John K. Diem
Biography from Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, PA
Submitted by Joanne Diem KennelJohn K. Diem, who has lived retired since 1891, was for thirty years one of the most energetic business men of Intercourse, Lancaster county, engaged in several lines of industry. Mr. Diem deserves special credit for the unusual success he achieved, as he commenced life with no financial assistance and he is a self-made man in the truest sense of that often misused term.
Our subject is a native of this county, born April 6, 1842 in Salisbury township and is of German descent in the paternal line, his grandfather John Diem having been born in Germany. The latter married Hannah Kennedy, a native of Lancaster county. William Diem, father of John K. was born in Lancaster county, and here passed his entire life, dying in Salisbury township in 1880 at the age of seventy-two. He was a shoemaker by occupation. He married Maria Moyer, also a native of Lancaster county, who died in 1890, aged seventy-eight years, and both rest in the Pequea Church cemetery in Salisbury township. Their religious connection was with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Diem was one of the respected men in his community, and was active in local affairs, serving as township assessor. Of his children, Catherine married Daniel d. Warfel, and lives in Salisbury township; Elizabeth, of Philadelphia, Pa., is the widow of James Ayres; Mary, Mrs. David Kurtz, is deceased; John K. is mentioned more fully below; Ellen, Mrs. Foreman resides in Lancaster; Hannah is the wife of Edward Ranck, of Salisbury township; William is a contractor and builder in Chester county, this State; Hettie is the widow of William Cofroth, of Salisbury township; Bellmina lives in Philadelphia; Christian, a contractor and builder is a resident of Malvern, Chester county.
John K. Diem received his education in the common schools, and remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age, since when he has fought life's battles on his own account. Having served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade he followed same for a quarter of a century, from 1860 - 1885, in time taking up contracting and building. He also engaged in the undertaking business, conducting a large number of funeral in his locality. Meantime, in 1884, he added coal and lumber dealing to his other interests, and continued in that line until his retirement, ten years ago. Mr. Diem's patrons found him uniformly reliable and straightforward in every transaction, and this fact, taken into consideration along with a faculty for good management and sound judgment, accounts for the abundant success which rewarded him in all his undertakings. In the accumulation of comfortable competence he has retained the respect of all his associated, and he is passing his days among friends gained by years of upright living and devotion to duty. Mr. Diem owns a fine farm which his son cultivates. Since 1901 he has been engaged in the wholesale tobacco business, packing, etc. His strict attention to business has prevented him from taking any active part in public affairs beyond the casting of his vote, by which he usually supports the candidates of the Republican party.
Mr. Diem has been twice married His first union with Miss Margaret Parmer, was celebrated in 1863, Salisbury township, and was blessed with children as follows; 1. Alfred E., of Philadelphia, is an undertaker; he has married twice, first to Miss Susan Hoar, subsequently to Miss Phoebe Betz. 2. Henry W. is married and living in Wellville, Ohio, where he is foreman in the Pennsylvania Railway Shops. 3. John W., a butcher of Lancaster ,married Anna Bowermaster. 4. Mary A. is the wife of Ulysses Musser, of East Lampeter twp. 5. Walter s. married and living Gordonville, is a cigar box manufacturer. 6. Edgar E. a farmer of Leacock township, married Carrie Mowery. 7. Margaret married Amos Brubaker, a farmer of Upper Leacock township. 8 Emma is the wife of Jesse Bowermaster, of Lancaster 9. Susie married Daniel Bork, a boot and shoe merchant of Lancaster. 10 Annie E. married Milton Woodward, of Coatesville, Chester county. the mother died in 1881, aged37 and was buried in Leacock Cemetery. She was born in Earl township this county daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bowers) Parmer. In 1884 Mr. Diem married , in Upper Leacock township Miss Emma Bender, and they have had four children all still living at home.. Mrs. Emma Diem was born in 1854, in Upper Leacock township, a daughter of Kinzer D. Leah (Berkenbine) Bender.
Kinzer D. Bender first married Mary Weidler, and of the children born to this union, Franklin is a retired farmer, now making his home in Mechanicsburg; John, deceased, was a farmer of Upper Leacock township; Henry died young; Mary married Jacob Burkholder, of Upper Leacock township; and William K. is a resident of Strasburg. the second marriage of Mr. Bender was to Susan Weidler;; the sister to his first wife, and one son was born of this marriage. Weidler, who died when grown to maturity. The third marriage of Kinzer Bender was to Leah Berkenbine, and to them were born George, of Lancaster; Emma who married John K. Diem; Kinzer, of Upper Leacock township; Anna who married Edward Sutton a traveling agent; and Salome, deceased. The father died in September 1887 at the age of eighty-three years, and mother is still living in Lancaster City. She is a member of the Evangelical Church, as was also her husband.
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