Carroll County ArArchives Biographies.....Diehl, S. A. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 2, 2009, 10:56 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

S. A. DIEHL.
    The newspaper business is constantly attracting men from the various walks
of life, many of whom find in this work a pleasant and profitable occupation. To
this class belongs S. A. Diehl, editor and proprietor of the Daily Times-Echo
and the Flashlight of Eureka Springs. He became identified with the publication
of newspapers many years ago and is recognized as one of the thoroughly
experienced and capable men in this line in the state.

    S. A. Diehl was born in Fostoria, Ohio, on the 31st of July, 1865, a son of
Abraham and Elizabeth (Leonard) Diehl, the former a native of New York state and
the latter of Ohio. The father was a member of the Union army during the Civil
war, serving for three years. He was a member of Company E, Forty-ninth Ohio
Regiment. He received a wound in the leg at Shiloh and was likewise wounded at
the battle of Chickamauga. At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, where he
resided until 1871, when he removed to Illinois. He engaged in farming in that
state. As one of the representative citizens of the community he was frequently
called to public office and for some time he served as justice of the peace of
the community in which he resided. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Diehl six
children were born, five of whom are living. S. A., whose name initiates this
review, is the oldest, child. The family was reared in the faith of the
Evangelical church and Mr. Diehl gave his political allegiance to the republican
party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good
government. He was likewise an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

    S. A. Diehl received his education in Illinois, attending the country
schools in the vicinity of the home farm and in due time the Illinois Normal
School at Dixon. Upon the completion of his education he engaged in farming and
was active in that connection until he reached the age of twenty-four years. He
then took up the profession of teaching and was engaged in educational work for
a period of seventeen years, eleven years of that time being spent as principal
and superintendent of schools at various places. Subsequently, however, he
discovered that he was more interested in the newspaper business than he was in
teaching and accordingly he went to Manito, Illinois, where he purchased a
newspaper, which he edited for six years. He then spent one year in Bloomington,
Illinois, and in 1908 came to Eureka Springs, arriving here in September of that
year. He purchased the Flashlight, a weekly paper here and since that time he
has succeeded in absorbing all the newspaper interests of the city. His daily
paper is called the Times-Echo. He has one of the best equipped offices in the
state and gets out the cleanest and best edited democratic daily and weekly in
North Arkansas. In addition to the publication of his own papers he prints five
other publications and does a large job printing business.

    A contemporary writer has said of Mr. Diehl: "Mr. Diehl comes from that
grand old state of Illinois, and while comparatively new to Eureka Springs, ever
since his coming, has labored hard for the advancement of the city, not only
with his hands and his head but with his money as well. His past experience has
given him a schooling tended to make him a public man. Sixteen years as a
pedagogue, eleven of them as principal and high school teacher; seven years of
newspaper work in Illinois; president of the Ilinois State Epworth League;
president and platform manager of the Quiver Lake Chautauqua in Illinois; state
secretary of the Illinois Anti-Saloon League when he removed to Eureka
Springs—these honors bestowed by Illinoisans bespeak a versatile ability." Not
long after Mr. Diehl came to Eureka Springs he was appointed by Mayor Fuller as
a member of the board of health and he was also elected as secretary of the
Commercial Club, of which body he has been a director since his residence in the
state.

    On the 30th of November, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Diehl and
Miss Hannah J. Behringer, a native of Illinois. To their union two children have
been born: Webster Emerson, and Donald DeWitt. The eldest son is now attending
the law department of the University of Virginia, where he is a brilliant
student. He seems to have inherited a natural talent for oratory, be is a fine
public speaker for one of his years, and is widely known as the boy orator of
the Ozarks. The younger son is but thirteen years of age and is a student in the
schools here. Mrs. Diehl is prominent in the club and social circles of Eureka
Springs and is recognized as a model housewife and mother.

    The family is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr.
Diehl has been president of the official board for many years. Fraternally he is
a Mason, being a Knight Templar, and also past master of the craft. He is also
affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias, being
past chancellor of the latter organization. In 1896 he became a democrat and he
served as a delegate to the state convention the same year and the two years
following. For nine years he has been a member of the board of education in
Eureka Springs, his past experience in educational work making him a valuable
asset to that body. Mr. Diehl is a forceful and eloquent public speaker and a
man who pays strict attention to the minutest details of any business with which
he is connected. He has made many friends throughout the state and ranks among
the leaders of the press in Arkansas.


Additional Comments:

Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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