Biography of Harry Diehl, pages 730/731.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914



Harry Diehl



	Among the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Keyser 
township is Harry Diehl, a gentleman of high character and reputation, 
whom to know is to esteem and honor. A quiet, unostentatious man, who 
makes his presence felt by his actions and influence rather that by 
conversation and public acclaim, he has contributed not a little to the 
ability and respect of the body politic and all who know him bear 
cheerful testimony to his many sterling qualities of mind and heart.

	Harry Diehl was born on December 8, 1869, in Indiana county, 
Pennsylvania, the son of George and Nancy (Ober) Diehl. George Diehl 
who was a native of Germany, came to the Untied States with his parents 
when about five years of age, locating first in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, where the father followed farming an spent his entire 
life in that state.  He died on November 22, 1899.  During the marriage 
of George and Nancy (Ober) Diehl there were born eight children as 
follows: Mrs. Sarah Olinger of Keyser township, DeKalb county, Indiana, 
who is the mother of one child, G.F.; John of Keyser township; Mrs. 
Mary Shaffer, who lives in Calhoun township, Michigan, and who is the 
mother of six children; Mrs. Susanna Smith lives in Kendallville and is 
the wife of Isaac W. Smith, the minister of the Christian church.  They 
are the parents of four children; Mrs. Jennie Shumaker, who lives in 
Harvey county, Kansas, is the mother of two children; Lincoln, who 
lives on the old homestead in Pennsylvania, is the father of two 
children; Mrs. Elizabeth Shumaker, who lives in Harvey county, Kansas, 
is the mother of five children; the subject of this sketch is the 
youngest in order of birth.

	Harry Diehl was reared to manhood in his native community and in 
1892 came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he was employed at farm 
labor.  In 1893 be bought eighty acres of land in Keyser township, 
formerly known as the A. J. Bolyard farm, to which he has devoted his 
undivided attention and which he has developed into a fine and valuable 
farm.  He erected an attractive and well arranged residence, large, 
commodious barn, and has in other ways made substantial and permanent 
improvements on the place.  The land was practically all cleared when 
he obtained it, so he retained about eighteen acres of fine timber 
land.  He carries on general farm operation, raising all the crops 
common to this locality, and also gives some attention to the raising 
live stock, making a substantial profit in both departments of his 
work.

	On October 8, 1896, Harry Diehl married Laura Shumaker, a native 
of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and whose death occurred in 1905. To 
this union were born two children, Earnest and Virgil, who died in 
infancy. On October 16, 1907, Mr. Diehl married Bertha Olinger, a 
daughter of Ephraim and Kizzia (Mathias) Olinger, and the fruits of his 
union were four children, Olive, Illif, Ford and Glenn.  Politically, 
Mr. Diehl has been a life-long Republican up to the organization of the 
Progressive party in 1912, to which he gave his allegiance and in which 
he was enthusiastic and very active during the campaign.  He is a man 
of strong mentality, keeping close touch with the current questions of 
the day, and because of his upright life, his success and fine personal 
qualities, he is clearly entitled to the high place which he holds in 
the minds of all who know him.

	Ephriam Olinger, the father of Mrs. Diehl, was born in Stark 
county, Ohio, where he lived until 1882, when he came to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, making his residence here until 1904.  He then moved back to 
Stark county and now resides in Louisville, near Canton, that state. He 
has followed agricultural pursuits throughout practically his entire 
life, but is now retired from active work, His wife also a native of 
Stark county, and the them were born the following children: Ida, 
deceased; Mrs. Josephine Flagler, who is now living in Auburn; Benton, 
deceased; Bertha, Mrs. Diehl and Mrs. Lulu Roland.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com