Johannes Diefenthaler

b. 1 May 1810, d. 21 January 1892
  • Johannes Diefenthaler was born on 1 May 1810 in Spiesheim, Rheinhessen.
  • He married Catharina Diefenthaler, daughter of Johann Peter Diefenthaler and Anna Margaretha Kussel, on 5 April 1838.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler and Catharina Diefenthaler arrived in the Port of New York on 26 July 1843, accompanied by Margaretha Diefenthaler and Clara Diefenthaler having departed the the Port of Antwerp on 15 June 1843.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler and Catharina Diefenthaler appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin. Other members of the household included Margaretha Diefenthaler, Jacob Diefenthaler, Cathariine Diefenthaler and Louise Diefenthaler.
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1850 census.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler and Catharina Diefenthaler appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Germantown, Wisconsin. Other members of the household included Jacob Diefenthaler, Cathariine Diefenthaler, Louise Diefenthaler, Mary Margaret Diefenthaler and Adam Diefenthaler.
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1860 census.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler and Catharina Diefenthaler, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Germantown, Wisconsin. Other members of the household included Mary Margaret Diefenthaler and Adam Diefenthaler.
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler became a widower at the 21 January 1892 death of his wife Catharina Diefenthaler.
  • Johannes Diefenthaler died on 21 January 1892 at age 81 in Washington County, Wisconsin.
  • He was interred at Last Home Cemetery, Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin.
  • Johannes Diefenthaeler, son of Anton and Maria Magdalen (Scheib) Diefenthaeler, was born on Tuesday 1 May 1810 in Spiesheim, Alzey, Rheinhausen, Germany. On 5 April 1838 Johannes age 27 married Katherine age 23, daughter of Johannes Peter and Anna Margaret (Kussel) Diefenthaeler. Shortly thereafter came Johannes in 1838, Margaret in 1840 and Klara in 1842-1844. Johannes, Katherine, Johannes Jr., Margaret, and Klara emigrated through Antwerp on 15 June 1843 arriving in Milwaukee on 9 August of that year. Klara contracted the measles and the family was required to remain in Milwaukee. Eighteen days later Klara died. /P/ We find the family taking residence in South Germantown on what is now Main Street just west of the railroad tracks. A picture of their house can be seen here. In Germantown arrived Jacob in 1845, Katherine in 1847, Elsia in 1849-1930, Mary in 1852, and Adam in 1854. /P/ Margaret was born on 6 January 1840 in Spiesheim. She married Mr. Schnuk. /P/ Jacob was born in Germantown on 28 June 1845. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Valentin and Elizabeth (Gemnenden) Schaetzel. To them were born: Johanna in 1868 who married Johann Held; Laura Louise in 1870, Ella Elisabeth in 1872, Emelie Maria in 1874-1904, Johann Adam in 1876-1896 and George Washington 1878-1918. /P/ Katheirne was born on 20 July 1847 in Germantown. On 12 April 1868 she married Peter Bronn Jr., the son of Peter Bronn and Katharina Krain/Krein. She died in 1877. /P/ Mary was born on 17 May 1852 in Germantown. On 23 March 1873 she married Phillip Gottleib Duerrwaechter. See the Phillip Duerrwaechter biography for more information on this family. /P/ To Adam, who was born on 16 December 1854, and Christina Leonhardt arrived: Laura who married Charles Riengruber and to whom arrived Howard and Harold to which Howard's Cartage in 1932 was started, Laura then married Benjamin C. Duerrwaechter, son of Christian and Mary (White) Duerrwaechter, born in Keil; Christina in 1880 who married Harry H. Snyder to whom were born Harriet who marrried William Hartmann, Dorothy who married Hubert J. Meessen and Arthur who married Harriet Jones; Lydia Emeli in 1882 who married Mr. Christopher; Fleetwood in 1885 who taught music; Alpha Lena in 1890 who married Norman Lentzner and to whom George and Fern were born; and Jeanett in 1902 who married Mr. Mueller. /P/ The Diefenthaeler commercial building just west of the railroad tracks on the north side of Main Street was built, it is believed, by Johannes Diefenthaeler and Phillip Duerrwaechter, and managed by the family Diefenthaeler firstly Johannes, then Adam. /P/ The Diefenthaeler commercial building came into the hands of the Duerrwaechters through Phillip/Emma and in the twentieth century was referred to as the Duerrwaechter building. Benn and Laura operated the Implement and Machinery Store on the other side of Main Street just west of the Hilgendorf Feed Mill. /P/ The Diefenthalers are buried in Last Home Cemetery and St. John United Cemetery. /P/ A descendant chart of the family can be found here. [Biography at www.schulties.com, from information shared by Emma (Jung) Kinkead.]
  • How are Johannes Diefenthaler and Anton Diefenthäler related? Is John the elder brother in Germantown mentioned in Anton's biography?
  • Was Philipp a son of John and Catharine Diefenthaler? Although he is living nearby in 1860, he does not apear with the family on the 1843 passenger list with them (would have been about age four).
  • How are Johannes Diefenthaler and Jacob Diefenthaler related?
  • Last Edited: 2 Feb 2014

Family: Catharina Diefenthaler b. 28 February 1815, d. 21 January 1892