My Genealogy Hound

SIMON DIETZ. Among the representative men and prosperous farmers of Hampden township, appears the name of Simon Dietz, who resides upon his fine farm of 100 acres, the greater portion of which is under cultivation, and gives a portion of his attention to township affairs, he having held some of the most important of its offices. Mr. Dietz was born on the old Dietz homestead in East Pennsboro township, March 8, 1857, son of David Dietz, and the grandson of Daniel Dietz.

David Dietz, the father, came to Cumberland county with his father when about eighteen years of age, from York county, and engaged in farming. He married Caroline Sheely, daughter of Christian Sheely, of Hampden township. Nine children were born of this marriage: Mary Ellen married John H. Smith, of Mechanicsburg; Daniel married Susan Mechlin, of Upper Allen township, and has three children, William (at home), Carrie (who died in childhood) and Susan (at home); Annetta married Jonas Rupp, of Hampden township, and has six children, Carrie (wife of Elmer Brindle, of Monroe township), Bertha (who married Jacob Sheely, of Upper Allen township, and has two children, John and Mary, at home), Ellen (who married Alvin Rowe, of Upper Allen township), Charles (at home), Minnie (at home), and Sadie (at home); William died in childhood; Simon; Lydia died at the age of eighteen years; Carrie married Frank Hertzler, of Eberly Mills; Martha married S. S. Rupp, of Shiremanstown, and has three children, Grace, David and Francis, all at home; Katie resides with our subject in Hampden township.

Simon Dietz was educated in the public schools of his neighborhood, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age. After completing his school life, he worked for his father on the farm until he was about twenty-five years of age, when on Nov. 29, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Barbara E. Eberly, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Hertzler) Eberly, of Lancaster county. One child was born to them, David C., at home.

Mr. Dietz is a consistent member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, of which he was formerly deacon, and his wife also belongs to the same church. He has been a lifelong member of the Democrat party, and has held the office of township auditor for three years, township assessor for one term, and is at present director and treasurer of the school board of his district. His farm is kept in excellent condition, as are his premises and comfortable house, while his spacious grounds are beautifully arranged. His property all shows a careful and judicious management, and the signs of thrift upon every side indicate the character of the owner.