Dietz, Jacob J.

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Birth

Jacob was born in Berne May 21, 1798[1], a son of Col. Johan Jost Dietz[2].

Marriage & Children

He married Maria Elizabeth Zimmer on Mar 16, 1823 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schoharie, Schoharie, NY.

Occupation

He was raised on his father's farm and was a life-long and successful farmer, accumulating a fine property in the Beaverdam Valley.[2]. He lived in 1840 at Town of Knox with his father, Col.Johan Jost. In 1853, Jacob sold this portion of the Dietz farm, which had been deeded to him by Col. Dietz, to Peter P. Schell from the Town of Wright, Schoharie, NY. It was a Shell farm for many years after. His brother Peter Ives Dietz was deeded by Col. Dietz farmland to the east of the original farmhouse. The farms were separated by the Berne-Knox Town line by 1822 when Knox was split off from Berne. The farms were physically separated by a stream named the Dietz Kill that had a stone dam (parts still seen) for a mill pond to power a saw mill, according to an old farm survey. The Dietz Kill flows under Rt. 443 into the Foxenkill. Jacob and Maria moved with their family to the East Berne area according to census reports.

Additional Information

Deitz, Wallace E., M. D., was born in the town of Berne, November til, 1857.

Col. Johan Jost Deitz, his great-grandfather and founder of the family in America, came from Switzerland and was one of the first settlers in the town of Berne, coming there between 1750 and 1760.

Jacob, the grandfather, was born in Berne about 1787. He was a lifelong and successful farmer, accumulating a fine property in the Beaverdam Valley. His wife was Mary Elizabeth Zimmer.

John G , the father, was born in Berne in 1836, his early life being spent on his father's farm. In 1878 he removed to Gloversville, N. Y., where he was engaged in the grocery business for about fifteen years, when he retired to the village of Slingerlands, where he died November 17, 1896, and was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery of Berne. His wife was Lydia J., daughter of John H. Engel, of Berne, and they had eight children : Isadora, Wallace E., Laura, Charles F., Elmer, Seward, Carrie, and Adella, of whom four survive.

Wallace E. was reared on the farm and educated m the common district school. At the age of eighteen he began for himself, continuing his schooling winters. Urged on by his success in his studies, he was soon enabled to secure a certificate to teach. He was then engaged in teaching and studying until 1877, when he passed the State examination and soon after entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated March 3, 1883. He began the practice of his profession in Howe's Cave, Schoharie county, two years later removing to Berne, where he has since resided, enjoying a large and lucrative practice. He owns a farm, also a saw mill, which he superintends. He is a member of the Albany County Medical Society and the I. O. O. F., Orion Lodge No. 624 of Gallupville, of which he is past noble grand. In July, 1889, Dr. Dietz married Theodora, daughter of David and Louis (Rheinhart) Ball, of Berne. They have an adopted daughter.

Landmarks of Albany County, New York

Sources

  1. Beaverdam Reformed Church records
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Landmarks of Albany County, NY, Edited by Amasa J. Parker, Albany, NY