My Genealogy Hound

TILGHMAN H. DIEHL. The subject of this sketch, one of the prominent business men of Allentown, has become so well known in this community that he needs no special introduction to our readers. His friends are many, and we therefore feel assured that this record of his life will be received with general interest.

Our subject is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Doll) Diehl, and was born in Milford, Bucks County, this state, May 21, 1847. He attended the common schools during his boyhood days, and, as was the case with most of the lads of that period, received only a limited education. How extensive and accurate the knowledge acquired in the little old log schoolhouse was, is summed up in the words of an acquaintance of our subject, whose experience was of a similar nature: “The teacher told us that it was very cold at the north pole, and very hot at the south, and we believed it.” When ten years of age, our subject’s parents removing to Quakertown, Tilghman attended school there for two years, and later, when his father established a store at Seidersville, Northampton County, whither the family had removed, he was permitted to carry on his studies in the schools of that place for two terms.

In 1860 the elder Mr. Diehl went to Allentown, where he opened up a store for the sale of general merchandise. Our subject acted as clerk in the establishment for twelve months, at the same time devoting every spare moment to the study of his books. The next year, when only fourteen years of age, he entered the office of Rev. S. K. Brobst, then engaged in printing church publications. With him he learned “the art preservative,” and remained in the capacity of a “comp” for three years. About that time there was a general call for Sunday-school literature in the church to which Mr. Brobst belonged, and he consequently branched out in that line of business. Mr. Diehl was then taken fiom the case and placed in the office, where he was given charge of the books, etc., which department of work was left entirely to him. Business rapidly increased, the publications of their own growing more extensive, and the importation of books being added to the other branches, Mr. Brobst was obliged to enlarge his building.

In 1872 our subject, having proved himself to be a valuable assistant, was admitted into the business as partner, the firm operating under the style of S. K. Brobst & Co., and doing business at No. 814 Hamilton Street. This connection lasted until 1876, when the senior partner died. Our subject continued to manage affairs in company with the widow of his former partner for a year, when he found it to his advantage to go into business for himself. He at once purchased the interest of Mrs. Brobst in the establishment, and continued to act alone until her son Samuel became a member of the firm, in 1877. In 1885, however, Mr. Diehl severed the connection and is now engaged in publishing on his own account the “Lutheran Almanac,” acknowledged as authority in that church all over the country; “Jugend Freund,” now in its forty-eighth year; the “Lutheran Herald and Zeitschrift,” and other works which have been added since the death of Mr. Brobst.

Mr. Diehl is very active in church work, and for a number of years has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. For a number of terms he was delegate to the Supreme Body of the church in America. He was married, in 1873, to Rosina A., daughter of the late John R. Schall, and to them have been born three sons and one daughter.