Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Diehl, Henry
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


HENRY DIEHL is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of 
Colerain township, in Bedford County, Pa., and a member of 
one of the earliest settled families of this county.  He was 
born May 17, 1842, in Colerain, which was likewise the place 
of birth of his father, the late Joseph H. Diehl.  His 
paternal grandfather, John Diehl, according to the 
genealogical table of the Diehl family, issued in 1891, was 
born in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1771, and came to 
Friend's Cove, Bedford County, Pa., a lad of thirteen, in 
1784.  John Diehl's father was Samuel Diehl, who married a 
Miss Ritchey.  Mr. Henry Diehl is therefore a descendant in 
the fourth generation from Samuel Diehl, the line being 
Samuel, John, Joseph H., and Henry.
  Joseph H. Diehl was brought up on a farm, and, following 
in the footsteps of his ancestors, made farming his life 
work.  He reclaimed a large part of his land from the 
wilderness, and in its care and cultivation took great 
pleasure and pride from his early manhood until his death, 
in March, 1895.  He married Elizabeth Harclerode, of 
Colerain township.  Six of their children survive, as 
follows: William M., of Monroe, Pa.; Henry, the special 
subject of this sketch; Susanna, residing at Altoona, Pa., 
the widow of the late John Holterbaum; Mary E., widow of 
Henry Koontz, late of Colerain; Reuben, likewise of 
Colerain; and Sarah E., wife of Isaac Dibert, of Colerain 
township.
  Henry Diehl grew to manhood on the parental homestead.  
Although he attended the district school in his younger 
days, his mental training has been in a large measure 
self-directed, as the schools of fifty years ago afforded 
but scant educational privileges compared with the schools 
of the present day.  In February, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company D, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
under General Butler, whose regiment was incorporated as a 
part of the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, First Brigade and 
Third Division.  With his comrades he participated in the 
battles at Cold Harbor, Drury's Bluff, the Wilderness, the 
siege of Petersburg, and various other engagements.  The 
Third Division, to which his regiment belonged, was the 
first to surround General Lee at Appomattox, where he 
surrendered.  On being mustered out of service at the close 
of the war, Mr. Diehl returned home, and has since devoted 
himself to the management of his farm.  He has two hundred 
acres of land in his own homestead property, on which he has 
made valuable improvements; and he is recognized as one of 
the skilful and progressive farmers of the township.  He 
also owns one-third interest in the old homestead.  
Politically, he supports the principles of the Republican 
party.  Fraternally, he is a member of Watson Post, G.A.R. 
of Bedford, Pa., and of Rainsburg Lodge, I. O. O. F., in 
which he has passed all the chairs, and is now Past Master.
  On December 20, 1866, Mr. Diehl married Susanna Weisel, 
daughter of the late John Weisel, of Bedford township, Pa.  
They are the parents of six children, namely: Mary E., wife 
of John T. Shaffer, of Colerain township; David W. W., of 
Colerain; Laura L., wife of Henry Grand Diehl, also of 
Colerain township; Joseph G.; Carrie A.; and Reuben F.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Diehl are both member of the Reformed church.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa