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:
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.
(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!)
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