in 1938 and was buried in Farmer Cemetery. Lillie married locally, Raymond Pollock, as did Jeremiah to Eva Smith, and they are also buried at Williams Center.

At the end of Hugh Jr.'s life, he had an eighty acre farm in Section 33, Center Township,Williams County.

Christian Diehl - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany , on August 21, 1842, Christian Diehl immigrated to America on the ship, LeHavre, in 1861, just when the War Between the States began. The Commemorative Biographical Record wrote that Christian's father had died when he was 8. It was not long after coming to America that he showed his new patriotism by enlisting in the Union Army.

He enlisted in Company K of the 194th Pennsylvania Infantry on July 18, 1864.  The 194th was a 100 day unit recruited from all over Pennsylvania, where Christian first settled.  The regiment rendezvoused at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and by July 24th, they headed for Baltimore, Maryland and the eastern shoreline. There they were assigned to guard duty for prisoners and goods, and escorted soldiers to the front.  The regiment mustered out on November 6, 1864.

  Christian married  Mary Rantz in Lucas County in 1869, and, in 1870, Christian went back to what he knew best from the Old Country...brewing. Jacob Karst and Joseph Bauer had a brewing business going in Defiance. Christian bought out Karst and eventually, Bauer, until he remained as sole owner in 1885 and the Christ Diehl Brewery was born.

Christian (Christ) and Mary had six sons : Christian, Jr., John Charles, 

Albert Frederick, Joseph Aloyisus, August, and Frank Benedict.  In 1896, 

he sold out to the older three - Christ, Jr., John C. and Albert, all of whom

had had a hand in the business from a young age. Mary and these three older sons were Lutheran, while the younger sons were raised as Catholic, the religion of their father.

A passport application exists for Christian Diehl, who traveled with

John M. Preisendorfer back to Germany in April and May 1900. Christian's birthplace on this was Bodenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt.  He was described as 58 years old, 5 foot 7 inches, with a forehead square and full, blue eyes,

a large straight nose, with black hair with some gray, a fair complexion and a full, slightly long, face. The purpose of the trip was not listed, nor was there a photo.

On April 2, 1910, Christian's wife, Mary, passed away unexpectedly after almost fifty years of marriage. Her obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on April 4, 1910:

"MRS. CHRIST DIEHL SR.

Mrs. Christ Diehl Sr. died suddenly Saturday evening, death coming as a surprise to the immediate family and many friends.

She was born August 21, 1849. On June 15, 1869, at Toledo, she was united in marriage to Christ Diehl Sr.  In 1871, they came to Defiance.

Of the union, there were born six children, Christ John, Albert Joseph, Frank B., all of Defiance and August, residing out of the city.  Three sisters also survive her, Mrs. Elizabeth Pottsinger Defiance; Mrs.Anna Steinbach, Chicago; and Mrs. Mason Daiz, Holgate; also a brother, Casper Daiz of Holgate.

The funeral will occur Tuesday morning at 9:30 from the house and at 10 o'clock from the church, Rev. Kiess, officiating.  She was loved and respected by all who knew her."

Christian married again on July 12, 1911, at the age of 68 to Philomena Gardiner, aged 50, in Medina County, Ohio. Philomena was also born in Germany and had not been married before. 

Christ Diehl lived until November 8, 1928, in Defiance with Philomena, when he died of dropsy, a fluid buildup in the body that eventually caused him to be bedridden.  He was a successful businessman and mainstay of his church, St. John's Catholic Church.

Christian's obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on page 1 a day after his death:

"DEATH TAKES CHRISTIAN DIEHL WHO CAME TO CITY IN 1870 AND BUILT UP BIG ENTERPRISE

Christian Diehl, Sr., who came to Defiance in 1870 and developed the Diehl Brewing Company, being president of the organization for many years, died Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at his home, 223 Jackson avenue at the age of 86 years.

Although he had been in failing health for a year, Mr. Diehl did not become bedfast until three weeks ago.  Dropsy brought about his death.

Solemn requiem high mass will be celebrated for Mr. Diehl Monday at 9 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, with Rev. Father George H. Lang officiating.  Mr. Diehl served as a member for the board of trustees of this parish for years and was in the office at the time the present church structure was built.

During the Civil War, he served for 100 days in Company K, 184th regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry.

After he was discharged from service, he located in Toledo, in 1870 he came to Defiance as brewmaster at the Defiance Brewery, owned by the late Jacob Karst and Joseph Bauer.

Ine 1871, he bought out the interest of Mr. Karst in the firm and in 1885, took over Mr. Bauer's share.  During his regime as head of the organization, he greatly expanded the industry here and made many improvements in facilities of the plant.

After Mr. Diehl retired in 1896, his sons continued in charge of the business.  Mr. Diehl is the last of four children, being the youngest.  He was a brother of Mrs. Christena Gottwald, who died here a number of years ago.

Mr. Diehl was married to Mary Rantz in Toledo n 1869.  Mrs. Diehl died April 2, 1910.  To this union were born six sons, all of whom are living in Defiance except August A. Diehl, who passed away in 1918.  The surviving sons are Christ Diehl, Jr., John C. Diehl, Albert F. Diehl, Joseph A. Diehl, and Frank B. Diehl.

There are also 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Diehl was married again in 1911 to Philomena Gardner at Medina, Ohio.  She survives him."

After Christian's death, Philomena eventually moved back to Medina County where she lived until 1933.  She was buried there.

A great read on the Diehl family and the brewing company...HERE.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)