DANIEL DIEFFENBACHER, retired farmer; P.O.Havana; was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1803, and is a son of Jacob and Christiana (Cotner) Dieftenbacher; the former was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Nov. 17, 1775, died Oct. 30, 1840; the latter was born in Lycoming Co., Penn.,Feb. 14, 1784, died Dec. 21, 1858. The subject of this sketch resided in the place of his nativity till the spring of 1827, when he moved to an adjoining county (Northumberland). He was married Jan. 18, 1827, to Miss Catharine Long, who was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Sept. 3, 1808. In 1833, he returned to the county of his nativity, and in the fall of 1837, removed to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, this county, where he engaged in farming the following spring. He served on the first grand jury after the organization of Mason Co., in 1841; was also School Director at an early date. He became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in the fall of 1839, at which time services were held in a log cabin. Their first preachor was the Rev. Michael Shunk. Mr. Dieffenbacher's wife died Nov. 4, 1860; they had nine children, six of whom are still living:  Christiana, wife of Thomas Covington, born Dec. 16, 1827, and resides in Havana; Dr. Philip L. (see sketch); Joseph M., born Jan. 25, 1836, resides at Ipava, Fulton Co., Ill.; Mary E., born Dec. 27, 1838, wife of Dr. Willing, lives at Bath; Sarah C., born Nov. 11, 1844, wife of Rufus Smith, resides in Kansas; Lorinda J., born March 4, 1848, wife of Cotner Weaver, resides in Pennsylvania. The following are the names of deceased : John P., born June 3, 1833, died Oct. 7,1834; Susan R., born Aug. 16, 1841, died April 11, 1877; Alice A., born July 9, 1851, died May 20, 1860. Mr. Dieftenbacher has disposed of his lands in Mason Co., but still owns a farm of 165 acres in Miami Co., Kansas.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer