Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/650

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES and his w ife are natives o f Pennsylvania. T w o children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Meredith, M ary E y e r and Em ily E ., the latter dying when six years old. Dr. Meredith is a member o f Christ (M em orial) Church of Danville. He is a Kcpublican in politics.

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gram m ar school, where he w as engaged until 19 0 1. A t the same time he p u rs u ^ a course o f study at the Bloomsburg State normal school, completing same in 1898. H e then did some post-graduate work at that insti­ tution and sub^quetuly did special work at Grove C ity (/ollege. In 19 0 1 he w as elected professor o f science and mathematics in the Danville high school. H e held that position until 1907, in which year he was elected super­ intendent of the Danville public schools, and assumed the duties o f that office, which he has held continuously since. H e is a member of the Pennsylvania State Educational Associa­ tion, the E ast Central Pennsylvania Round Table Conference, chaim ian of the examining Iward for permanent State certificates in the Eighteenth district, and his efficient work in every capacity has won him the confidence and cooperation o f all concerned in the wel­ fare o f public education in this locality. F ra ­ ternally he is a member o f Mahoning Ixidge, No. 5 16, F . & A . M ., and an G d d Fellow, On Ju n e 10, i8oo, M r. Dieffcnbacher m ar­ ried M ary Kattliiian, o f Lewisburg, Pa., daughter o f Robert and Arm inta Kaufm an, farm ing ^ p l c. She died Sept. 8, 1 8 ^, the mother o f one child, Gordon I ^ l i e, bom Ju n e 27, 1892. On Aug. 29. 1894. M r. Dieffen­ bachcr married M argaret A. Fliillips, o f Dan­ ville, daughter o f Joseph Reese and M ary (A lleger) Phillips, the form er a boss in the Duddhng mill of the Reading Iron W orks; Mr. Phillips was also a justice of the peace, serving in that capacity many years. T w o children have been bom to -Mr. and M rs. Dieffenbachcr: Thelm a Viola. Oct. 2 3, 1900, and Paul Nevin, Sept. 27, 1906. M r. and M rs. Dieffenbachcr are active mem­ bers o f Shiloh Reform ed Church, o f which he has been deacon for the last fourteen years. H e served as church organist fo r eight years, and has been superintendent o f (he Sunday school fo r a number o f years. A ll his life he has been deeply interested in church work and (he furtherance u f religious pro­ jects, and his labors in that line since com­ ing to Danville have been greatly appreciated. H is success as an educator and in his pres­ ent ]K)sition as superintendent has brought him in contact with citizens o f all classes in the community, and he is universally re­ spected, Politically he gives his support to the Democratic party.

D A N IE L N O R M A N D IE F F E N B A C H E R, present superintendent of the public schools at Danville, has been engaged in pub­ lic school work here since i8 ^ > as teacher and superintendent. l i e w as bom Ja n. 28, 1863, at Washingtonvillc, Montour county, son o f Benjamin S. Dieffenbachcr and grand­ son of Conrad Dicffenbacher. 'Fhe grcatgreat-grandfather, Conrad, was a native of (.iermany, bom M arch i, 1745, and on com­ ing to this country took up land at Wash­ ingtonville. near Straw berry R id g e; he was a fam icr by occu|>ation. I lis death occurred A u g. 6, 18 13 . H is w ife, Catherine, whom he m arried Ja n . 30. 1769, died Ja n . 3, 1809. Philip Dicffenbacher, son o f Conrad, died M arch 25, (840, aged six ^ -tw o years, one month, twenty-two days. H is w ife, Rosanna, bom (Jkt. 13, 1782. died Sept. 16, 1869. Conrad Dicffenbacher, son o f I’hilip, died Oct. I I, 1884, aged seventy-eight years, seven months, ten days. H is w ife, Catherine, died M arch 19, i 860, aged fifty-three years, eight months, eleven days. Benjamin S . Dicffenbacher, son o f Con­ rad. was bom in Montour county. H e learned the trade o f wheelwright, which he followed fo r fifteen years, thereafter engaging in farm ­ ing to the close o f his active life. He is now living retired. M r. Dieffenbachcr has been a useful citizen and has served his fellow men efficiently in various capacities, holding the office o f road supervisor for eight years, and also serving as member of the town council and school board o f Washingtonville. H is w ife . M aigarct E . (B e r g e r ), w as also a native o f Montour county. Sh e died in i«/30. and is buried at Straw berry Kidge. Mrs. Dieffen­ bachcr. like her husliand, M on ged to the Refom icd Church, which he has scrt'ed as elder and deacon; in politics he is a Republican. The- had children as follow s besides Daniel N. W i l l i a m C ., Lctiic, Cora, Margaret, Ijtu ra, C arrie. David and Irma. Daniel Norman Dicffenbacher received his early education in the public schools of the home locality, later taking a course at the M illville .Seminary, which he finished in 1884. A fte r teaching several years in country D A V ID C. W IL I,IA M S. member of the school, he came to Danville in tSoo to take the board o f commissioners and ex-sheriff of pasition o f princi|Kil of the Second ward Montuur county, now a resident o f Danville, SI