Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-09-12
]. ]. DEITCHE
PASSES AWAY
Continued from page II

Nh, Deitche was promoted 10 heau
clerk and. during the next yeas
learned much practical kno"leuee
which was of service to him IN laUel
years. Another change was Ieoo i-
ed. when the Edgar Brothers oiSSoI,
ed the grocery firm and entereu ma my
fine CLAW industry. The location anu
GOOD will were sold to a cousin j. II.
Edgar. of Metuchen, and MI. Deltcne
at a nominal consideration.
This occurred in 1875, at the tlne
when the Lehigh Valley Coal ana
Railroad Company was compleIlns
the LAYING of it's net work OF steel
rails in this city and yiclnlty' III
FIVE short years Mr.. Deitche a au-
vanced from a jobless store clerk &c
the enviabIe position Of partner III
one of the best established grocely
business in Perth Amboy. Wneh ne
came here in 1870, Mr.. Deitche OF.
ten declared that the population OIL
the citv was not over $500 people,
or smaller than South River or
S~avreville township of the present
dav. In 1877 Mr.. Edgar sold out
his interest to Mr.. Deitche, who be
came the sole proprietor OF MS iasC
increasing business and continued as
sucb until he retired from the gro
Gerry world by selling his store anu
contents to Frank Hilsdort, as an
Inounced on June 7, of this year.
Moved to New Location, .
He was located at the Smith street
corner for twelve years, but was IL
nalIy forced to move because or exor-
bitant rent. Mr.. Deitche met the
demands of his landlord for some
time. but was finally forced to give
notice OF intention to Vacate, n
moved out on one bright spring
morning in April, just next door.
BY careful investigation and through
a timely piece of information from
District Court Judge John w. eel
man, Mr.. Deitche had secured an OPP
ton on the property at 289 High
street, owned by the Hunterdon
County Bank, and occupied as a sa-
loon by Frank Harmed.
For twenty-three years Mr..
Deitche continued the grocery busi-
ness at his new establishment, later
sold to Mr.. Hilsdorf, and had the sat
~isfaction of seeing its Importance in
crease in the southern section Of the
city until 1t became one Of the lead
ing grocery concerns in Perth Am
boy. He met with but little opposi-
ton in the early days, although Hen
ry Koch opened a grocery store on
the Smith street corner, In the build
ing vacated by Mr.. Deitche, one
month after the latter moved next
door. The Koch trade dwindled,
however, until the new ONE was
forced to withdraw in favor of his
more experienced competitor. Dur
ing his years of business as the city's
leading grocer, Mr.. Deitche never
sold of the well known substitutes
for butter or invested in a green
trading stamp idea.
Prominent Church Worker.
In public life Mr.. Deitche was
prominent by his work in the First
Presbyterian church and the absence
of any desire to enter active politics
He was elected alderman, however,
in the second ward In 1897, after
strenuous campaign, but did not de.
sire, or secure, denomination for q
return to his seat in the Board Of
Aldermen. Mr.. Deitche was elected
by three votes, ver James H. White
brother Of City Collector Richard F
White, who is one of the Democratic
leaders in this city at the presen,
time. Mr.. Deitche was a Republican
at heart, although often casting q
vote in favor Of a Democratic friend.
For twenty-five years Mr.. Deitche
was trustee Of the Presbyterian
church, a position he filed with
graciousness and ability. He with.
drew from another election to that
to see younger men become actively
interested In church work. fol
many, mary years he was assistant
superintendent Of the Presbyterian
church's Sunday school, under Supt
b. w. Barnes, at one time a oil
Perth Amboy, and al instructor O.
the Bible class during that period
AS a church worker Mr.. Deitche has
never been equalled, it is declared
by those familiar with the early af
fairs Of the Presbyterian parish ant
Mr.. Deitche's activities.
Noble Grand Of Odd Fellows.
Mr.. Deitche Joined the Indepen
dent Order of Odd Fellows in 1877
and rapidly rose to the office of no
BILE grand. He represented the Peril
Amboy lodge at the state conven
tons on a number of occasions
Eight years after becoming affiliated
with the Odd Fellows, Mr.. Deitcht
joined the Knightseof Pythias. ant
for many years was secretary ane
treasurer Of the endowment fund. Ir
1900 he Joined the Masons, in which
lodge he never held office. Mr.
Deitche continued his membership ir
these lodges until death.
Mr.. and Mrs. Deitche, nee Haney
OF New York, were married in 1877
or th~ereabouts, and were blessed
with five children, the eldest OF
which died when but two years old,
Mrs. Deitche passed away in 1910.
Inc only surviving member of the
immediate family are the four chill