Adam Diehl Johann Adam Diehl, b. June 19, 1767; d. 1842; known as Adam Diehl (second son of Capt. Nicholas Diehl, as his older brother died when he was only eighteen months, six days old); lived with his father in Tinicum twp., Delaware co., until about 1800, when he removed to New Castle co., Del., where he had previously purchased large tracts of land, on or near the Delaware river. After his removal he bought more land in Red Lion and St. George's Hundreds, and became one of the largest landowners in the county. His first residence in New Castle co. was in St. George's Hundred, above Port Penn; afterwards he removed to one of his tracts in Red Lion Hundred. A few years before his death he sold most of his land in these localities and went to the city of Wilmington, where he lived, at Eighth and Orange sts., until his death. His will, dated Jan. 9, 1836, while he still lived in Red Lion Hundred, proved July 29, 1842, devised his household furniture to his wife, Elizabeth, and divided the rest of his estate into nine parts, one to go to his wife, and one to each of his children, Adam, Rebecca, John, Jane, Martha, Sarah and Daniel, and one to the children of his son, William (William to be guardian of his own children), and named as executors, his wife, Elizabeth; son, Adam, and friend, Joseph Cleaver, of Port Penn. Adam Diehl m. (first) Jane, dau. of Adam Guyer, a wealthy merchant of Phila., and owner of large tracts of land in many counties of Pa., as well as in New Castle., Del.; m. (second) Sarah (Reed or Biddle); m. (third) Elizabeth Daniel, of a Quaker family, early settled in Salem co., N. J.

John Diehl John, b. Sept. 6, 1814; d. Jan. 31, 1887; married Elizabeth Burr of Philadelphia. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. John W. Dowell, in the Central Presbyterian Church, Nov. 15, 1836. Elizabeth was the daughter of Edmond and Postrema R. Burr. John and Elizabeth had eight children: Marianna, b. Sept. 11, 1837; Thomas Adam, b. Aug. 2, 1840; Martha Burr, b. Dec. 29, 1842; Susan Knight, b. Oct. 9, 1844; Frank Henry, b. Sept. 29, 1846; Amanda Postrema, b. Sept. 21, 1848; John Chalmers, b. Sept. 18, 1851; and Elizabeth, b. March 23, 1855. In the summer of 1837, several farms were purchased by John from George Read, Jr., whose father was the illustrious signer of the "U.S. Constitution." Part of the purchase agreement reads as follows: I, John Diehl, do acknowledge myself to be the purchaser of Eden Farm for the sum of eight thousand and seventy-five dollars and hereby promise and agree to comply in all things with the foregoing conditions. Witness my hand and seal this first day of August A.D. 1837. In 1876 John donated land for a public school. Prior to this, the children of the Bear area walked to a school in another district.

Frank Diehl

Frank

Lizzie

Frank, b. Aug. 29, 1847; d. Jan. 31, 1912; married Lizzie Gemmill Appleby, b. April 8, 1860; d. July 20, 1918. They had two children: Sue Knight, b. Sept. 21, 1890; d. March 9, 1972; and Francis Buehler, b. Sept. 6, 1892; d. Oct. 30, 1940. Frank inherited part of Eden Farm, as was true of his brother, John Chalmers. Corn and wheat were the main crops, and were shipped to Philadelphia via the Pennsylvania Railroad. Its tracks were conveniently located next to the two Diehl farms. A portion of a letter addressed to Frank Diehl, dated Jan. 15, 1900, from H. Catlin, Asst. Freight Train Master, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, reads as follows: Your postal received, and in reply would state that L. L. Miller and Sons are quoting wheat straw on Saturday's market at eight dollars per ton. They claim that if it is something fancy they might be able to get eight dollars and fifty cents for it. If you desire to ship, please give me the number of car and on what date you ship. Ship the straw to L. L. Miller and Sons, Germantown Junction, Pennsylvania Railroad.

Francis Diehl Francis married Minerva Kolb Taylor, b. June 26, 1896; d. March 1, 1999. Minerva was the daughter of Charles King Taylor, a farmer of New Castle County. Her mother's maiden name was Anna Malin. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. E. D. Primm, in the New Castle Baptist Church, on the evening of June 9, 1917. Their offspring: Marguerite Taylor, b. June 29, 1918; Frances Sue, b. Aug. 6, 1921; Mildred Minerva, b. Nov. 9, 1923; Robert Buehler, b. Oct. 28, 1931. Eden Farm was sold in 1918 to Samuel Moody and his wife for the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, as Francis had no interest in farming. He was employed most of his adult life as a cost accountant.

The back of the Diehl farmhouse as it appears today: