Introduction
Christopher L. Dietz
CHRISTOPHER LUDWIG FRIEDRICH HEINRICH DIETZ, known best in his time simply as Christopher L. Dietz was born in Germany, in what was then the Kingdom of Wurttemberg. The 1900 Census states that he was born in February of 1839, which is consistent with what was written in his obituary, however it should be noted that the 1880 Census gives the year 1841 as the time of his birth. The 1900 census also indicates that he came to America in 1865 and over time was naturalized as an American citizen.
The 1870 Census shows Christopher Dietz living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife Helen and a daughter, Catherine “Kate” Dietz, aged 3. Two sons were subsequently born, George, in 1870, and John, in 1871. Sadly, Helen Dietz passed away during the 1870s. In 1885 Christopher Dietz remarried. His second wife, Margaret, bore five children, Louis (1876–1882), Frederick (1878–1879), Caroline, William, and George Henry.
When the Census was taken in 1880, Christopher Dietz was living at 272 Susquehanna Avenue in Philadelphia with his second wife Margaret, daughter Catherine, and two sons, John, 9, and Louis 4. Christopher Dietz operating a lager beer saloon. City Directories show him at that address from 1877 through 1881. The 1882 Directory shows him operating a cigar store at 2239 Germantown Avenue. Directories from 1885 through 1888 have him at 2510 Kensington Avenue, operating a lager beer saloon. He then moved to 160 Lehigh Avenue, where he ran a restaurant specializing in oysters from 1889 into 1891, before moving to New Jersey.
Christopher L. Dietz came to what is now known as the Cramer Hill section of Camden by the time the 1892 Camden City Directory was being compiled. This neighborhood and what is now referred to as East Camden then comprised the town of Stockton, which was annexed by Camden in the Spring of 1899.
Christopher L. Dietz first appears in the Camden City Directories in 1892, as the proprietor of the Union Hotel, at Union Street and River Road. Union Street was renamed North 26th Street after the annexation, and River Road was renamed River Avenue, although to this day most people call this thoroughfare River Road. This building was given the street address of 948 North 26th Street after the annexation as well.
In 1893 Christopher L. Dietz moved one block, to the corner of River Road and Fulton Street (present-day 1001 North 25th Street), where he founded the Crescent Bottling Company. His daughter Catherine and her husband, Valentine Doerr Jr., who had come to Camden around the same time, stayed at the Union Street and River Road house, where they operated a retail business selling cigars and “notions” until 1898, when Doerr was granted a retail liquor license. Sadly, Valentine Doerr Jr. passed away on October 10, 1899, leaving his widow and young children.
Shortly before the 1896 City Directory was compiled, Christopher L. Dietz hired John Schimpf to work as a driver for at the Crescent Bottling Company. John Schimpf eventually took over management and ownership of the business, which is still at the same location, albeit in a more modern building, in 2013.
Christopher L. Dietz passed away on September 1, 1900 at the age of 61. He was buried in Philadelphia at Glenwood Cemetery, and later was re-interred at Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Broomall, Pennsylvania. Christopher L. Dietz had been a member of the Germania Maennerchor Society, the German-American Beneficial Society, and the German Quartette Club.
C. L. Dietz, Union Hotel
Camden City Directory — 1892
Named: Camden City Directory, 1892, and Christopher L. Dietz.
To Arrest Drink Sellers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
To Arrest Drink Sellers
Stockton Township Law and Order Men Again on the War-path.
The Stockton Township Law and Order Society, which made war last season on a number of saloon-keepers for selling on Sunday, and who succeeded in having them indicted, is again on the war-path.
Their agents have been quietly at work, and as a result warrants were sworn out last night before Justice Miles for the arrest of the following saloon-keepers, charged with selling liquor on Sunday: Penrose Murphy, Thomas Tracy, John Hoosey, Anna M. Stierger, G. L. Dietz, John Rapp, M. Graetz, P. J. Murphy, Henry Andrews, Jacob Bendinger, Aug. Muench, H. G. Vennell, Louis Everly, Dorothy Stoeple and Rupert Stoeple.
Stockton News
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Stockton News
—While at work in the State street woolen mills, in Camden, yesterday, Robert Selah, of Stockton, had his right hand crushed in the machinery. He will lose four fingers.
—While driving on the river road yesterday, John Seigfried, of Riverside, fell underneath a wagon and had a leg broken and was otherwise badly injured. He was removed to his home.
—One thousand dollars was realized from the fair of the Citizens’ Fire Company, which closed last night. Chief Elfreth, of the Camden Fire Department, won a gold badge in a contest with Chief Welsh, of the Stockton department.
—After debating the license question until 10 o’clock last night, the following licenses were granted by the Town Council of Stockton.
fuss, Frederick Feil, John Hoosey, Moritz Gratz, Charles Voigt, Jacob Walz, Joseph Diehm, C. L. Dietz and Frank Powell; Second ward, Thomas O’Hara, Charles Kleemann, Jacob Schiller, Thomas Tracey, S. H. Long, John J. Trost, Mrs. Brown, Jacob Bendinger, William Denneller, August Muench, Gottlieb Eisener, John Costello; Third ward, Mrs. Rugart, Harry G. Vennell and Charles Mangold. Those refused are Louis Everly and William Cronmiller, both of the First ward. The resignation of Policeman Grantz was accepted, to take effect May 1.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
STOCKTON LIQUOR LICENSES
A Big Batch Granted and Remonstrances Turned Down.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: Frederick Feil, John Hoosey, Louis Everly, Jacob Walz, Charles Voigt, John G. Schramm, William Cronmiller, Moritz Gratz, George Doerfuss, Joseph R. Diehm, C. L. Diltz, Thomas O’Hara, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Thomas Tracy, G. B. Fox, Dora Andrews, George W. Spicks, Catharine Brown, William Deimeller, Jacob Bendinger, August Munich, John Costello, John J. Trost, G. Eisener, Fred Wolfinger, Mrs. Rugart, H. G. Vennell, Andrew Zane. J. Grunert was granted a wholesale license. The applications of Eseker Meeks and B. L. Buenzle were refused.
Eleven remonstrances had been filed by the Reform Association against saloon-keepers, but President Dudley said they had not been legally signed.
Stockton's Town Council
Philadelphia Inquirer —
STOCKTON'S TOWN COUNCIL
Number of Liquor Licenses Were Granted Last Night.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night the annual report of the town treasurer showed a balance on hand of $15,522.83. An ordinance was passed for the issuance of $10,000 bonds for general school improvements.
The following liquor licenses were granted: First ward, John G. Schramm, Walter W. Sellard, Monty Gratz, John Hoosey, George Doerfuss, Louis Everly, Joseph Diehm, C. L. Dietz, Jacob Walz, B. L. Buenzle, Captain Morris Hall.
Second ward, Gottlieb Jung, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Isaac Adams, George W. Spicks, Mrs. Andrews, Frederic Wolfinger, John J. Trost, Jacob Bendinger, August Muench, John Costello, Gotthard Elsner.
Third ward, Harry G. Vennell, Charles L. Zoeller, John Gallagher.
The application of Thomas Tracy and Frederick Lechleimer were refused, and the application of Mrs. Sell was laid over.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
STOCKTON LIQUOR LICENSES
Town Council Grants a Number of Applications
At a meeting of Stockton Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Geo. Doerfuss, Dorothy Feil, John G. Schramm, Louis Everly, B. L. Buenzle, Jacob Bauck, Valentine Doerr, B. J. Lyons, Thomas Tracey, Isaac H. Adams, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleeman, William Demuller, Gotthard Eisner, Jacob Bendinger, George W. Spieke, August Muench, John Costello, Dora Andrews, John Hafner, Charles T. Zoller, John J. Gallagher, Harry G. Vennel, Charles Mangold, Merritt Hall, John J. Trost, Frederick Wolfinger, Jacob Woly. C. L. Dietz and Frank Grunert were granted wholesale licenses.
Doerr — death notice
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DOERR.—On October 10, 1898, Valentine, Jr., husband of Catharine A. Doerr (nee Dietz), and son of Sophia and the late Valentine Doerr Sr., aged 38 years and 9 months. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Wednesday afternoon, October 12, at 2 o'clock, from his late residence, River road and Union street, Pavonia, North Cramer Hill, N. J. Interment at Glenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Stockton Council Acts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Stockton Council Acts
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council, last night, Town Attorney Jonas S. Miller announced that he had been granted a writ of certiorari in the afternoon from Supreme Court Justice Garrison, carrying the annexation question to the Supreme Court. It was decided to notify the Camden authorities to return all the furniture taken by the Camden police. The following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Front street and Cooper avenue; Oscar Scherer, Second street and Cooper avenue; Jacob Bauck, Cooper avenue and Cambridge street; John Costello, Town Hall Hotel; Julius Stienger, Nineteenth and Federal streets; Jacob Bendinger, Twenty-fourth and Federal streets; Merritt Hall, Pavonia Park; Charles Kleeman, Stockton Park; M. G. Vennell, Cooper and Penn avenues; William Denmeller, Federal, below Twenty-fourth street; C. F. Zoller, Cooper and Pleasant streets; John J. Gallagher, Twenty-eighth and Mitchel streets; William Walz, Union, above Fourth street; August Muench, Twenty-fifth and Federal streets; Pauline Everly, Second and Main streets. C. L. Dietz was granted a wholesale license and the wholesale license of Frank Grunert was laid over. The retail license of George Doerfuss, of Fourth and Main streets, was laid over.
The Camden city officials claim that the Stockton Town Council has no legal existence and if saloonkeepers sell under the town licenses they will be arrested.
Dietz — death notice
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DIETZ.—On September 1, 1900, Christopher L. Dietz, aged 61 years. Funeral services on Monday afternoon, September 3, at 2 o'clock, at No. 1001 North Twenty-fifth street Camden, East Side, formerly North Cramer Hill, N. J. The members of the German Maennerchor Society and the German-American Beneficial Society and the German Quartette Club, of Pavonia, are invited to attend. Interment at Glenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia. Remains can be seen Sunday evening after 8 o'clock.