Charles Dielman

In 1876 J. W. Harris and Huldah Harris bought a 20 acre tract of ground from George Warner. This piece of land is located east of the Grelton Road on Co. Rd. P, first place on the north side of the road. Shortly afterwards they built the brick house that was our home place.

[Photo A, p. 167] The Dielmans. Left to right, back: Kathryn, Okie, Mary; front: Charles, Robert.

They were the maternal grandparents of my mother, Mary Dielman. She went to stay with them in 1897 when she was 11 years old. When they passed on, they left her the home place.

[Photo B, p. 167] Great Grandpa George Lawerence and Robert Dielman

My paternal grandparents were Charles and Viola Dielman. Charles had 4 brothers and sisters: Jacob, Ella (Roberts), Kathryn (Walker), and Louisa (Warner). They had 7 children: Lawrence, Byron, Glen, Kathryn (Jones), Inez (Bales), Gladys (Rohrs), one stepbrother Raymond Shaffer, and Okee who was my dad.
My maternal grandparents were Jacob and Catherine Fronce. Grandpa came to America in 1851 from France. They had 5 children: Samuel, Henry, Etta (Creager), Huldah (Hoffman), and Mary (Dielman) who was my mother.
Mom and Dad were married in 1909. They had 3 children: Charles, Kathryn (Knoll), and Robert (myself). We were all born in the home place. Dad passed away when I was 5 years old, leaving Mom to raise us by herself. She worked out by the day for neighbors, to keep us. There wasn't any Social Security then to help.
I started to school at the Olive Branch School the fall after Dad passed away. This schoolhouse was located 1 mile east of the Grelton Road on Co. Rd. P. When I was nine years old, this school closed and then I went to the Damascus Twp. School, located in McClure, Ohio. I remember when my brother Charles was janitor at the Olive Branch School and I used to help him sweep. We each had a homemade corn cob pipe hid in the coal bin. As we would clean the schoolhouse, we would smoke pencil shavings in our pipes. Neither of us smokes now.

[Photo C, p. 167] The Dielman Home

[Photo A, p. 168] In front of Olive Branch Schoolhouse in 1925. Teacher — Corrine Meyers, back, left to right: Lyle Harmon, Kathryn Dielman, Dorothy Austermiller, Irene Jennings, Don Smith, Herman Austermiller, Ed Zimmerman, Harvey Austermiller, Robert Dielman, Howard Harmon, Charles Dielman, Alva Zimmerman, George Walker, Bryce Orwig, Lester Austermiller, Walter Walker, Freda Austermiller, Wilma Austermiller, Dorias McCurdy, Violet Zimmerman.

[Photo B, p. 168] Back row: Bernard, Ronald Dielman, Larry Dirr; front row: Florence, Jennifer, Robert, Mathew, Ruth Dielman, Amy, Roberta, Tony Dirr, Mark Dielman.

When I was small, I used to sit on my great grandfather's lap. Later on he would tell me about different things about the Civil War. He was George F. Lawrence. His home was 1/4 mile east of the home place. I remember seeing the deed to his 30 acres; it was bought for $90.00. He passed away at 98 years of age.
Aunt Louisa Warner was one of my favorite great aunts. She lived in McClure, across from the United Methodist Church, in her later years. I remember the Christmas of 1964 that she spent with us. There were 5 generations here: Aunt Louisa, my mother, Mary Dielman, myself, my son, Bernard, and my grandson, Matthew. Aunt Louisa lived to be 96 years old.
I worked for my cousin for a while in the summer time on school vacation. When we settled up, he said, "You did a man's work; might as well pay you a man's wages; 512c per hour."
After I was out of school I went to work tending set in a saw mill in Napoleon for 181/2c per hour.
After Ruth and I were married, we worked for her folks on the farm for a while. Then I went to work at Hosman's Garage in McClure for $1.00 per day. After this, I went to work on road construction for 351 per hour. I remember telling my cousin that it was pretty hard work and he said, "Golly, for that kind of money you can stand a little grief." After this, I worked as a screw machine operator and set up man at several different factories and finally ended up being a carpenter.
Mom was re-married when I was about 15 years old. She married Dad's brother Glen, who passed away in 1962.

[Photo C, p. 168] 1964 — Louisia Warner, Mary, Robert, Bernard, Mathew Dielman.

On June 4, 1938, I married Ruth Rettig, daughter of Harmon and Dora Rettig. We had 3 children: Roberta (Dirr), Ronald, and Bernard. Bernard was born at the home place. I remember when Bernard was born. We called the doctor at night, then put a lantern by the road in front of the house so the doctor would know where to stop.
Bernard married Florence Junge of Holgate in 1962. They have 3 children: Matthew, Mark, and Jennifer. Roberta married Larry Dirr of Holgate in 1964. They have 2 children, Tony and Amy. At this time, Ronald is single and working in Toledo.
After Glen, my step-father, passed away in 1962, Mother stayed alone for several years, after which she sold the home place to my son Bernard.
Now Bernard lives there with his family, in the house he was born in. The home place has been in the family for five generations.

Submitted by Robert Dielman