Joseph⁵ Diederich (John⁴, Johann Nicolaus³, Paul², Johann Nicolaus¹) was born 2 September 1849 probably at Town of Lawrence, Brown County, Wisconsin, the son of John and Anna (Clasen) Diederich. He was the second child born in Wisconsin after his parents migrated from Germany. See Brown County birth records, v. ___, no. _____.

He died 22 August 1924, age almost 75, of _____________ at Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. The funeral was held ____________________, at ___________ Church, _________, and he is buried in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery there. His death is recorded in Fillmore County death records, v. ____, no. _____.

He married Anna Catherine Ostermann 2 May 1871 at ___________ Roman Catholic Church, DePere, Brown County, Wisconsin, [Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin]. Reverend _________________ presided. Witnesses were ______________ and _____________. The marriage is recorded in the marriage register of the church. See also Brown County marriage records, v. ___, no. ____.

Anna Ostermann was born 24 February 1852 at Beilstein, Province of Baden (or Hesse), West Germany, the daughter of John Conrad and Elizabeth (Phruil) Ostermann. See _________ birth records, v. ___, no. _____. She died 8 February 1918, age almost 66, of _____________, at Geneva. The funeral was held _____________________ at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Geneva, and she is buried in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery there. Her death is recorded in Fillmore County death records, v. ____, p. _____.

His birth is recorded in Brown County birth records, v. 1, p. 271, as Joseph Dietrich, son of John Dietrich and Anna Klaussen. According to his birth record, he was born at Green Bay, but it is more likely that he was born on the family farm at Town of Lawrence.

The date and place of his death and burial were furnished by his daughter, Mrs. Clara Augusta Diederich Heiderstadt. Mrs. Heiderstadt is also the source of the information concerning her mother's birth, death, and parentage as well as most of the information about their children, which she says is taken largely from the old family bible.

The Liber Matrimonii et Defunctorum (marriage and death book) of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at DePere contains this entry for 1871 on p. 221, which has been translated from the Latin: "Today May 2, marriage was initiated by Joseph Diderich, son of John and Anna Diderich, married, and Anna Osterman, daughter of John Conrad and Elizabeth Prior, married. Witnesses: Dora Verboort and Catherina Devray." The entry was signed by the Reverend W.A. Verboort, pastor at that time. This marriage is also recorded in Brown County marriage records, v. 6, p. 19. According to this record, Joseph Diederich was born at Town of Lawrence and at the time of his marriage, was a farmer at Town of Lawrence.

Joseph Diederich grew up on his parents' farm and continued to work on the farm after his marriage. After they died, he sold his interest in their land on 5 March 1879, he moved his family to Stanton Precinct, Fillmore County, Nebraska, to establish a homestead. The report of the June 1880 Census of Nebraska, p. 520D, shows that his brothers, Antone and John, and their families were nearby neighbors. Although his brothers returned to Wisconsin during 1881, he remained on the homestead until his retirement, when he moved to the nearby town of Geneva.

The Diederichs had seven children:

John Conrad Diederich = Anna Catherine Hein
Anna Mary Diederich = Charles ______ Walker
Elizabeth Cecelia Diederich = Jerome William Walker
Albert Joseph Diederich = Theresa Mary Uerling
Mary Theresa Diederich = Jewell Edward Rush
Barbara Gertrude Diederich = Hobart Brick
Clara Augusta Diederich = Stewart Henry Heiderstadt