DEITCH, Joseph

The Sentinel [Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana] of Tuesday said: “Joseph Deitch died yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock, aged eighty years and six months, of paralysis, at his residence, 85 N. Alabama St. Mr. Deitch was born in the village of Saarburg, department of the Loire, Alsace-Loraine. He came to this country in 1836, coming direct to Franklin, in this State. He was en­gaged in general merchandise pursuits in Franklin, also dealing in horses and mules. In 1864 he removed to this city, where he has ever since resided. During the war, Mr. Deitch, in connection with his brother, the late Felix Deitch, was largely engaged in buying horses and other supplies for the United States government. Mr. Deitch retired from ac­tive business several years ago. He leaves a wife but no children. The fun­eral will take place from his late resi­dence Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock.”

Mr. Deitch was well known here where he had many friends and rel­atives. He was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Samuel Deitch of this city. [Franklin]

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, December 15, 1893,
Volume XXXIV Number 23, page 4 column 2 & 3

JOSEPH DEITCH DEAD.

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A Large Fortune Found in His Room—
Mrs. Deitch Died Three Days
Later of Nervous Prostration.

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The death of Joseph Deitch was noticed in the last issue of this paper. Since then Mrs. Deitch has died and without making a will. On account of the peculiarities in the case and because Mr. Deitch was once a resident of this city and is closely connected here it is of much interest to persons living here. The News of Indianapolis says:

One of the extraordinary characters of the city passed away in the death of Joseph Deitch. Every hour brings to light something remarkable pertaining to his manner of life or his hoarded wealth. Mr. Deitch died Monday last, and the funeral took place Wednesday. The services were conducted by the Rev. Mayer Mesling, of the Market-street temple, Mr. Deitch being of the Jewish faith. Mrs. Susan Deitch, his widow, who has been in feeble health for some time, died Thursday night, at 9:40, the immediate cause of her death being pneumonia, brought about by attending upon her husband during his illness. Her funeral took place at the family home, 85 North Alabama Street, Sunday at 2 p.m. Mrs. Deitch had been for many years a member of the Roberts Park church, and her funeral services were conducted by the Rev. T. I. Coultas.

The discovery of $94,000 in gold and paper money in a little safe at Deitch’s home have given credibility to the story that Deitch was looked upon as a miser, but no one except relatives supposed that his accumulations were kept at his home, as he was a weak and timid old man, with a great fear of thieves and burglars. It seemed, however, that his fear of burglars was exceeded by his mistrust of banks, and with a secrecy that admitted of not one single con­fident, he kept his money at home. There was no suspicion that the old brick house where he lived contained such treasure. The house is a two-story, drab-colored brick, which is set well back in the yard. It was built over thirty years ago by Henry Schnull, who, for some time, occupied it. The house is plainly furnished, and is a comfortable dwelling place.

Mr. Deitch was born in Saarsbrueck [sic], Rhine Province, Prussia. His family for generations had been stock traders, and to this day the survivors there are engaged in trading in horses and vehicles. He was first associated in this country with his brother, Felix Dietch, in southern Indiana, selling small merchandise from wagons. About forty years ago they went to Franklin and opened a merchandise store, and soon after bought a great many horses and mules which were in demand for the army. In this the brothers made a great deal of money. In 1864 they came to this city and opened a wholesale liquor and grocery store in West Wash­ington Street. They soon abandoned this business and both became traders in horses and vehicles. Nearly twenty years ago Joseph Deitch retired and spent the remainder of his life in caring for and increasing his fortune.

Deitch was a well-known figure. Until within the last year he was hale, and attended easily to the ordinary affairs that came before him. He was bent and wrinkled, but had a clear eye and good mind. His hair was gray and his complexion olive, like that of an Italian. He drove about in an old-fashioned, high-spring buggy. He was companionable and was one of a crowd of old men that included George An­derson, John Stearns and Felix Deitch, famous for their peanuckle [sic] and seven-up games. It was the custom to let Joseph Deitch win, for if he did not win, the others would be treated to a scene. When beaten it was his custom to destroy the cards. He was well known to marketers.

