Augustus J. Dienstel, 82, a resident of Noxen for 50 years and for many years an employee of the Albert Lewis Lumber Company, died last night at his home following an illness of complications.
Mr. Dienstel is survived by his widow and these children; Howard, proprietor of Greenstein's Pharmacy, city Amanadus, of Bridgeport, Ohio; Charles, of Allentown; Edward, of Irvington, NJ.; Mrs. Harry Crandall and Mrs. C.P. Crandall, both of Westerly, R.I; Mary of Detroit; Paul Dienstel, of Bridgeport, Ohio; Mrs. Joseph Sheehan, of Allentown, and Beulah, at home. He also leaves a brother, William, of Effort, and a sister, Mrs. Ay Biery, of Alderson.
The funeral will be held Monday afternoon with services at the home at 1 o'clock.

Unknown newspaper, will try to discover.

Thanks to Ollie for clipping the obit!

August John Dienstel was originally from Schoenlinde, what is now modern day Krasna Lipa, Czechoslovakia. He, his mother Rosalia (Rosa) Dienstel and sister, Philomena, (Minnie), departed from Hamburg, Germany on May 18, 1867. He was on the passenger manifest of the Borrusia as Gustav Dienstel, 6 years old with residence in Georgswalde. They arrived in the port of New York in 1867. They joined his father Gustav Dienstel, who had arrived the year before. The elder Gustave changed the spelling of his name to Dinstel, but Gus retained the original spelling.
Gus married Diana Serfoss on December 24, 1883 and they made their home beside Bowmans Creek. Gus build a large barn and two story house at a foothill. They dug a reservoir and ran pipe 250-300 yards so they had running water in the house. They never had electricity or telephone.
They raised their family near Noxen Township, Wyoming County and helped establish St Luke Lutheran Church. Most of the children attended school in Stull, 3 miles away. The family had a garden, orchard, meadow, livestock and did some farming. Woodrow, a grandson, recalled helping gather in hay and bathing in the creek.
Gus was quite, easy going and enjoyed a quiet pipe full of tobacco. Bobby, a grandson, recalls Gus sitting in his rocker with his feet up, reading the paper. He was especially anxious for news during the war. Bobby also said Gus couldn't see danger, once it was pointed out while picking blackberries, that he was standing on a rattle snake!
Lumber was a thriving industry in the area, most of his career involved some facet of that industry. He was a long time employee of the Albert Lewis Lumber Company.
On his daughter, Etta's marriage application, he is listed as having the occupation of foreman.
His house and barn still stand beside Bowmans Creek, but the orchard is just a few broken trees. On most documents, he is listed as being from Germany or Austria.

The following was written by August in 1927, after he was told he was not entitled to vote. They are his own words.

"I arrived in the United States when I was about 5 years old.
I left the home of my parents when I was 12 years old. When I was 21 years old, I was told my neighbors that I had a right to vote. When I went to the Registration Board or Board of Electors, I explained my case and they told me I had a right to vote and I therefore voted.
I continued to vote from my 21 or 22 birthday up until and including the year of 1938. When I went to vote in 1939 the election board raised the question and stated that I was not entitled to vote.
I served on a jury in Wyoming County Court about 20 years ago. I served as Supervisor of Roads in Noxen Township, Wyoming County Penna., I believe in 1915 or 1916.
I believe the reason they permitted me to vote the first time was because I was in the United States prior to my 18th birthday, and had a long period of residence.
I do not know whether my father became a citizen or not as I left home when I was 12 hears old." Augustus J. Dienstel

Thanks to Woodrow, Howard, Dale, Bob, Carroll and Adelaide, for help with material for the memorial.