Frederick Diffenbacker/Dieffenbacher (1807-1866)

DIFFENBACKER, DIEFFENBACHER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/10/2017 at 20:50:46

From Nevada Representative September 26, 1906 (front page)

Pioneer Department

A Pioneer's Death.

The Aegis reports the death of Frederick Diffenbacker as having occurred on September 10, 1866. The deceased was the ancestor of all the Diffenbackers that have been known in this section, and both on this account and for that of his family he was a prominent figure of the pioneer days. The farm which he opened in northeast of the poor farm and is one of the best known farms near Nevada. He received more of an obituary notice than appears to have been usual with the paper at that time; and we are led to think that perhaps as a rule the editor might be said not to have been schooled in the matter of writing obituaries because of the comparatively few deaths that had yet occurred among the men and women of youth and early middle age who for the most part were settlers in this new territory. At any rate this obituary seems worthy of notice, and we quote from it as follows:

"The deceased was born October 16, 1807, and hence was nearly 59 years of age. Mr. Diffenbacker was a native of Pennsylvania, where he spent the greater part of his life. His first removal west was to Illinois, where he remained some years before coming to this state. Inheriting a good constitution, steady in his habits and diligent in business, he was always found at work, in which he was generally successful. The farm he opened up amid the wildness of the prairie and made so homelike in so short a time is proof both of his industry and success. He was just prepared as he thought to retire from active labor and spend the evening of life amid the shade of a home, which his own labor and toil had provided. * * * He was one of the eleven original members who untied in organizing the Central Presbyterian church in this place. He leaves a wide circle of friends to mourn his loss, and his is the first vacant chair in a large family, all of whom are grown up. His funeral services were on Tuesday and attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. The services were held in the room where the congregation of which he was a member usually worships. And the sermon by his pastor, Rev. I. Reid, was from I Corinthians, 15, 26. His remains lie in the cemetery on a family lot purchased but a few months before his death.