California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


AUGUST DIEL. � A fine example of the successful merchant is August 
Diel of Fresno, who was born in Skadofsky, Samara, Russia, on September 
24, 1866. His father, Henry Diel. was a farmer who died there ; while his 
mother, who was Mary Schwabenland before her marriage, came to Fresno 
with August Diel, and died here. She was the mother of four boys and a girl; 
of these, the four sons grew up and two are now living. 

August Diel is the only one in the United States, for two brothers, Henry 
and Frederick D., who came to Fresno, died here. The second eldest, August 
Diel grew up on a farm and attended the common schools, after which he did 
military service, enlisting when twenty-one in the Russian Infantry and serv- 
ing there four years. He thus saw service at Sebastopol. and received at the 
end an honorable discharge. He was married to Miss Louise Karle, also a 
native of the same district ; and followed farming for some time in his native 
land. 

In 1899 Mr. Diel came to Fresno, and soon after helped take out the horse 
line. He also helped build the first electric car line here, a task of several 
years. Then he worked at ranching, with the same degree of success. 

In partnership with his brother Henry, Mr. Diel formed the firm of Diel 
Brothers and they had a store on South F Street until the brother died, in 
1912, when he bought out his interest and continued there until 1915. Then 
he purchased the corner at Kirk Street and Florence Avenue, and built his 
present store building. He also built a residence. He opened his store with 
a fine stock of general merchandise, such as dry goods, boots, shoes, hard- 
ware, groceries and meats, and the standard he then set he has ever since 
maintained. He is a Republican in national politics, and an ex-trustee of the 
Free Evangelical Lutheran Cross Church. 

Nine children blessed the union of this happy couple, and eight are now 
living. Henry was a member of Company B of the Third Oregon Infantry, 
and served on the border during the Mexican trouble. He returned to Fresno 
and was honorably discharged. On July 16, 1917, he enlisted in the First Cal- 
ifornia Machine Gun Troop, and was at Camp Kearney six months and then 
at Camp Johnson three months. He was stationed in Philadelphia four 
months, and then sent to the Central C. O. T. S. at Camp Lee, Va ; and when 
the armistice was signed, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, and was 
honorably discharged.