Edward Augustus Dinstel, Ed, was born December 23, 1895, to August John Dienstel, Gus, originally Gustave Johann, from Georgswalde, Lohmen prior to immigrating to Noxen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania; and Diana Serfass Dienstel, originally from Monroe County, Pennsylvania, prior to moving to Noxen, Wyoming, Pennsylvania. Ed was the ninth of seventeen children, nine boys and eight girls. Despite the many children, Ed held a special place in his mother's heart and he was always deeply attached to her.
He was raised in a home where mostly German was spoken. They made a living off the land and had running water, but few other conveniences. He walked, rode the train, used a bike that rode on the rail road tracks and used a pump trolley to get around. He worked as a ticket agent at the train station.
When the United States joined its allies in World War I on April 6, 1917, Ed enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on April, 9, 1917 in Philadelphia, PA, and was inducted April 23, 1917 in Wheeling, West Virginia. He was in the 43rd Company, 5th Regiment and was overseas from June 26, 1917 to August 8, 1919. During that time, he was in engagements in Toulon, Verdun Aisne, Chateau Thierry, Marbach, and Meuse-Argonne. He was also in the Army of Occupation. June 9, 1919, suffered from a mustard gas attack and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. He narrowly escaped death when shrapnel lodged in the Bible he carried in his breast pocket. The Bible have given him by Mrs. VanScoy prior to leaving home. If you look at the picture posted in his uniform, you will see a hole in the shirt pocket. He received honorable discharged with excellent character on August 13, 1919 at Quantico, Virginia.
In 1920, after returning to the United States, returned to working for the Lehigh Valley Railroad as a ticket agent. He advanced to working on the mail car with and was occasionally responsible for the station as well. He met Martha Maude Taft, Marce, and they married December 23, 1921. They kept their marriage a secret for a year and maintained separate residences. Martha did help him at the station, but she felt responsible to help her mother with her siblings and father. There was a train derailment in Ransom and several boxcars were abandoned. Ed bought the land beside the railroad and built a house from the wood of the boxcars. There he and Martha made their home. Their son, Woodrow Lejune Dinstel, was first born and later, a daughter, Marion Louise. During this time, Ed worked sorting mail in the mail car for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. In 1927, Ed attended a veterans reunion in Paris, France, with a trip to Belgium included. In 1937, Ed and his family moved to Newark, Essex, New Jersey, where Ed took a job with the U.S. Mail Service. He worked on (it is thought) the New York Central, sorting mail. He would work 1 or 2 weeks away from home, sleeping in towns on the mail route, and then one week at home. He carried a side arm, but it is thought he never had occasion to use it. Once a year, Ed was tested on the locations of towns. He had cards with the name of the town on one side and location on the other, is daughter, Marion, would help him study. Additionally, he worked at the old Newark airport sorting mail on the ground. About 1940, the family moved to Irvington, Essex, New Jersey. Both children attended Irvington schools. During the time in Irvington, Ed and Martha had a backyard garden and produced beautiful vegetables. In 1943, Ed accompanied Woodrow to St Bonaventure, Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, where Woodrow would be attending classes.
I believe it was the time span between 1940 and 1960, when Ed was on his week off, he would return to his parents homestead to help them and Beulah with whatever needed to be done. He was also reported to have visited and helped Nell and Lillian with work and painting. He was a faithful and loyal son and brother.
On two different occasions, Ed was struck by a car while crossing the street, he required surgery and rehab in the VA hospital. After the second accident, Ed was not able to walk without great effort, so he retired. As time went on, he was able to become mobile and used orthopedic shoes to aid in walking.After retirement, he and Martha, moved to Toms River, Ocean County, NJ. They had expected Martha's sister Thelma Louise Beaudry and her husband Al to move with them, but Al died unexpectedly and Thelma moved instead to Keyport, NJ. Ed did have a garden and among other things, grew strawberries. The time in Toms River was a challenge for non-drivers, but the remained for several years. In 1960, Ed visited Woodrow and family in Caracas, Venezuela. He visited the country side, attended his grandson's birthday party and rode on the Ferrocarriles Nacionales. Starting in 1965, Ed and Martha spend a month each year with Woodrow and his family. He always wanted a project on which to work, painting, raking pine needles etc. He enjoyed the working and sitting outdoors. Many times, he was seen lying in the back yard during his annual visit to Woodrow's, resting and soaking up sun. More than once, neighbors called his daughter-in-law, Ruth Ray, who Ed and Martha called Ruth, and reported her father-in-law was lying on the ground, they were worried he had collapsed. Ruth Ray always tried to have his favorite food during his visit, also she always made him a fruit cake. Once, she couldn't find Citron, but made the fruit cake anyway. She asked how he liked the fruit cake, he said it was good, "but it didn't have any Citron" in it! On one occasion he asked Ruth Ray if he liked the way he trimmed up the Magnolia. To her horror, the limbs she had been babying and propping up were gone!Toms River did not have the conveniences needed by non-drivers and as they became unable to walk to the bus, they moved to Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, to be close to their daughter, Marion. They were there until his death.He had graveside services and was buried beside his father-in-law, William James Taft, at the Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, Union County, New Jersey.

