Robert Henry Dihle

     Robert was born in Prussia on Sep 2, 1837.^2,3,4,5,6,7 His common name was RH.
     Robert immigrated, in 1857, to Detroit, Wayne Co, MI.^8,5,7
     Robert Henry Dihle was employed as a harness maker in 1857 in Detroit, Wayne Co, MI.⁹
     He was inducted into the military in Toledo, Lucas Co, OH, on May 28, 1858. He enlisted for a period of five years. He was assigned to Co. G 2nd Regiment of Infantry, under Lieut. Daniel W. Buck..¹⁰
     Robert reported for active duty in Fredericksburg, VA, on Dec 14, 1862. He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg in the left hip.^{11,10,12,13,9,14,2,5,15}
     He was released from active duty in Philadelphia, PA, on May 28, 1863.^14,10,5
     Robert was ill in Philadelphia, PA, on Dec 15, 1863. He was treated first in the hospital in Washington, DC, then at Chesnut Hill hospital in Philadelphia. He was in the hospital about five months..¹⁰
     He married Jane Glecker in Junction City, Geary Co, KS, on Jan 27, 1864. Rev. William Todd presided. The marriage was recorded in the probate court of Geary County, KS..^{3,14,4,16,5,10,7,17,18}
     Robert Henry Dihle was employed as a harness maker in 1864 in Salina, Saline Co, KS.^5,19,3
     A census listed Robert as head of household in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on May 10, 1865.²⁰
     Robert was a Masonic lodge member in Salina, Saline Co, KS, circa 1865.¹⁴
     Robert was a John A Logan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) member in Salina, Saline Co, KS, after Apr, 1866.^14,21,5,12
     He moved in 1866 to Salina, Saline Co, KS.⁵
     Robert was elected in Salina, Saline Co, KS, in 1868. He served as city trustee.⁵
     He petitioned the court to become a citizen in Saline Co, KS, on Sep 29, 1868.^22,23,7
     Robert was a ancient Order of United Workmen member in Salina, Saline Co, KS, after 1868.^14,24
     Robert was a Gypsum Hill Cemetery Association member in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on Mar 19, 1870. He was a director.²⁵
     Robert was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census in Salina, Saline Co, KS. R.H. was listed as a harness maker and saddler. Real estate value listed at $3500. Personal property valued at $500. Elizabeth Carpenter, age 23, is listed as a domestic servant living in the household. Henry C. Davis, 34, lives in the next house. His occupation is also listed as saddler and harness maker. An employee?.²⁶
     Robert was elected in Salina, Saline Co, KS, in 1871. He served as a city councilman.⁵
     He survived a fire on on Dec 24, 1871. The fire destroyed the harness shop, which had just received the new year's merchandise..^2,27
     Robert Henry Dihle was a founding member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, Mar 30, 1873, in Salina, Saline Co, KS.^2,3,14,28
     A census listed Robert as head of household in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on Mar 1, 1875.²⁹
     On April 11, 1877, RH bought 40 shares of capital stock of the Rosita Mining Company, located in Rosita, Colorado.³⁰
     Robert Henry Dihle was described as 5 feet, 5 inches, black hair, gray eyes, fair skin, age 39.
     On January 26, 1879, RH bought 35 shares of the capital stock of the Rosita Mining Company, located in Rosita, Colorado.³⁰
     Robert was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census in Salina, Saline Co, KS. RH's profession is listed as harness maker. The census lists two boarders, Louis Dreasin, 15, from Prussia, and Chas Cungham, 25, from Virginia. Both are listed as harness makers..³¹
     A census listed Robert as head of household in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on Jun 18, 1885.³²
     Robert was listed in a directory in 110 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, Saline Co, KS, in 1885. There were three other harness and saddlery businesses listed..³³
     He resided in Salina, Saline Co, KS, in 1885, in 137 North Eighth Street.³⁴
     Robert registered to vote in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on Mar 5, 1887.³⁵
     Robert was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census in 187 Eighth Street, Salina, Saline Co, KS. R.H. and George were working as harness makers, Ida was a dry goods clerk, Elsie was in school and Jane, Amelia and Josephine were not employed. They owned their own home, with no mortgage. Jane is listed as having had 10 children, eight still living, which appears to be a mistake..⁷
     He sold the Dihle saddle and harness business on shortly before May 1903.^5,36
     Robert died on May 15, 1903 in home, Salina, Saline Co, KS, at age 65. Complication of diseases.^14,4,5,6 He was buried on May 18, 1903 at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, in Salina, Saline Co, in KS.^6,37,13
     George Dihle filed an affidavit with the Probate Court stating that his father had died intestate and requesting to be named administrator of the estate, which was approved.³⁸ On Aug 3, 1903, George filed an affidavit stating that Jane Dihle had died intestate. He also filed a partial inventory of the account, listing payments for expenses for funeral, medical treatment, and other minor debts.³⁸ On May 24, 1904, George filed a final account with the probate court, demonstrating that Amelia Mercer, Amanda Redford and Josephine Hood (and their husbands) had relinquished all rights to the estate. He asserted that the shares in the Rosita Mining Company were worthless, but that the shares in Gypsum Hill Cemetery Association had value and were still paying dividends. The Gypsum Hill shares were divided among the remaining heirs, George Dihle, Ida Dihle, and Elsie Strickler.³⁸ On Jun 3, 1907, George returned to Probate Court to file papers stating that he had recently received money on behalf of the estate from Hermann Pluetz of Regenwalde Germany, and had distributed it to the three heirs of the estate, George Dihle, Ida Dihle, and Elsie Strickler.³⁸
     See the Dihle Family Bible .