William Frederick Diehl was an American, born in Buffalo, New York to Adam and Henrietta (Buruloft) on September 7, 1850. In 1875 he came to Canada and settled near the present site of Marcelin in 1877. In the early 1880’s, he moved to the Carlton area where became a very successful farmer and rancher. At the time of the North-West rebellion, his ranching headquarters were at Five Mile Gully and his settlement was situated near a creek named after him, Diehl’s Creek. He had a home, corrals, wells, outbuildings and about 40 head of cattle.
In 1885 William became a scout for the British army. Colonel Irvine had been battling against Louis Riel and Metis rebels who had several grievances with the Canadian government and John A. MacDonald. William had many thrilling days and nights when he scouted and carried dispatches between Prince Albert, Battleford and the army camps. He rode through rebel lines and camps on venturesome night errands.
On May 14, 1885, two days after a battle on the South Saskatchewan River opposite Batoche, William and two other of Colonel Irvine’s scouts were riding along the river and came upon Louis Riel and 4 others of the Metis army. Riel and his men surrendered and were taken back to the British army camp.
William continued farming and ranching on his farm in the Carlton district. He also owned a butcher shop in Prince Albert.
Martha Lucilla Musgrove was born at Gorey, Huron County, Ontario on April 15, 1867. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas Musgrove and Ellen Walker, both born in Ireland. Lucilla came West with some friends and found work in a tailor shop in Prince Albert.
It was in this shop that Martha and William met. On September 8, 1886 they were married in Prince Albert. She was 19 and he was 36.
William and Martha had their first child, Frederick Adam in Prince Albert. Their second child, Flora Ada was born at Carlton Fort.
In 1890 the family settled on the Thickwood Hills Ranch of the Moon Hills District of Marcelin. William and Martha had 12 children:
Frederick Adam, born October 17, 1886;
Flora Ada, born March 25, 1889 (married Robert Moffat);
Thomas James, born February 25, 1891 (married Ellen Marenger);
Harry Harold, born February 10, 1893 (married Jane Guillet);
Hattie Mary, born December 7, 1895 (married Alfred Renaud);
George Albert, born December 11, 1897 (married Alice Fier);
Hazel Wilhemina, born March 11, 1899 (married Jack Brain);
Eva, born May 10,1901 (married Allan Mattock);
Frances Marjorie, born July 7, 1903 (married Laurence Howard);
William Bruce, born October 5, 1906 (married Alice Diehl);
Carl Raymond, born January 4, 1908 (died at age 4);
Edna Catherine, born November 14, 1909 (married Lindsay Pollard).
Certainly in a family of this size everyone had to do their share. Horses were used to pull machinery to work the land. The family also raised cattle and sheep. Martha Diehl was known as a kind woman, musically talented and a great home-maker. She possessed somewhat of a humouristic personality, whereas William was more the quiet and serious type.
William died on February 5, 1936 and was buried in a small cemetery near Blaine Lake. Martha died on April 13, 1945 and is buried there also.