Things I remember Grandaddy loving, his family, gardening, reading the paper, eating good food, seeing something new, playing dominoes, and closing his eyes and turning his face to the sun.

Thank you to Aunt Marion, Ray and Bobby with material for bio.

The Monitor

Noxen Lad Goes Over Top Twice

The following interesting letter was recently received by Howard Dinstel of Kingston, pharmacist at Greenstein's drug store, at 201 East Market Street, this city, from his brother, Edward, who enlisted in the United States Marines at Wheeling, W. Va., and has been in service in France nearly a year. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Dinstel, of Dinstel, near Noxen, and greatly likes the life of the Marines:
"Somewhere in France, June 18, 1918. Dear Brother Howard: Just recently back from the front and am now able to tell you a little of open warfare. I tell you it was two weeks of hell all right. The artillery fire is something fierce, but it is worse for the Boches, for our fire is superior to theirs. There is not much protection from artillery fire in open warfare and the death toll is quite heavy. I had some narrow escapes. It is always necessary to dig some shelter, but sometimes we do not have the time, before the battle is on. I had my rifle broken y a shrapnel shot and was almost completely buried with dirt from the exploding shell.
The high explosive shells make a tremendous noise when they explode, and when well directed there is no possible chance for escape. The Bosches threw many gas shells into out line. It is hard to determine which are gas shells, so it is best to wear gas masks when a shelling is going on. Well Howard, we went over the top twice, and each time gained our objective. In each case it was in a section of woods. We feel confident in attacking the Boches, because our artillery preparations are always excellent. The Boches rely on their machine guns and use them very effectively. But once you get by their machine gun barrage it is all up with them. We did not have any hand to hand fighting, but we captured a number of prisoners, who were a sorry looking bunch - under fed, but well clothed.
I wish you could see the bread that the Germans get served from their commissary. It is very dark in color and tastes no better than moldy horse feed. Some of our fellows ate and I also tried to, but despite the fact that I was awfully hungry, was unable to stomach it. It is hard times to get water and rations up to the front line, and we were without a warm meal for over two weeks.
I got a dandy gold wrist watch from a Boche prisoner for granting a few favors to him and will send it the first chance I get. Wish you would have it cleaned and repaired and use it if you wish. Of course, the watch will be mine when I return home. It is a good watch and I think it is a French manufacture. It was evidently secured by some Boche while looting some French home. I was offered 120 francs for it by our lieutenant, but I thought I would rather keep it as a souvenir.
Funny things happen in attacks. Sometimes a few are nearly surrounded by Boches and the case looks hopeless. All of a sudden you gain the advantage and the Boches disappear in some way. I tell you that is some relief on a fellow's nerves when the attack is over, but you hanker for more. At times I didn't consider my life, worth two cents, with bullets from machine guns whizzing all around and shrapnel shells bursting in the air. Thank God each time I had good fortune to get through all right. I think my good luck in such tight places was an answer to mother's prayers and I go through it all as a God fearing man and soldier. Hope to hear from you soon. Am well and feeling fine. Love and best wishes to all. Your brother, Edward Dinstel, 43rd. Co., 5th Regt. U.S. Marines, American Expeditionary Force, in France via New York."