I was contacted recently by David Bergeron, curator for the National Currency Collection. He is working on the Betts Cove Mining Company’s currency for an upcoming publication and was curious about my findings on the Little Bay script. In looking over the notes I noticed a signature on one of them for a name which I recognized but had not yet worked on. It was signed by J.P. Diem, Little Bay mine’s cashier. I decided to compile my references for Mr. Diem to narrow in on his time in town but it lead me to an interesting discovery and changed my date for the last Germans to leave town.
Jacob P. Diem (1836-1919) was the cashier for the mining company in Little Bay. He was born in Germany to Matthias and Rosa Diem in 1836. He was married three times. His first marriage took place in Paris in 1867. His second marriage took place in Nova Scotia in 1875. His third marriage took place in Little Bay in 1889. I can first place him in Little Bay in 1884, however, I suspect he arrived earlier. His name is not present on the Voter’s List for either 1882 or 1889 but I know he was in town in 1889 so his absence from the 1882 list does not exclude his presence. I’d guess he just didn’t vote. His German origin, previous residence in Nova Scotia, and eventual move to New York all hint to the Diem family belonging to the migrating Germans rescued by Baron Ellershausen. The likely chain of events is that he and his family were involved in the shipwreck off Nova Scotia while immigrating to the United States, subsequently given a home and community at Ellershouse, Nova Scotia by the Baron, next relocated to Betts Cove, Newfoundland following the Baron’s early mining operations, before finally arriving at Little Bay at the very start of the town in 1878 with the other German mine management. The latest date I can place Mr. Diem in Little Bay is 1890 but I suspect the Diems stayed until their immigration to New York which was in 1892. Either way this moves the date of the final German departure from town and makes Jacob P. Diem the last known German to leave Little Bay – a position previously held by Mr. Hacker who departed in 1887. The Diems can be found living in Brooklyn, New York in the city directory and census list with J.P. Diem working as a bookkeeper. Mr. Diem died on May 17th 1919 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
You’ll find my Diem references listed chronologically below with sources. Thanks go to Milt Anstey for his help on this one. As always I request that if this reaches the descendants of Jacob P. Diem please make contact via the Facebook page. I’d welcome any Little Bay sources you might have and would love to find a picture of this man. I’ve included the image known as “Payday at the Mine” as the cashier is likely one of the men photographed there but I’ve no way to know which of them is Mr. Diem.
- Mr. Diem appointed as trustee on behalf of the Presbytery (Moncrief)
- Mrs. Diem was on the Fancy Fair committee (1885, June 13 – TS)
- Cashier J. P. Diem is recognized as a valuable servant who is always at post on time (1885, Sept 26 – ET)
- Mr. Diem was spokesman at the address to Mr. Wallace (1885, Oct 15 – ET)
- Mrs. Diem tied with Mrs. Richards for best table at the bazaar (1885, Oct 20 – ET)
- Mr. Peyton charged a road order to Mrs. J. P. Dinn at the bazaar (1885, Dec 16 – Wells journals)
- Mr. Jacob Dinn charged Postmaster Walsh with assault and battery (1885, Dec 21 – Wells journals)
- J.P. Diem listed under Rev. Clift’s debts (Lind ledger)
- Mr. Diem listed under Church of England Day School’s debts for works of glass (Lind ledger)
- Jacob P. Diem had Postmaster Walsh arrested for battery (1886, March 6 – TS)
- Mr. Diem wrote a letter supporting Mr. Morris as school master (Diem letter)
- Diem listed under Rev. Clift’s debts (Lind ledger)
- Death of Mrs. Diem age 35 years (1888, Jan 3 – Lind journals)
- Death of Mary Ann Diem wife of Jacob P. Diem (Anglican graves)
- Burial of Mrs. Diem (1888, Jan 6 – Lind journals)
- Mrs. Diem died after a short illness and had a large funeral (1888, Jan 21 – TS)
- Mr. Diem left on the Conscript for St. John’s (1888, July 12 – Lind journals)
- Mr. Diem arrived from St. John’s on the Ranger (1888, July 20 – Lind journals)
- Mr. Diem read an address to visiting Governor Blake (1888, Aug 18 – TS)
- Mr. Diem left on the Glendale for Montreal (1888, Aug 20 – Lind journals)
- F. C. Diem arrived from Cow Bay on the Glendale (1888, Sept 9 – Lind journals)
- Young Mr. Diem and several others took a trip to Montreal (1888, Sept 15 – TS)
1889
- J. P. Diem married Priscilla Gould of St. John’s (1889, Jan 17 – ET)
- Ada and Ernest Diem performed at the Church of England schoolhouse concert (1889, March 23 – TS)
- Mrs. and miss Diem traveled by steamer (1889, May 7 – ET)
- Mrs. Diem had a son (1889, Nov 19 – ET)
- Diem children performed at a concert (1889, Dec 21 – TS)
1890
- F. C. Diem was a member of the Little Bay Terra Nova club for billiards and reading room (1890, Jan 7 – ET)
- Mr. Burgess presented a petition signed by Mr. Diem to the Legislative assembly (1890, March 29 – ET)
- J.P. Diem signed a petition for a public wharf (1890, June 20 – HGS)
- Mrs. Diem took a trip on the Conscript (1890, June 21 – TS)
- Legislative assembly responds to public wharf petition signed by Mr. Diem (1890, Oct 25 – TS)