Joseph
Dietz
A HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS By E. POLK
JOHNSON 1912 The Lewis Publishing Company
Transcribed by Kim Mohler
JOSEPH DIETZ-Campbell county is signally favored in the personnel of its executive officers
at the time of this writing, and one of the able and highly esteemed members of
the corps is Mr. Dietz, the efficient sheriff of the county and a valued
resident of the city of Newport.
Joseph Dietz was born in Newport, this county, on the 27th of May, 1861, and is
a son of Adam C and Mary L. (Schultz) Dietz, both of whom were born in Germany
and both of whom were children at the time of the emigration of the respective
families to the United States. Adam Christian Dietz has been one of the honored
citizens of Newport for many years, and here he and his wife still maintain
their home, being now of venerable age and having here resided since the time of
their marriage. Of their eleven children seven are now living, and the present
sheriff of Campbell county was the third in order of birth. Adam C. Dietz
devoted the major portion of his active career to the shoe business, and his
life has been characterized by sterling integrity of purpose and by well
directed industry. At the time of the Civil war he was unreservedly loyal to the
cause of the Union and made an attempt to enlist in its service but he was
rejected on account of being unable to pass the required physical examination.
Sheriff Dietz was reared to manhood in Newport, to whose public schools he is
indebted for his early educational training, which was limited in scope, as he
early assumed the practical responsibilities of life. At the age of twelve years
he secured employment in a shoe factory in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, on the
opposite shore of the Ohio river, and he continued to be thus engaged for
several years. At the age of twenty years he began work at the trade of
plasterer and lather, and to this vocation he gave his attention for a number of
years, working both in Kentucky and Ohio. In 1896 he was appointed a member of
the police force of Newport, and he continued in this department of the city
service for six years, during which he made an admirable record for
discrimination and efficiency.
Thereafter he continued in the work of his
trade until the autumn of 1909, when he was elected sheriff of Campbell county,
as candidate on the Republican ticket, and he assumed the duties of his office
in January 1910. He was elected for a term of four years, and his
administration of the office has well justified the selection for the exacting
and important position. Mr. Dietz is a member of the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics and also is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Honor.
Sheriff Dietz has been twice married. On the 10th of October, 1882, he wedded
Miss Caroline Rich, who was born and reared in the city of Cincinnati, and of
the four sons of this union three are now living – Charles, Harry and Earl. Mrs.
Dietz was summoned to the life eternal in 1898, and in 1900 Mr. Dietz was united
in marriage to Mrs. Cora Megerle, who was born in Covington and who has one son,
Charles, by her first marriage.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 12 January 1910, page 2
FIRST TRIP-Sheriff Dietz, notified Harry Donnelly, who is under sentence of 20 years for killing his wife at Ft Thomas last summer, to get ready to make the trip to Frankfort on Friday. This will be Sheriff Dietz's first trip to the State Penitentiary in his official capacity. Deputy Milius will accompany the Sheriff.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 1 July 1910, page 3
PAPERS-Rule papers issued by the Circuit Judge of Greenup co. were received by Coroner Digby of Campbell co. to be served on Sheriff Dietz to show cause why he has not served bench warrants on Ed Burton and Jack Shepherd, two men recently indicted by the Greenup Grand Jury for allegedly stealing brass castings in that county. The two men wanted are shanty boat people. Sheriff Dietz has made diligent search for the two men but has been unable to locate them.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 19 January 1911, page 3
OVERLOOK FIGHT-Sheriff Dietz and deputies failed to stop the Wuest-Flynn fight last night in a clubhouse on the Alexandria Pike, south of Newport.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 13 October, 1911, page 3
UNDECIDED-Sheriff Dietz is undecided as to his powers in the coming primary election, thanks to the defective loop holed enabling act providing for commission government. The Sheriff stated this morning as Chairman of the Election Commission he finds no authority delegated to him to appoint inspectors and challengers at the coming election.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 23 February 1925, page 2
NEWPORT MOOSE-Members will meet at Moose Temple this evening at 7:30 PM sharp and will proceed in a body to the late residence of our deceased brother, Joseph Dietz for services and to pay our last respects.