No one knew how much he had. His relatives believed that he might have either $50,000 or $300,000. The sur­vival of her husband by four days by Mrs. Deitch will enrich a number of her relatives. Under the will of Deitch she receives one-third of all his personal property and all his real estate in fee simple. Deitch returned for taxation this year $29,000 in personal property and his real estate was taxed at $8,000. The exact amount of money found at the house was $94,166 in cash and $14,000 in notes. This would make the total value of the estate $116,000. Mrs. Deitch would receive $36,000 as her third of the personal estate and all of the real estate. After all the bequests have been paid and the estate admin­istered, the residue is to be paid to Mrs. Deitch’s estate, and it is believed that this will give a total of about $50,000 to her. As she died without leaving a will, this estate will pass to her rela­tives. It is understood that someone, not a relative of either Mr. or Mrs. Deitch, will be asked to administer the wife’s estate.

As soon as the money was discovered, it was decided to take it to a place of safety, and it was carried over to Fletcher’s Bank. It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon when D. W. Howe, John A. Finch, Gil Deitch, and relatives of the dead man went into the bank and requested that the money be counted. They were told that the em­ployees were busy at that hour, but an hour later would take up the work. At 5 o’clock the count began. Stroughton Fletcher, perched on a high stool, super­intended the proceedings. Two of the bank’s most expert clerks did the work, and their fingers fairly flew for two hours, when they announced that the total amount of cash was $94,000.

For many years the story has been prevalent in Jewish circles that Deitch might not be a man. This story was made the subject of conversation at Fletcher’s Bank between two lawyers while the $94,000 was being counted. The speculation arose whether, if Deitch were not a man, Susan Deitch could inherit, since a woman or part of a woman could not have a wife. One of the lawyers held that if the story were true, there would be a pretty suit at law, as his heirs would have grounds for contesting the will. The dispute was ended by a relative vouchsafing the in­formation that when the body was prepared for burial, Dr. Maxwell and other physicians had made an examin­ation and it was positively established that there was no truth in the current supposition.

Mrs. Effie Strickler Stokes, niece of Mrs. Susan Deitch, spoke freely con­cerning her aunt and uncle. “I do not think my aunt left any will,” said Mrs. Stokes, “and if this is true, her property will be divided among her four brothers and two sisters. These are John W. Strickler, my father, who is in the real estate business at Guthrie, Okla., Henry Strickler, a retired merchant at Franklin; George and Martin Strickler, farmers near Boggstown; Mrs. James Donnelly and Mrs. James Wilson, of Shelby county. My mother died sixteen years ago, when I was nine years old, and I then came to live with my Aunt Susan. I lived with them until May 18, 1893, when I married John W. Stokes, who clerks at G. W. Sloan’s drug store. We then went into our own home, Mr. Stock’s property, No. 140 East New York Street. They both treated me with great kindness, both before and since my marriage, and I do not know why after remembering me in his will, he should have cut me off by the codicil. Uncle remembered us with presents when we were married, and since my marriage I have visited my aunt and uncle every week and have always been cordially welcomed by them. My aunt was sixty-one years old last September. She was married forty-six years ago, when she was sixteen years old. She lived then near Boggstown, and uncle was a merchant at Franklin. They were very close and saving people. They both had a passion for bargains and bought everything cheap.”

He took great interest in politics, but was never known to contribute for any political purpose. He was a bitter demo­crat, and could be provoked into a political wrangle on a street corner at any time and with the least effort. This weakness of the old man was often taken advantage of by republicans, who seemed to get a great amount of sport out of it

Link to Joseph Deitch’s grave

Notes: Mr. Deitch and his wife were originally buried at Crown Hill Cemetery but the records show that they were removed on 18 April 1894.
The Marion County Indiana WPA Death Index, 1882–1920, records that Joseph Deitch, an eighty-year-old white male, died 4 Dec 1893 in Indianapolis.

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry