Biography - Henry Diepholz
HENRY DIEPHOLZ. The gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch
and of whom it is our pleasure to give a short history in outline, is a
native of Germany, being there born September 11, 1840. Up to his fifteenth
year he passed his boyhood days in his native land being engaged upon a farm
and in school work, which in Germany is obligatory upon all the subjects of
the Emperor. Thus he was in a manner fitted for the duties of manhood,
although it must have taken him some time to adjust himself to American
manners and customs and ways of thought, on coming to this country. On
leaving home, he came to America landing from a German steamer at Baltimore,
Md., and from there went to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was first employed near
Cincinnati in the mixed duties of attending to a brick yard, and farming,
and was thus engaged for four years, after which he came to Madison, this
state.
While in Madison County, our subject was employed as a farm laborer and
continued work in this way for four years. On his marriage, he rented land
which he operated for four years and at the expiration of that time, came to
Shelby County and settled in Richland Township, where he has since been a
resident. Here he is the owner of three hundred acres of finely improved
land. Upon this tract he has erected a good and substantial set of
buildings. His home is comfortable and pleasant and his barns adequate for
the large crops which are annually his farm products.
Mr. Diepholz was married in Madison County, Ill. to Miss Caroline Wirth, who
like himself, was a native of Germany, but who had emigrated to America at
an early age. Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children,
whose names are Fred J., Henry, Caroline and Hermann. Heof whom we write is
an honorable and upright man who is highly regarded by his neighbors and
fellow-townsmen. He has been elected to fill several important offices in
the township government and has been Assessor of Richland Township for three
years, also Highway Commissioner for one term and has done efficient service
as School Director. In politics, the original of our sketch is a Democrat.
Religiously he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran Church of their
township, and have ever been generous supporters and faithful adherents of
that religious body.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 330-331.
